This study contributes to the understanding of how first century Christ-believers, particularly those who shared the imagination of Ephesians, experienced the relation between their social identity as Christ-believers and behavior norms. In order to understand this, a number of theories from the cognitive sciences are used in combination with historical-critical methods. After a theoretical survey of relevant cognitive theories and discussions about the epistemological problems of using cognitive theories on historical texts, the theories are used to understand (a) how Ephesians imagines the relation between identity and behavior norms and (b) the potential group dynamic effects of this imagination. The result is a demonstration of how Ephesians is able to create a coherent narrative, beginning with God's agency and ending with behavior (norms), and facilitating psychological and group dynamic effects such as intergroup distinction, self-esteem, cognitive certainty and consensus among group members, intragroup cooperation, moral judgment and inclusion/marginalization, motivation to remain committed and, last but not least, a sense of capacity and obligation to act morally.

Rikard Roitto is Associate Professor and teaches New Testament Studies at the Stockholm School of Theology (University College Stockholm). Among his publications are Behaving as a Christ-Believer (2011, reprint 2021). He has edited and/or co-authored The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Ritual (2018), T & T Clark Social Identity Commentary on the New Testament (2018), Social and Cognitive Perspectives on the Sermon on the Mount (2021), and Teknoteologi: AI och människans villkor (2021).