A Century with the Sitz im Leben. From Form-Critical Setting to Gospel Community and Beyond

Abstract

The German expression Sitz im Leben celebrates 100 years of use in Biblical scholarship and continues to evoke scholarly attention and discussion. The growing interest in the social factors behind the formation of early Christian groups and their identities has its background in this century old notion. Gerd Theißen has repeatedly expressed the conviction that the sociological study of early Christianity is a way of shedding light on and expanding it.