Original Research - Special Collection: Foundation subjects - Old and New Testament Studies

Social Identity Complexity Theory as heuristic tool in New Testament Studies

Jacobus (Kobus) Kok
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 70, No 1 | a2708 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i1.2708 | © 2014 Jacobus (Kobus) Kok | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 02 May 2014 | Published: 15 October 2014

About the author(s)

Jacobus (Kobus) Kok, Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

In this article the author gives an overview of a relatively new theory in social psychology, namely Social Identity Complexity Theory, and illustrates the heuristic value of the theory for New Testament interpretation. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is taken as a case study to illustrate how the theory could shed new light on the Galatian conflict and on Paul’s social identity complexity, which might have made him a good facilitator of change and reconciliation.


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