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Papers by Martijn Bongiovanni

Research paper thumbnail of Revisiting Rhoda Beyond the Door. Possible echoes of Peter’s escape and Rhoda unbelieved in Acts 12

Possible echoes of Peter’s escape and Rhoda unbelieved in Acts 12, 2023

Explored in this paper is what story may figure as the parallel story or as related story of Pete... more Explored in this paper is what story may figure as the parallel story or as related story of Peter's escape in Acts 12,1-23 and what the influence is of a possible parallel story on the exegesis of the pericope. To arrive at a discussion on the relevance of a possible parallel story, the articles of Philip Long and Michael Kochenash will be considered. Kochenash proposes the ‘Cassandra story’, originally from Homer’s Illiad, as the parallel for Acts 12. This way of argumentation is in line with earlier works from mimesis criticism and its pioneer, Dennis MacDonald. Long argues in a different direction. In his 2015 keynote/paper he argues the unity between Acts and Luke, derived from parallels between Acts 12 and earlier happenings between Peter and Jesus as described in the Gospel of Luke.

Research paper thumbnail of The Moral Argument, its history, salvage and possible use.

Since the time of the giants of the antiquity, there is debate on the matter of morality and how ... more Since the time of the giants of the antiquity, there is debate on the matter of morality and how morality shapes the life of an individual and the welfare of society. It is well debated how this morality is shaped and in what way it is begot. The latter query, however, makes it clear that morality does not stand solitary; as is also debated since – Greek – antiquity where morality finds its origin , the reciprocal bond between morality and the divine has been firmly lodged in the philosophical debate throughout the centuries. In this paper two of the most important moral arguments of history pass the review, after which modern renderings that are founded on these two arguments are discussed. Lastly, one, as always, hopes to draw a conclusion in the matter of force of ‘the moral argument’.

Research paper thumbnail of Restorative Justice as a concept in the Day of Atonement, Lev. 16.

This paper focusses on the concept of restorative justice at the pre-exilic Jewish festival of Da... more This paper focusses on the concept of restorative justice at the pre-exilic Jewish festival of Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. The concept of restorative justice is explored in §4 by means of the book ‘Changing lenses’ by Zehr, a pioneer in the field of restorative justice, and the 2004 paper by Braithwaite on the same topic. From this exploration a distillate is made about groundlines and goals of restorative justice in §4.2 and §4.3. The goal of restorative justice is threefold: 1) healing of the victim, 2) healing of the relationship between victim and offender and 3) healing of the offender. Also, the main groundline is therefore directed toward restoration of damaged or broken relationships between victim and offender.
The events of the Day of Atonement are explored within the limits of the description of Leviticus in §5.1. Further, in §5.2, a reflection is given on the different actors and their respective roles on the Day of Atonement and, in §5.3 on the interactions between those actors. Again, a distillate is made from underlying groundlines and goals of the Day of Atonement. YHWH as victim is the one who restores on the Day of Atonement the relationship with the people of Israel as offenders and therefore YHWH and Israel cease to be respectively victim and offender. Concluded is that in the events of atonement and justification on the Day of Atonement the concept of restorative justice is apparent long before that term was developed.

Research paper thumbnail of Invention of Tradition, comparing traditions in an illustrative manner

Invention of Tradition, comparing traditions in an illustrative manner, 2022

A clear methodology is needed in order to arrive at a sound comparison of religious aspects in tr... more A clear methodology is needed in order to arrive at a sound comparison of religious aspects in tradition within religion. A methodological proposal is done based on the work of Frankfurter, Bonnell and Smith. This proposal pivots on two key aspects; firstly on the analytic versus illustrative comparison where the illustrative approach is favoured and secondly on the emic versus etic manner of description of phenomena where the etic -i.e.: more analytically language-manner is favoured over the - more laden by time and crossing of tradition - emic manner of description. This methodology is further tested and brought into action in two conceptual comparisons on on the one hand historical development and on the other revelation and sacred texts within Islam, Christianity and Second Temple Judaism. Discussed is whether this methodology is a sound way of comparing invented traditions next to the proven analytic method.

Research paper thumbnail of The socio-theology of Peter Chelčický compared to the early Mennonite movement of the 16th century

This paper explores possible correlations in socio-political and socio-theological views between ... more This paper explores possible correlations in socio-political and socio-theological views between the 15th century Slav thinker Peter Chelčický and the early Mennonite movement of the 16th century. To that end, three main focal points in the works of Peter Chelčický are distilled in §4.1.2, after a brief biography is given in §4.1.1. It turns out that these focal points entail a stance on non-violence, a critique toward the societal threefold structure of nobility-clergy-labourers, and that these focal points flow forth directly from Peters (biblicistic) theology.
In §4.2 a brief characteristic is given of the early Mennonite movement, both surrounding the events in Münster and pre-Münster in, especially, the Swiss context. It turns out that from the early Mennonite days, a stance on non-violence is accompanied by societal critique, both on the Church and on the governing body.
In §5 a discussion is brought on whether the early Mennonite movement was influenced by Peter Chelčický. It turns out that the correlations between the two when it comes to non-violence and societal critique, match one on one. Whether these correlations are actually causations, i.e.: whether Peter Chelčický actually influenced the early Mennonite movement, is a topic for further research.

Research paper thumbnail of Revisiting Rhoda Beyond the Door. Possible echoes of Peter’s escape and Rhoda unbelieved in Acts 12

Possible echoes of Peter’s escape and Rhoda unbelieved in Acts 12, 2023

Explored in this paper is what story may figure as the parallel story or as related story of Pete... more Explored in this paper is what story may figure as the parallel story or as related story of Peter's escape in Acts 12,1-23 and what the influence is of a possible parallel story on the exegesis of the pericope. To arrive at a discussion on the relevance of a possible parallel story, the articles of Philip Long and Michael Kochenash will be considered. Kochenash proposes the ‘Cassandra story’, originally from Homer’s Illiad, as the parallel for Acts 12. This way of argumentation is in line with earlier works from mimesis criticism and its pioneer, Dennis MacDonald. Long argues in a different direction. In his 2015 keynote/paper he argues the unity between Acts and Luke, derived from parallels between Acts 12 and earlier happenings between Peter and Jesus as described in the Gospel of Luke.

Research paper thumbnail of The Moral Argument, its history, salvage and possible use.

Since the time of the giants of the antiquity, there is debate on the matter of morality and how ... more Since the time of the giants of the antiquity, there is debate on the matter of morality and how morality shapes the life of an individual and the welfare of society. It is well debated how this morality is shaped and in what way it is begot. The latter query, however, makes it clear that morality does not stand solitary; as is also debated since – Greek – antiquity where morality finds its origin , the reciprocal bond between morality and the divine has been firmly lodged in the philosophical debate throughout the centuries. In this paper two of the most important moral arguments of history pass the review, after which modern renderings that are founded on these two arguments are discussed. Lastly, one, as always, hopes to draw a conclusion in the matter of force of ‘the moral argument’.

Research paper thumbnail of Restorative Justice as a concept in the Day of Atonement, Lev. 16.

This paper focusses on the concept of restorative justice at the pre-exilic Jewish festival of Da... more This paper focusses on the concept of restorative justice at the pre-exilic Jewish festival of Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. The concept of restorative justice is explored in §4 by means of the book ‘Changing lenses’ by Zehr, a pioneer in the field of restorative justice, and the 2004 paper by Braithwaite on the same topic. From this exploration a distillate is made about groundlines and goals of restorative justice in §4.2 and §4.3. The goal of restorative justice is threefold: 1) healing of the victim, 2) healing of the relationship between victim and offender and 3) healing of the offender. Also, the main groundline is therefore directed toward restoration of damaged or broken relationships between victim and offender.
The events of the Day of Atonement are explored within the limits of the description of Leviticus in §5.1. Further, in §5.2, a reflection is given on the different actors and their respective roles on the Day of Atonement and, in §5.3 on the interactions between those actors. Again, a distillate is made from underlying groundlines and goals of the Day of Atonement. YHWH as victim is the one who restores on the Day of Atonement the relationship with the people of Israel as offenders and therefore YHWH and Israel cease to be respectively victim and offender. Concluded is that in the events of atonement and justification on the Day of Atonement the concept of restorative justice is apparent long before that term was developed.

Research paper thumbnail of Invention of Tradition, comparing traditions in an illustrative manner

Invention of Tradition, comparing traditions in an illustrative manner, 2022

A clear methodology is needed in order to arrive at a sound comparison of religious aspects in tr... more A clear methodology is needed in order to arrive at a sound comparison of religious aspects in tradition within religion. A methodological proposal is done based on the work of Frankfurter, Bonnell and Smith. This proposal pivots on two key aspects; firstly on the analytic versus illustrative comparison where the illustrative approach is favoured and secondly on the emic versus etic manner of description of phenomena where the etic -i.e.: more analytically language-manner is favoured over the - more laden by time and crossing of tradition - emic manner of description. This methodology is further tested and brought into action in two conceptual comparisons on on the one hand historical development and on the other revelation and sacred texts within Islam, Christianity and Second Temple Judaism. Discussed is whether this methodology is a sound way of comparing invented traditions next to the proven analytic method.

Research paper thumbnail of The socio-theology of Peter Chelčický compared to the early Mennonite movement of the 16th century

This paper explores possible correlations in socio-political and socio-theological views between ... more This paper explores possible correlations in socio-political and socio-theological views between the 15th century Slav thinker Peter Chelčický and the early Mennonite movement of the 16th century. To that end, three main focal points in the works of Peter Chelčický are distilled in §4.1.2, after a brief biography is given in §4.1.1. It turns out that these focal points entail a stance on non-violence, a critique toward the societal threefold structure of nobility-clergy-labourers, and that these focal points flow forth directly from Peters (biblicistic) theology.
In §4.2 a brief characteristic is given of the early Mennonite movement, both surrounding the events in Münster and pre-Münster in, especially, the Swiss context. It turns out that from the early Mennonite days, a stance on non-violence is accompanied by societal critique, both on the Church and on the governing body.
In §5 a discussion is brought on whether the early Mennonite movement was influenced by Peter Chelčický. It turns out that the correlations between the two when it comes to non-violence and societal critique, match one on one. Whether these correlations are actually causations, i.e.: whether Peter Chelčický actually influenced the early Mennonite movement, is a topic for further research.