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A New Quest for the Sitz im Leben: Social Memory, the Jesus Tradition and the Gospel of Matthew

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2006

SAMUEL BYRSKOG
Affiliation:
Department of Religious Studies, University of Göteborg, Box 200, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
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Abstract

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The recent interest in social memory theories among NT scholars promises a new framework for the study of the social dynamics reflected in the Gospels. This essay employs Eviatar Zerubavel's ‘sociomental typography’ of the ‘sociobiographical memory’ in order to conceptualize the contours of the Sitz im Leben of the Gospel of Matthew. The perspective of social memory as described by Zerubavel reveals the mnemonic character of the Sitz im Leben and discloses how those participating in it related to and used the Gospel of Mark, identified with the scribal traits of the Matthean disciples, cherished Peter, and situated themselves in history.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

Footnotes

This is an extended version of a short main paper presented at the SNTS conference in Halle, Germany, 2–6 August 2005.