The Pauline Churches: A Socio-Historical

The author studies the Pauline corpus in order to trace the process of institutionalisation in the Pauline communities. She claims that development can be traced since we have not only letters from Paul himself, but also the Pastoral epistles from the beginning of the second century, as well as Ephesians and Colossians, writings which are characteristic of the ambiguous period following the disappearance of the earliest authorities. This is the first substantial examination of the Pauline corpus from this angle; it also incorporates effectively insights from the social sciences.

Preface

xi

Abbreviations

xii

INTRODUCTION

1 The project

2

(8)

2 The social sciences and New Testament interpretation

10

(9)

2.1 The symbolic universe

10

(1)

2.2 Institutionalization and the routinization of charisma

11

(5)

2.3 Legitimation and cumulative institutionalization

16

(3)

3 Methodological limits and possibilities

19

(10)

3.1 Why employ social sciences?

19

(4)

3.2 History and the social sciences

23

(4)

3.3 Theology and the social sciences

27

(2)

4 Where from here?

29

(2)

PART 1 PAUL: COMMUNITY-BUILDING INSTITUTIONALIZATION

31

(54)

1 Attitudes to the world/ethics

32

(14)

1.1 Sectarian boundaries

32

(7)

1.2 Sectarian tensions

39

(4)

1.3 Patterns for life: love-patriarchalism

43

(1)

1.4 Conclusion

44

(2)

2 Ministry

46

(15)

2.1 Authority structures

46

(5)

2.2 The freedom of the congregation

51

(4)

2.3 Structural differentiation

55

(5)

2.4 Conclusion

60

(1)

3 Ritual

61

(11)

3.1 A ritual context

61

(4)

3.2 Baptism: purification and sect formation

65

(4)

3.3 The Lord's supper: conviviality and continuance

69

(2)

3.4 Conclusion

71

(1)

4 Belief

72

(12)

4.1 Sect, society and symbolic universe

72

(3)

4.2 The symbol of the crucified and resurrected Messiah

75

(2)

4.3 Christian existence: social existence in a universe of meaning

77

(5)

4.4 Conclusion

82

(2)

5 General conclusion

84

(1)

PART 2 COLOSSIANS AND EPHESIANS: COMMUNITY-STABILIZING INSTITUTIONALIZATION

85

(74)

1 Attitudes to the world/ethics

86

(37)

1.1 Institutionalization in the absence of Paul

86

(5)

1.2 The maintenance of the symbolic universe

91

(6)

1.3 The growth of the sect

97

(5)

1.4 The household codes and the ethos of love-patriarchalism

102

(4)

1.5 The origin and function of the household codes

106

(5)

1.6 The Colossian household code and its social context

111

(4)

1.7 The Ephesian household code and its social context

115

(5)

1.8 Conclusion

120

(3)

2 Ministry

123

(16)

2.1 Images of Paul

123

(3)

2.2 Governing in the absence of the Apostle: Colossians

126

(5)

2.3 Governing in the absence of the Apostle: Ephesians

131

(5)

2.4 The household codes and leadership

136

(2)

2.5 Conclusion

138

(1)

3 Ritual

139

(8)

3.1 Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs: communication and integration

139

(3)

3.2 Baptism: interpretation and life-style

142

(4)

3.3 Conclusion

146

(1)

4 Belief

147

(10)

4.1 Changing symbols

147

(2)

4.2 Enthronement in heaven and the community on earth

149

(5)

4.3 Cosmological symbols and life in the sect

154

(2)

4.4 Conclusion

156

(1)

5 General conclusion

157

(2)

PART 3 THE PASTORAL EPISTLES: COMMUNITY-PROTECTING INSTITUTIONALIZATION

159

(76)

1 Attitudes to the world/ethics

160

(43)

1.1 Studying contacts with the Greco-Roman world: problems of methodology

160

(3)

1.2 Church or sect?

163

(4)

1.3 Dealing with outsiders

167

(3)

1.4 Gospel or deceitful speech?

170

(6)

1.5 Women and false teaching in the household

176

(5)

1.6 The Pastoral Epistles and the Acts of Paul and Thecla

181

(3)

1.7 Service in the household as service in the household of God

184

(3)

1.8 Widows or wives: a conflict in community life

187

(3)

1.9 A stratified society

190

(3)

1.10 Attitudes to wealth in the Shepherd of Hermas

193

(4)

1.11 Attitudes to wealth in the Pastorals

197

(3)

1.12 Conclusion

200

(3)

2 Ministry

203

(18)

2.1 The Paul of the Pastorals

203

(4)

2.2 The household roles and offices in the household of God

207

(7)

2.3 The organization of the community of the Pastorals

214

(6)

2.4 Conclusion

220

(1)

3 Ritual

221

(4)

3.1 Worship and order

221

(3)

3.2 Conclusion

224

(1)

4 Belief

225

(10)

4.1 Orthodoxy or heresy?

225

(4)

4.2 Beliefs in a social context

229

(5)

4.3 Conclusion

234

(1)

CONCLUSION

235

(4)

Notes

239

(31)

Bibliography

270

(11)

Index of Biblical passages discussed

281

(4)

Subject index

285

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Pauline Churches: A Socio-Historical Study of Institutionalization in the Pauline and Deutrero-Pauline Writings

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials