Richard S. Ascough Knihy

Richard S. Ascough uses Greco-Roman associations as a comparative model for understanding early Christian community organization, with specific attention to Paul's Macedonian Christian communities. He provides a comprehensive description of the range of voluntary associations, defined as groups of men and/or women organized on the basis of freely chosen membership for a common purpose. The community language and practices reflected in 1 Thessalonians and Philippians are compared to that of the voluntary associations. Doing so helps to explain both Paul's language and the language and structure of the communities to which he writes. The author argues that many of the features of the two Macedonian Christian communities reflected in Paul's letters find ready analogies in voluntary associations. Thus, both of the Macedonian Christian groups would have appeared to outsiders as associations and would have functioned internally as associations, too.

Lydia emerges as a significant figure in the early Jesus communities, particularly within Paul's network. The book delves into her life, exploring the political, commercial, and religious landscape of first-century Philippi. It examines the types of homes she might have lived in, the business prospects she could have pursued, and the prevalent religious practices of her time. Through this contextual analysis, the author highlights Lydia's pivotal role and the impact of her faith and hospitality on the burgeoning Christian movement.

Exploring the diverse structures of early Christian communities, this book examines four models from the Greco-Roman period that influenced the formation of Pauline churches: the synagogue, philosophical school, ancient mystery cult, and voluntary association. Each model is analyzed in its own chapter, integrating archaeological and literary evidence with insights from Pauline letters. The author highlights the strengths and limitations of each model, ultimately concluding that a combination of perspectives is necessary to fully understand the complexities of these early churches.

Exploring the social and cultural dynamics of the Greco-Roman world, this book delves into the various associations that shaped community life, including religious cults, trade guilds, and civic organizations. It examines the roles these groups played in fostering social cohesion, identity, and political influence, while also highlighting their impact on individual lives. Through historical analysis and case studies, the text reveals how these associations contributed to the broader tapestry of ancient society and its legacy in contemporary culture.

The book explores the role of associations in understanding the development of early Christian groups during the first and second centuries, drawing on insights from inscriptions and papyri. Richard Ascough compiles his significant contributions over two decades, featuring sixteen previously published articles organized into three sections. These sections examine associations as a model for Christ groups, their recruitment interactions, and vital aspects of group life, including communal meals and memorial practices. A new introduction provides context for these scholarly works.

Voluntary associations serve as a crucial lens for exploring Christ groups within modern New Testament scholarship, reflecting a long-standing consensus developed over decades. This approach builds on foundational work from the previous century, allowing both students and scholars to deepen their understanding of Christian origins through accessible influential texts in the field.

1 Thessalonians provides a fascinating glimpse into the origins and social life of the Christ group in the ancient Roman city of Thessalonike, while 2 Thessalonians reveals how the community developed at a somewhat later time. This guide narrates the story of the founding of the group by considering the social and cultural contexts, the literary form, the rhetorical strategies, the theologies, and the reception of the two canonical letters. While centering on the texts of 1 and 2 Thessalonians themselves, Ascough draws widely on literary and archaeological data, giving particular attention to typical group behaviours among small, unofficial associations in the Greek and Roman period. The first four chapters focus on 1 Thessalonians, from the initial formation of the Christ group out of a small association of artisans through to how members negotiated various sorts of relationships: with Paul and his companions, with outsiders in Thessalonike and beyond, and especially with fellow believers within the group itself. The final two chapters turn attention to the shifting circumstances that required a second letter to be written, with its focus on disorder and disruption of social practices and theological beliefs. The epilogue briefly surveys Christianity at Thessalonike beyond the 1st century. This guide presents an overview of the historical development of the Christ group at Thessalonike. Moving beyond treating the canonical letters as simple repositories of theological opinions, Ascough demonstrates how 1 and 2 Thessalonians reveal ordinary life in ancient Roman cities. In so doing, he invites readers to enter the world of one of the many fascinating communities of Christ believers in the 1st century of the Common Era