Proskynesis – Worship – Bow Down

Writing a review of John J Collins and Adela Yarbro Collins’ book, King and Messiah as Son of God: Divine, Human, and Angelic Messianic Figures in Biblical and Related Literature (Eerdmans, 2008), the issue of proskynesis came up. Was Jesus “worshipped” as God? Not really, according to the authors. Proskynesis had variable meanings (worship, bowing down, self-prostration). On the “higher end” of the scale is worship in its fullest sense. On the “lower end” is submission to a higher authority, like bowing down before a king.

For the authors, Jesus was recognised as preexistent and divine, but not on binitarian terms.  As the messiah, Son of Man, son of God, etc. he was recognised as “a god” (Gospel of John) or the principal angel (Revelation), or God’s “first creature”. So “worship” of Jesus refers to submission to his power and authority, and his divinity, they appear to suggest, was more “functional” than “ontological”. Perhaps a social-scientific reading of “worship” and “divinity” is needed here. Any takers?

Theological issues aside, I was sent this picture below demonstrating something similar to proskynesis on the “lower end” of the scale. It demonstrates the customs of Venda culture, and how children greet adults. This is self-prostration really in action, and note the hands laid on top of each other.

Proskynesis in Venda Culture

I think these little ones look exquisite! The Venda people is situated in the northern parts of South Africa, in the Limpopo Province. Traditionally, in black cultures, much respect is shown for seniors, as this photo amply demonstrates. Another example is that when a youth greets an older man, he must not look him in the eyes, but look somewhere to the floor or to the sides as a sign of respect. (Of course, for Westerners this would be a sign that the youth is trying to hide something.)

Article on Paul

An article of mine on Paul has been published on-line and is available at http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/view/127 

I initially presented it as a paper at the Context Group meeting in Portland in 2008.

Abstract:

Various arguments are made about Paul’s ‘Jewishness/ Judeanness’ as a follower of Jesus Messiah, for example, that Paul essentially remained to be ‘Jewish/Judean’ and that he still fully operated in the world of ‘Judaism’. These claims are investigated by answering three sets of questions derived from a proposed general model of ethnicity, which is developed with the help of cultural anthropology (ethnicity theory).

HTS Available Online

The HTS (Hervormde Teologies Studies) Journal, given by the faculty of theology, University of Pretoria, is now available online.  The most amazing thing is that it will be available, articles and book reviews and all, for absolutely free!

Go check it out: http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/index

The first edition (2009) is already out – although only two articles – but the new layout is very attractive, and which is downloadbale as PDF’s.  The articles from 2008 are also available.

Working on New Book

It is with delight that I announce that Wipf and Stock have agreed to publish a new book I’m working on. It will concentrate on ethnicity theory and will be a combination of work old and new. The proposed title is: Walking In Their Sandals: A Guide to First-Century Israelite Ethnic Identity. It should be ready some time towards the end of the year.