Violated and Transcended Bodies

Given its eschatological orientation and its marginal position in the Roman Empire emergent Christianity found embodiment as an aspect of being in the world problematic. Those identified and identifying as Christians developed two broad responses to that world as they embraced the idea of being in yet not of it. The first response martyrdom was witness to the strength their faith gave to fragile bodies particularly those of women and the ability by suffering to overcome bodily limitation and attain the resurrection life. The second asceticism complemented and later continued martyrdom as a means of bodily transcendence and participation in the spiritual world.