Institutionalization of authority and the naming of Jesus

By Yolanda Dreyer

Book Description

This scholarly exploration delves into the profound transformation of how Jesus was understood and presented by the earliest Christian writers. Yolanda Dreyer examines the deliberate choices made by first-century scribes as they recorded and shaped the traditions surrounding Jesus, revealing how naming practices of the ancient Mediterranean world influenced the development of Christian thought.

In the cultural context of that era, names carried deep significance beyond simple identification. While a person's first name was their given identity and the second indicated family lineage, the third name served as an honorary title reflecting achievements, attributes, or special recognition. Dreyer demonstrates how these honorary titles, primarily assigned to Jesus after his death, functioned much like those given to revered sages and teachers.

The author presents a compelling analysis of how these naming conventions became powerful tools that could either illuminate Jesus' wisdom and inspire followers, or serve as instruments of institutional control. Through careful examination of early Christian texts, Dreyer reveals the ideological and political dimensions embedded within the transmission of Jesus traditions.

This work offers valuable insights into the social dynamics of formative Christianity, tracing how charismatic authority gradually became institutionalized through the very language used to describe Jesus. For readers interested in understanding how spiritual movements evolve and how language shapes religious consciousness, this book provides a thoughtful examination of the intersection between scholarship, spirituality, and power structures in early Christian communities.