Corporate personality is a concept in Christian theology that was articulated by H. Wheeler Robinson. As originally formulated, it dealt with areas of the Old Testament where the relationships between individuals and the groups that they were part of were treated. For example, Achan's family was (at least in some interpretations of the text) collectively punished for a sin that is viewed as primarily Achan's alone. It has since fallen out of favour with theologians, who now favour other interpretations of the Old Testament. However, some theologians still use the idea, construed in a more narrow sense, to explain the use of "ἐν" for "in Christ" (amongst others) in the New Testament writings of Paul the Apostle.[1][2]
The notion of Old Testament corporate personality encompasses four things:[2]
identification
Individuals are never considered to be isolated from the groups that they belong to, and are often treated as representatives for, or even as wholly identified with, those groups.
extension
The boundaries of the individual are extended to additionally encompass other people that belong to that individual. This extension can be both in space, from a king to a kingdom, and in time, from a parent to his descendants. Examples of extension include Achan (mentioned earlier), Korah (Izhar's son), and David, where a leader is punished or rewarded by punishing or rewarding those whom he leads.
realism
The relationship between the group and the individual is a real one.
oscillation
There exists an oscillation back and forth between the group and the individual.
In Pauline theology, the notion of corporate personality is largely restricted to its representational aspect. Paul's comparison between Jesus Christ and Adam is viewed, by those theologians that adhere to the notion, as an identification of Christ as the king and those people in the kingdom that he leads. Similarly, in his Epistle to the Galatians, Paul speaks of Gentiles being blessed both "in" Abraham1 and also "with" him—which these theologians hold to be another example of corporate personality in Paul's writings.[1]
^1 "in thee" is the KJV translation of the Greek. The NIV uses the English translation "through you" for "ἐν σοι", on the basis that Paul is directly quoting the promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, whose original Hebrew preposition "be" (which was translated to "ἐν" in the Septuagint) is more accurately translated in the instrumental sense of "by means of". Hence "through" rather than "in".[3]
ReferencesEdit
^ abMehrdad Fatehi (2000). The Spirit's Relation to the Risen Lord in Paul. Mohr Siebeck. p. 265. ISBN9783161473715.
^ abSang-Won (Aaron) Son (2001). "The Old Testament Conception of "Corporate Personality"". Corporate Elements in Pauline Anthropology. Fort Worth, TX: Pontificium Institutum Biblicum. p. 75. ISBN9788876531484.
David Noel Freedman; Allen C. Myers; Astrid B. Beck (2000). "Corporate Personality". Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 285–287. ISBN9780802824004.
October 20, 2023
corporate, personality, this, article, about, theological, concept, legal, concept, juristic, person, debate, about, legal, concept, corporate, personhood, debate, marketing, concept, corporate, identity, concept, christian, theology, that, articulated, wheele. This article is about the theological concept For the legal concept see juristic person For the debate about the legal concept see corporate personhood debate For the marketing concept see corporate identity Corporate personality is a concept in Christian theology that was articulated by H Wheeler Robinson As originally formulated it dealt with areas of the Old Testament where the relationships between individuals and the groups that they were part of were treated For example Achan s family was at least in some interpretations of the text collectively punished for a sin that is viewed as primarily Achan s alone It has since fallen out of favour with theologians who now favour other interpretations of the Old Testament However some theologians still use the idea construed in a more narrow sense to explain the use of ἐn for in Christ amongst others in the New Testament writings of Paul the Apostle 1 2 The notion of Old Testament corporate personality encompasses four things 2 identification Individuals are never considered to be isolated from the groups that they belong to and are often treated as representatives for or even as wholly identified with those groups extension The boundaries of the individual are extended to additionally encompass other people that belong to that individual This extension can be both in space from a king to a kingdom and in time from a parent to his descendants Examples of extension include Achan mentioned earlier Korah Izhar s son and David where a leader is punished or rewarded by punishing or rewarding those whom he leads realism The relationship between the group and the individual is a real one oscillation There exists an oscillation back and forth between the group and the individual dd In Pauline theology the notion of corporate personality is largely restricted to its representational aspect Paul s comparison between Jesus Christ and Adam is viewed by those theologians that adhere to the notion as an identification of Christ as the king and those people in the kingdom that he leads Similarly in his Epistle to the Galatians Paul speaks of Gentiles being blessed both in Abraham1 and also with him which these theologians hold to be another example of corporate personality in Paul s writings 1 Contents 1 See also 2 Footnotes 3 References 4 Further readingSee also EditCollective responsibilityFootnotes Edit 1 in thee is the KJV translation of the Greek The NIV uses the English translation through you for ἐn soi on the basis that Paul is directly quoting the promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 3 whose original Hebrew preposition be which was translated to ἐn in the Septuagint is more accurately translated in the instrumental sense of by means of Hence through rather than in 3 References Edit a b Mehrdad Fatehi 2000 The Spirit s Relation to the Risen Lord in Paul Mohr Siebeck p 265 ISBN 9783161473715 a b Sang Won Aaron Son 2001 The Old Testament Conception of Corporate Personality Corporate Elements in Pauline Anthropology Fort Worth TX Pontificium Institutum Biblicum p 75 ISBN 9788876531484 Ronald Y K Fung 1988 The Epistle to the Galatians Wm B Eerdmans Publishing pp 138 139 ISBN 9780802825094 Further reading EditH Wheeler Robinson 1981 Corporate Personality in Ancient Israel Continuum International Publishing Group Limited ISBN 9780567291097 David Noel Freedman Allen C Myers Astrid B Beck 2000 Corporate Personality Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible Wm B Eerdmans Publishing pp 285 287 ISBN 9780802824004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Corporate personality amp oldid 1172806101, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
