Determined by Christ: The Pauline Metaphor ‘Being in Christ’

Barbara Beyer, Dr. theol. (Berlin 2020), is research assistant in the New Testament Department of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. She studied Protestant Theology as well as Library and Information Science at Humboldt University in Berlin.

“Beyer demonstrates in the context of the ancient Greek-speaking world how Paul’s language could have been readily intelligible as meaning determined by Christ, and her exegetical chapters demonstrate some of the foremost ways that believers are determined by Christ. Beyer’s encyclopedia-like analysis of all the key prepositional constructions related to “being in Christ” in Paul’s epistles is replete with insightful, exegetical gems. [...] Dr. Beyer is to be commended for writing not only such a learned and insightful analysis of a central Pauline theme but one that is such a joy to continue thinking with and alongside of.”– Joshua Roy Heavin, in: Bulletin for Biblical Research 35/2 (2025). “Beyer’s critique of Deissmann and the tradition of interpretation that has grown from him is powerful and persuasive, and I share her view that the “in Christ” phrases refer broadly to being under the authority of Christ. The book combines an interest in theory with historical-critical close reading in a way which is very welcome ... [T]his is an important contribution to a major topic in Pauline studies with which future scholarship will need carefully to engage.”– Teresa Morgan, in: Biblica 106/2 (2025).

• ContentsList of FiguresAbbreviationsPart 1: Preliminaries1 Observations and Resolutions1.1 The Evidence1.2 This Study2 Mapping the Past: The History of Research2.1 Adolf Deissmann (1892 and Later Developments)2.2 Mystical Interpretations (1890s until 1930s)2.3 Ecclesiological Interpretations (1930s and 1940s)2.4 Differentiation and Generalisation (1930s until 1960s)2.5 Jewish Backgrounds on the Rise (1960s until 1990s)2.6 Current Views and Assessments2.7 Conclusion: A Map of the Past3 Methodological Re-orientation3.1 Introduction to Metaphor Theory and Its Usefulness for Interpreting Biblical Texts3.2 “Being ‘in Christ’” as a Metaphor4 The Preposition ἐν: “Maid-of-All Work” and Magic Word4.1 Deissmann’s Fundamental Accomplishments and the Way Forward4.2 Archaic Period4.3 Classical Period4.4 Hellenistic Period4.5 Imperial Period4.6 Conclusion and Congruency with Paul4.7 Ἐν Χριστῷ as Compared to Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν/ἐμοί5 What’s in a Title? The Meaning of Χριστός and κύριος5.1 Greek, Roman, and Jewish Naming Practices in the Imperial Period5.2 Χριστός and κύριος in Paul’s Letters5.3 Consequences for ἐν Χριστῷ and ἐν κυρίῳ6 The Argumentative Power of Experience: Baptism as a Ritual6.1 Classifying Baptism as an Initiation Ritual6.2 Paul’s Interpretation of the Baptismal Ritual6.3 Characteristics of the Ritual of Baptism6.4 ConclusionPart 2: ExegesisIntroduction to Part 27 In Christ Jesus through Baptism (Gal 3:26, 28)7.1 The Validity of the Promise (3:15–18)7.2 The Purpose of the Law (3:19–25)7.3 Baptism as the Means of Coming to be ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ (3:26–29)7.4 Sons through God’s Actions by His Son (4:1–7)7.5 Conclusion8 In Christ Jesus Because of God (1 Cor 1:30)8.1 Leading Up to the Letter Body (1:1–9)8.2 The Argument of 1 Cor 1:10–2:59 Living in Christ as a Result of Having Come under His Rulership Who Now Is Also in Them (Rom 6:11; 8:1–2)9.1 The Present State of the Believers: Rom 6 and 8 within the Overall Frame of the Letter9.2 The Believers Are Dead to Sin and Living for God in Christ Jesus (6:1–14)9.3 The Change in Ownership Constitutes a Change in Behaviour with the Result of Eternal Life through Christ Jesus (6:15–7:6)9.4 The Role of the Law and the Calamity of Sin (Rom 7:7–25)9.5 The Reciprocal In-ness of Christ and the Believers, and the Spirit and the Believers (8:1–17)9.6 Conclusion: Being and Living “in Christ Jesus” in Rom 6 and 810 Boundaries Crossed and the Pervasive Lordship of Christ (Rom 16:7, 11)10.1 Becoming ἐν Χριστῷ as Crossing a Barrier (16:7)10.2 Being ἐν κυρίῳ as Being a Christ-Believer with a Different Lord (16:11)11 Determined by Christ and His Love (2 Cor 5:17)11.1 The Basis of Boasting (5:11–13)11.2 Determined by Christ and His Love (5:14–17)11.3 Reconciliation Past and Present (5:18–6:2)11.4 Conclusion12 Dominated by Christ “My” Lord and Thus Ruling Everything a Loss, So That Eventually God Will Judge “Me” to Be in Christ (Phil 3:9)12.1 Warning against Evil-Doers (3:1b–4a)12.2 Paul’s Previously Blameless Life as a Pharisee (3:4b–6)12.3 The Gain That Knowing Christ Has Brought (3:7–11)12.4 Running towards the Goal of the Resurrection (3:12–16)12.5 ConclusionPart 3: Perspectives: “Being ‘in Christ’” among Similar PhenomenaIntroduction to Part 313 More ἐν Χριστῷ: The Power of Paul’s Coined, Catchy, and Sharp Phrasing13.1 People in Christ Bearing Further Characteristics13.2 People Performing Activities Similar to “Being ‘in Christ’”13.3 Abstract Nouns in Christ13.4 Goods Owned in Christ13.5 “In Christ” as a Description of Circumstance or Condition13.6 Observations and Conclusions14 More Prepositional Phrases: σὺν Χριστῷ, διὰ Χριστοῦ, and Others14.1 Σὺν Χριστῷ14.2 Διὰ Χριστοῦ14.3 Other Prepositional Phrases with Χριστός14.4 Ἐν πνεύματι14.5 Comparison and Conclusion15 More Paul: ἐν Χριστῷ in the Deutero-Pauline Letters15.1 General Observations15.2 Colossians: Being in Christ in Light of Cosmic Christology15.3 Ephesians: Being in Christ as Opposed to Being Separated from Christ15.4 Second Thessalonians: Sharing in the Glorification of the Name of the Lord Jesus as Those Who Are in Him15.5 First Timothy: Faith and Love as God’s Gifts Bestowed on Those in Christ Jesus15.6 Second Timothy: Living in and Gifts Found in Christ Jesus15.7 Comparison and ConclusionPart 4: Determined by Christ: The Pauline Metaphor “Being ‘in Christ’”16 Results16.1 The Key Issues, How They Have Been Dealt With, and a Fresh Approach16.2 Gal 3:26, 2816.3 1 Cor 1:3016.4 Rom 6:11; 8:1–216.5 Rom 16:7, 1116.6 2 Cor 5:1716.7 Phil 3:916.8 Overarching Themes and ObservationsAppendix: Colon AnalysesBibliographyIndex