Éclairage théologique et historique du credo corinthien : critique de la forme et histoire de la tradition de 1 Corinthiens 15:1-11

Ce mémoire de maîtrise a comme sujet la constitution du credo présent en 1 Corinthiens 15:1-11, son origine, son contexte littéraire et historique en 1 Corinthiens, ainsi que la théologie et l’historicité des éléments le constituant. Il se penche premièrement sur la question de la délimitation du credo présent dans cette péricope. Suite à une analyse basée sur la critique des formes, une version longue du credo incluant les v. 3b-7 (excepté le v. 6b) est défendue.  Deuxièmement, la question de la réception de la tradition par Paul est abordée ainsi que son utilisation contextuelle en 1 Co 15. D’un côté, il est soutenu que Paul a probablement reçu le credo de l’apôtre Pierre et Jacques, le frère de Jésus, à Jérusalem vers l’an 36 et que la formation du credo est antérieure à cela. De l’autre côté, Paul s’en sert en 1 Co 15 pour contrer une perspective grecque de la vie après la mort qui considérait la résurrection corporelle comme absurde puisque cette notion était perçue comme un retour dans des corps identiques aux corps présents, c’est-à-dire mortel (corruptible) et caractérisé par le vice (péché).  Troisièmement, le credo est systématiquement analysé sur le plan théologique et historique. Sur le plan théologique, il est démontré que l’union mystique des chrétiens avec le Christ est présupposée et que cette idée remonte probablement à la tradition présente en 1 Co 11:23-25. De plus, És 53, Os 6:2 et Gn 22:4 sont présentés comme les principaux textes ayant servi à l’élaboration de cette tradition ancienne. Enfin, il est argumenté que les trois événements fondateurs, à savoir la mort, l’ensevelissement et les apparitions du Christ, sont d’ordre historique. L’auteur ne se prononce pas sur l’historicité de la résurrection, considérant qu’il s’agit d’un « fait-explication » ce qui diffère d’un « fait- observation » ce qui nécessiterait une autre méthodologie qui dépasse le cadre de ce mémoire. This Master’s thesis deals with the creed found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11: its origin, literary and historical contexts in I Corinthians as well as the theology and historical significance of its parts. It is focused primarily on identifying the boundaries of the creed in the pericope. A form criticism analysis leads to an argument for a long version of the creed which includes verses 3b-7 (but excluding v. 6b). Secondly, the question of Paul’s use of tradition is addressed as well as its contextualization in I Corinthians 15. On the one hand, it is argued that Paul received the creed from the Apostle Peter and James, the brother of Jesus, in Jerusalem around the year AD 36, and that the creed had been formed before that time. On the other hand, Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 15 to oppose a Greek perspective on life after death, which viewed physical resurrection as absurd. In this perspective, resurrection meant a return to a body identical to the present body, which is mortal/corruptible and characterized by vice/sin. Thirdly, the creed is systematically analyzed on both the theological and historical levels. On the theological level, it will be demonstrated that the mystical union of Christians with Christ is presupposed and that the notion probably goes back to the tradition present in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. Furthermore, Isaiah 53, Hosea 6:2 and Genesis 22:4 are presented as the primary texts used to develop this ancient tradition. Finally, it is argued that three founding events, namely, the death, the burial and the appearances of Christ, are to be considered historical. The author does not take a position on the historicity of the resurrection, considering that it is an explanatory fact and not an observed fact. This question would require another methodology which goes beyond the scope of this thesis.

Keyphrases: 1 Corinthiens 15:1-11, Credo, Critique des formes, Histoire de la tradition, Théologie, Historicité, Paul de Tarse, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Creed, Form criticism, Tradition history, Theology, Historicity, Paul of Tarsus