Identity, Memory, and Narrative in Early Christianity: Peter, Paul, and Recategorization in the Book of Acts

Synopsis: Social identity, social memory, and narrative theory intersect in this study of the characterization of Peter and Paul in the book of Acts. Baker argues that the authorial audience’s memories of Peter and Paul are reinterpreted as their characters are encountered in the narrative, and as a result, the audience is to understand themselves as united by a superordinate ingroup identity that transcends cultural boundaries. As prototypes of this common identity, the characters of Peter and Paul demonstrate the open, inclusive identity the audience is expected to embrace. Endorsements: Coleman Baker employs a sophisticated and insight-producing method to examine the function of the characters Peter and Paul in Acts as prototypes of a reconciled identity for a divided and conflicted movement. Baker’s study is a significant contribution toward understanding the social and literary components of identity formation in the early Christian movement. -Warren Carter Professor of New Testament Brite Divinity School Author Biography: Coleman A. (J.C.) Baker received his PhD in New Testament from Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University. He is Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas, and a member of the Context Group, which studies the Bible in its sociocultural context.