Resurrection as transformation of life in 1 Cor 15:35-58: Its implications for religious education and adult catechesis in the Philippines

• Main Author: Pagadut, Natividad B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Resurrection; Religious education; Catechetics; Religious Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/765
• Institution: De La Salle University

This dissertation ferrets out the implications of resurrection as transformation of life in 1 COR 15:35-58 to Religious education and adult catechesis in the Philippines.The text on 1COR 15:35-38 was chosen mainly for 2 reasons: 1. Such text is the earliest extensive written testimony regarding the resurrection, and 2. Paul is the only New Testament writer who speaks of the resurrection experience, i.e., his experience on the road to Damascus.Aware of the fact that Paul's testimony was found in a letter of a particular kind of written communication, the researcher worked for a better understanding of letter writing in Paul's time and of the distinct characteristics of Paul's letters.This study further investigated Paul as a person, and his words. Two important conclusions were forwarded. First, it appeared that Paul belonged to two worlds--the Jewish world and the Greco-Roman or Hellenistic world.An investigation on the addresses in Paul's letters was done. Consequently, a short study on Corinth and the Corinthians' time was also conducted.As the basis of his whole argument, Paul started his discussion of the resurrection from the generally accepted belief in the resurrection of Jesus (1 COR 15:1-11). Then, he moved to the thesis of the Corinthians and argued that it was impossible to believe in the resurrection of Jesus and at the same time reject the resurrection of the faithful (1 COR 15:12-19). Paul's own thesis was that what God has done for Christ, he can also do for others, and His goodness indicates that He will (1COR 15:20-28). The research also analyzed the resurrection narratives of the gospels. These narratives featured Christ, the nature of Christ's resurrection, and the resurrection existence of the faithful. The one thing that stood out from all these narratives was that they clearly assumed that the Crucified and the Risen One was recognized. Now, if he was the same person and yet not recognized, there was only one possible conclusion. He must have been present in a different way. The study of the resurrection narratives of the gospels, thus, supported and reinforced the results of the study of 1COR 15.Turning to the catechetical implications of this biblical study, the researcher forwarded doctrinal, moral and worship aspects of catechesis and religion teaching. For the doctrinal aspect, a number of questions based on the resurrection narratives were formulated. It showed how the Religion or Theology teacher, the catechist, and the student could familiarize themselves with the various elements of the biblical text as a solid basis for an exposition of the resurrection. In the moral dimension, this transformation was not to be relegated to afterlife and should be presented as already having an impact on the life of the faithful at present. Such moral dimension of the resurrection transformation took place in the faithful's life. Doctrine and life were to be expressed in celebration and worship. The third part of the chapter dealt with worship in general, and the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist in particular, presented in relation to the resurrection faith.