本論文旨在以禮物經濟的概念，重新解析、閱讀新約聖經中莎樂美的故事，以期對故事中人物之間的良性的關係或負面的糾葛能有深層的認識，甚或顛覆性的解讀。而禮物經濟的中心關懷，正是人類全體的社會建構、關係締結、文化生成的複雜脈絡，如此解讀莎樂美的故事，也將使該故事透過禮物經濟的觀點，成為人類共同關係與集體經驗的縮影。反之，透過該故事人物間的重重關係，也令包羅萬象、令人費解的禮物經濟理論，得到具體的說明與文本的驗證。
論文正文共分五部分：除導言與結論部分之外，共計五章。第一章點出莎樂美故事所具備的禮物論述特質，並說明禮物理論對該故事的適用性；第二章延伸禮物傳統的負面論述，展開正面的解析，並說明禮物的良性特質與母親經驗的共同點；第三章重返禮物的負面論述，以人際與經濟關係來視其暴力結構；第四章探討禮物多義性，處理禮物所具有的正向、負向，甚至無法定位的狀態；第五章討論禮物背後可能的真義，以思想家論禮物之不可能而最後可能的辨證途徑，來理解並結論禮物論述的最終要旨。
除論文中所採用的莎樂美故事外，本文第五章的部份亦伴隨其他零散段落探討聖經中亞伯拉罕的故事。除延伸思想家的論述外，也一併就禮物理論的結構，探討兩個故事之間的雷同。為求解析、論述之周詳，與聖經相關之文本考據同為本文著力之處，惟與正文相去甚遠之處，盡皆以註納入，以供酌參。

This thesis aims to provide a theoretic reading of the biblical story Salomé. The theory intended is that of the gift economy. The application of gift theory in the interpretation of the story is to bring out a synergistic effect by and for these two: while the theory helps to shed a new light on the ancient tale, the ancient tale helps to provide analogies for better understanding of the forward theory. The story and the theory are employed to their mutual benefit.
This thesis is composed of five major sections, with each section forming a chapter. In addition to the introduction and the conclusion, the five chapters are: “Matching Mauss,” “The Good Gift,” “The Bad Gift,” “The Gift in Between,” and “The Gift of Death.” Each subsumes a few assertions related to the gift discourse. Various thinkers are discussed along with some of the most influential assertions under the chapter title.
“Matching Mauss” is to point out the matching points between the story plot of Salomé and Mauss’ gift theory; “The Good Gift” is vaguely titled to encompass thinkers who hold positive thoughts toward the gift; “The Bad Gift” is likewise titled to read the dark side of the gift; “The Gift in Between” is devoted to the discussion of the gift that denies any categorization; “The Gift of Death” is to focus on the concept of the impossibility of the gift and also the possibility of gift through death. While all the first four chapters are to show a way around for the understanding of the gift, the last chapter alone shows a way to a potential destination of the gift.
Besides the gift theory, alongside the story of Salomé, the biblical story of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac to God is also discussed. Biblical allusions are sought and proved meticulously in the reasoning of the thesis. It is textually therefore meant to be a study of the biblical literature.

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