Christopher G. Foster identifies Jewish mystical elements in the Dead Sea Scrolls and compares them with analogous features in the Corinthian correspondence to illuminate through differences and similarities how Paul advocates a mystical and communal participation in the Spirit. After defining early Jewish mysticism and introducing the method of heuristic comparison, Part I identifies and investigates mystical elements in Dead Sea Scrolls. Part II compares these findings with corresponding aspects in 1 and 2 Corinthians to demonstrate the largely corporate tenor of participation and transformation in and by the spirit for Paul.

Born 1977; 2013 PhD at University of Manchester, UK; 2010-12 visiting lecturer in Biblical Studies at Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, UK; 2014-16 adjunct assistant professor Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Southwestern Christian University, Oral Roberts University, University of Tulsa; since 2017 Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies and Chair, Department of Undergraduate Theology at Oral Roberts University.