Pauline scholars have always been interested in Paul’s relationships. In fact, some of the most influential developments in modern Pauline scholarship have been attempts to situate Paul socially. This volume addresses many of the questions surrounding Paul and his social relations, including how to define and analyze such relations, their relationship to Paul's historical and social context, how Paul related to numerous friends and foes, and the implications for understanding Paul's letters as well as his theology. As a result, a variety of methods are brought to an examination of Paul. These include explorations in social-scientific methodology, close readings of Paul's letters, and linguistically informed approaches to social relations. The conclusions well illustrate the importance of Paul's social relations and his own social connectedness.
Stanley E. Porter, Ph.D. (1988), University of Sheffield, is President and Dean, and Professor of New Testament, at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Besides editing the PAST series, he has published numerous monographs and edited nearly eighty volumes on a range of studies in New Testament, Greek language and linguistics, and especially Pauline studies.
Christopher D. Land, Ph.D.cand., McMaster Divinity College, is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Linguistics at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His research is oriented towards Paul's life and language, with a particular interest being the Corinthian correspondence.
Stanley E. Porter and Christopher D. Land, Paul and His Social Relations: An Introduction
Stanley E. Porter, How Do We Define Pauline Social Relations?
Mark Batluck, Paul, Timothy, and Pauline Individualism: A Response to Bruce Malina
Bruce A. Lowe, Paul, Patronage and Benefaction: A “Semiotic” Reconsideration
James R. Harrison, Paul and the “Social Relations” of Death at Rome (Romans 5:14, 17, 21)
Sean A. Adams, The Relationships of Paul and Luke: Luke, Paul’s Letters, and the “We” Passages of Acts
Andrew W. Pitts and Joshua F. Walker, The Authorship of Hebrews: A Further Development in the Luke-Paul Relationship
Christoph Stenschke, The Significance and Function of References to Christians in the Pauline Literature
Christopher D. Land, “We Put No Stumbling Block in Anyone’s Path, so that Our Ministry Will Not Be Discredited”: Paul’s Response to an Idol Food Inquiry in 1 Corinthians 8:1–13
Otis Coutsoumpos, Paul, the Corinthians’ Meal, and the Social Context
Mark Keown, The Christ-Pattern for Social Relationships: Jesus as Exemplar in Philippians and Other Pauline Epistles
H.H. Drake Williams, III, Honouring Epaphroditus: A Suffering and Faithful Servant Worthy of Admiration
All interested in Pauline studies and social relations, in particular social-scientific approaches to the study of Paul as well as alternative methods, and anyone interested in the wider field of New Testament studies.