Annette Potgieter M.A., M.Div.

My research focuses on the function of metaphor in language and thought. Paul's world was dominated by the Roman legions and auxiliary forces. Researchers like Adolf von Harnack and E. Krenz noted the role military imagery played in Paul's language. The point of departure is the observation that military metaphors are used to conceive and linguistically encode non-military contents. More specifically, my research will focus on hegemonic and military metaphors in Paul's letters, such as "to die with someone" (Rom 6:8), "the reign of" death or sin (Rom 6:9, 12, 14), "weapons of" injustice or of justification (Rom 6:13), to be "under sin/law" or "under favour" (grace – Rom 6:14), to be "in service of" impurity and iniquity or of righteousness (Rom 6:19-20), "the wages" of sin (Rom 6:23), "to wage war" or "to be held as prisoner of war" (Rom 7:23) or to be "liberated from" (Rom 6:18, 22; 7:24). The source domains of these metaphors have to be investigated carefully in order to clarify the intention of Paul's mapping it unto the situation of the pre- and post baptismal existence.