An Examination of the Isis Cult With

This work serves as an investigation of the Isis cult by tracing its development from Egypt into Greco-Roman society. The origin of the Isis cult is described by using the accounts of Plutarch, Apuleius, and Diodorus before examining the effects of Isis on Egyptian culture. The Isis cult soon overflows into the Greco-Roman world. While this mysterious religion initially encounters opposition, especially since it clashes with Roman patriarchal society, it overcomes these limitations. The relevance of Isis to New Testament studies is demonstrated by comparing similar Pauline practices to Isiac beliefs and practices. The concepts of freedom, salvation, baptism, and resurrection in Pauline Christianity overlap with Isiac beliefs. The possibility of the Isis cult as an historical context is explored in the book of 1 Timothy, which serves as an example of the intersection between the biblical text and the Egyptian cult of Isis.

Elizabeth A. McCabe is a Ph.D. candidate in Jewish Studies in the Greco-Roman Period at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio

List of Tables	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Abbreviations	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
The Origin and Institutionalizing of the Isis Cult	p. 5
The Origin of the Isis Cult: Primary Documents	p. 5
Plutarch's Account	p. 5
Apuleius's Account	p. 7
Diodorus Siculus's Account	p. 13
The Effect of the Isis Cult in Egyptian Culture	p. 16
Power of Isis Over Women and Marriage	p. 16
Power of Isis in Law-Making	p. 17
Power of Isis in Earth and Heaven	p. 18
Power of Isis Over Fate	p. 19
Power of Isis in Salvation	p. 19
Power of Isis Over Problems	p. 19
Isis: Goddess of Magic and Healing	p. 20
Isis in Egyptian History	p. 21
Isis as Promoted by Government	p. 22
From Theory to Practice: Isis Imitated	p. 22
Cleopatra: Personification of Isis	p. 23
Conclusion	p. 25
Isis in the Greco-Roman World	p. 35
From Cleopatra (51-31 BC) to Augustus (27 BC-AD 14)	p. 35
Rome's Opposition to Cleopatra	p. 35
Reasons for Opposition to Isis Cult by Rome	p. 36
Isis: A Threat to the Roman Constitution as a Patriarchal Society	p. 37
Power of the Paterfamilias	p. 39
Augustus: First Roman Emperor	p. 40
Popularity of Augustus	p. 41
Re-Instituting the Past	p. 41
Cato: Concerning Women and Wives	p. 43
Rewards and Penalties Supporting a Patriarchal Society	p. 44
Augustus: Let No Woman Be Equal to Man	p. 45
Official Roman Responses to Isis	p. 46
Augustus	p. 46
Other Roman Emperors	p. 47
Conclusion	p. 48
The Relevance of Isis to New Testament Studies	p. 55
The Spread of the Isis Religion	p. 55
Accessibility and Attraction of the Isis Cult	p. 55
The Isis Cult as a Backdrop for Paul's Missionary Journeys	p. 56
Isiac Beliefs and Practices Comparable to Paul	p. 56
Isis: A Suffering and Benevolent Goddess	p. 56
Isis as a Savior Goddess	p. 57
Baptism in the Isis Cult	p. 57
Archaeological Evidence for Water Facilities in Iseums	p. 58
Overview of the Archaeological Evidence with Water Facilities	p. 60
Interpreting the Archaeological Evidence	p. 60
Isis and Osiris and Resurrection	p. 61
Osiris as a Fertility (Vegetation) God and Resurrection God	p. 61
Isis's Role in Resurrection	p. 65
Conclusion	p. 66
Concepts in Pauline Christianity Overlapping with Concepts in the Isis Cult	p. 71
Pauline Comparisons with the Isis Cult	p. 71
Freedom	p. 71
Salvation	p. 76
Baptism	p. 78
Resurrection	p. 80
Other Concepts	p. 81
Pauline Contrasts with the Isis Cult	p. 89
Different Isiac Practices	p. 89
"Inequality" of Women	p. 91
Conclusion	p. 92
Isis as a Possible Context for 1 Timothy	p. 99
The Isis Cult in Ephesus	p. 99
False Teaching in 1 Timothy	p. 100
The Legend of Ra and Isis	p. 102
Comparisons with the Creation Account	p. 102
Contrasts with the Creation Account	p. 104
Conclusion	p. 105
Conclusion	p. 109
Bibliography	p. 113
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

An Examination of the Isis Cult With Preliminary Exploration into New Testament Studies

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials