Conversion in Colossae : Identity Transformation in the Colossian Christ-association
Enberg, Anna LU
(2026)
- Abstract
- This is a study about conversion in the letter to the Colossians. It argues that the recipients of the letter constituted a group primarily made up of non-Jews who had responded to the message about a Jewish Messiah and formed an association-like group dedicated to his worship. The study spans many fields of research, including New Testament Studies, Archaeology, and modern Conversion Studies. As such, it seeks to drill down into an ancient description of a phenomenon that is contested, sometimes misunderstood, and often simplified, namely conversion. Drawing on modern conversion research, the study defines conversion as a process of religious identity transformation. Such a process can be broken down into specific phases or stages which a... (More)
- This is a study about conversion in the letter to the Colossians. It argues that the recipients of the letter constituted a group primarily made up of non-Jews who had responded to the message about a Jewish Messiah and formed an association-like group dedicated to his worship. The study spans many fields of research, including New Testament Studies, Archaeology, and modern Conversion Studies. As such, it seeks to drill down into an ancient description of a phenomenon that is contested, sometimes misunderstood, and often simplified, namely conversion. Drawing on modern conversion research, the study defines conversion as a process of religious identity transformation. Such a process can be broken down into specific phases or stages which a convert usually goes through.
The main purpose of this study is to contribute to scholarly research on Colossians by approaching the letter from an alternative angle. Much research on Colossians has been preoccupied with the seemingly unresolvable task of identifying the opponents referred to primarily in Col 2:16–23. Furthermore, it has often been assumed that the threat posed by the opponents of the Colossian Christ-group was the reason for the writing of the letter. Contrary to this position, the study claims that the Colossians’ conversion should be identified as the letter’s major theme and regarded as the driving force behind its composition.
Based on a theoretical framework which combines Lewis Rambo’s holistic model of the conversion process with Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory, a three-part method for studying conversion in Colossians is developed. First, the theoretical framework serves as a heuristic for interpreting the letter. Second, the historical context of the letter to the Colossians is examined to understand how local cultural and religious identities influenced the Colossians’ conversion process. Thirdly, the rhetoric of conversion in the letter to Colossians is compared to protreptic and paraenetic modes of communication in other ancient writings.
It is shown that themes of conversion permeate Colossians. The stages of the conversion process, which are clearly present in the Colossian text, are encounter, commitment, and interaction. The stages of encounter and commitment are treated retrospectively by the author of Colossians, and the purpose of this retrospection is to encourage biographical reconstruction, ongoing identity transformation, and, thus, a deepening of the conversion process. The interaction stage of the conversion process is prolonged and ongoing as the letter is being written. This shows itself in the intense treatment of issues related to worldview, rituals, relationships, and roles. In addition, the present study identifies several local influences on the Colossians’ identity and discusses the role of the opponents. In conclusion, it is claimed that the letter’s argument is designed to maintain and deepen the recipients’ conversion process and to strengthen the Christ-association’s positive social identity in a competitive context.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/718c6c9d-26c5-4912-8757-3913836100fa
- author
- Enberg, Anna
LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Professor Kloppenborg, John S., University of Toronto.
- organization
- alternative title
- Omvändelse i Kolossai : Identitetstransformation i Kristus-kollegiet i Kolossai
- publishing date
- 2026-09-14
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Colossians, Colossae, Conversion, Identity Transformation, Conversion Process, Lewis Rambo, Social Identity, Archaeology, Lycus Valley, Numismatics, Epigraphy, Greco-Roman associations, Greco-Roman religion, Angels, Mystery Cults, Imperial Cult, Helios, Tyche Protogeneia, Comittment, Interaction, Retospection, Baptism, Initiation, Ritual, Hymn, Competition, Rhetoric, Protreptic, Paraenesis, Opponents, Loyalty, Patronage and Benefaction, Ethnic Identity, God-fearers, Ethics, Social Roles, Worldview
- pages
- 320 pages
- publisher
- Centrum för teologi och religionsvetenskap, Lunds universitet
- defense location
- C126, LUX, Helgonavägen 3, Lund.
- defense date
- 2026-10-16 15:15:00
- ISBN
- 978-91-90055-98-4
- 978-91-90055-99-1
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 718c6c9d-26c5-4912-8757-3913836100fa
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-08 17:01:21
- date last changed
- 2026-09-17 03:27:56
@phdthesis{718c6c9d-26c5-4912-8757-3913836100fa,
abstract = {{This is a study about conversion in the letter to the Colossians. It argues that the recipients of the letter constituted a group primarily made up of non-Jews who had responded to the message about a Jewish Messiah and formed an association-like group dedicated to his worship. The study spans many fields of research, including New Testament Studies, Archaeology, and modern Conversion Studies. As such, it seeks to drill down into an ancient description of a phenomenon that is contested, sometimes misunderstood, and often simplified, namely conversion. Drawing on modern conversion research, the study defines conversion as a process of religious identity transformation. Such a process can be broken down into specific phases or stages which a convert usually goes through.<br/>The main purpose of this study is to contribute to scholarly research on Colossians by approaching the letter from an alternative angle. Much research on Colossians has been preoccupied with the seemingly unresolvable task of identifying the opponents referred to primarily in Col 2:16–23. Furthermore, it has often been assumed that the threat posed by the opponents of the Colossian Christ-group was the reason for the writing of the letter. Contrary to this position, the study claims that the Colossians’ conversion should be identified as the letter’s major theme and regarded as the driving force behind its composition.<br/>Based on a theoretical framework which combines Lewis Rambo’s holistic model of the conversion process with Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory, a three-part method for studying conversion in Colossians is developed. First, the theoretical framework serves as a heuristic for interpreting the letter. Second, the historical context of the letter to the Colossians is examined to understand how local cultural and religious identities influenced the Colossians’ conversion process. Thirdly, the rhetoric of conversion in the letter to Colossians is compared to protreptic and paraenetic modes of communication in other ancient writings.<br/>It is shown that themes of conversion permeate Colossians. The stages of the conversion process, which are clearly present in the Colossian text, are encounter, commitment, and interaction. The stages of encounter and commitment are treated retrospectively by the author of Colossians, and the purpose of this retrospection is to encourage biographical reconstruction, ongoing identity transformation, and, thus, a deepening of the conversion process. The interaction stage of the conversion process is prolonged and ongoing as the letter is being written. This shows itself in the intense treatment of issues related to worldview, rituals, relationships, and roles. In addition, the present study identifies several local influences on the Colossians’ identity and discusses the role of the opponents. In conclusion, it is claimed that the letter’s argument is designed to maintain and deepen the recipients’ conversion process and to strengthen the Christ-association’s positive social identity in a competitive context.<br/>}},
author = {{Enberg, Anna}},
isbn = {{978-91-90055-98-4}},
keywords = {{Colossians; Colossae; Conversion; Identity Transformation; Conversion Process; Lewis Rambo; Social Identity; Archaeology; Lycus Valley; Numismatics; Epigraphy; Greco-Roman associations; Greco-Roman religion; Angels; Mystery Cults; Imperial Cult; Helios; Tyche Protogeneia; Comittment; Interaction; Retospection; Baptism; Initiation; Ritual; Hymn; Competition; Rhetoric; Protreptic; Paraenesis; Opponents; Loyalty; Patronage and Benefaction; Ethnic Identity; God-fearers; Ethics; Social Roles; Worldview}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
publisher = {{Centrum för teologi och religionsvetenskap, Lunds universitet}},
school = {{Lund University}},
title = {{Conversion in Colossae : Identity Transformation in the Colossian Christ-association}},
year = {{2026}},
}