Matthew’s Corporate Vision among the Greco-Roman Associations

Rodney Kilgore reveals how the Gospel of Matthew’s social vision comes into sharper focus when read alongside Greco-Roman associational texts. Addressing themes of honor, status, divine presence, and morality, he explores how Matthew’s earliest audiences understood the Gospel in light of associational culture(s) of the first centuries.

Since the emergence of social-scientific criticism within biblical studies and the field’s increasing interest in social history, beginning largely in the 1970s, scholars have increasingly recognized the value of using Greco-Roman associations and their inscriptions to help reveal the social realities behind the texts of the New Testament. In particular, significant work has been done analyzing the Pauline epistles through the lens of associations and associational research. However, less work has been applied to studying the canonical Gospels in light of potentially salient associational data. Rodney Kilgore contributes to filling this lacuna by analyzing the Gospel of Matthew’s social vision in light of those social visions presented within the diversity (and sometimes unity) of associational texts. Specifically, he uses comparison and historical analysis to address three social motifs central to both Matthew’s Gospel and associational texts: 1) honor, status, and hierarchy; 2) experience and interaction with the divine; and 3) behavioral expectations. In exploring these motifs, the author brings to light points of similarity and difference, noting the various ways in which Matthew’s Gospel may have challenged, comforted, repelled, attracted, unsettled, resonated with or otherwise affected those of Matthew’s earliest audiences, many of whom likely came from backgrounds deeply influenced by associational life. Ultimately, the author argues that Matthew’s Gospel both resonates with aspects common to the first-century associational experience (e.g., the shared desire for and strategies used to encounter the divine) and diverges from others (e.g., Matthew’s distinct approach to honor and status). Likely, many persons encountering Matthew’s Gospel for the first time, especially those from non-Jewish backgrounds, would have found much of the message to be unusual, even while some aspects were quite familiar.

CHAPTER ONE
Introduction: Contextual, Methodological, and Terminological Considerations
Overarching Characteristics of Ancient Associations
A History of the Study of Associations in Relation to the New Testament
The Value of Comparison as a Research Tool
A Proper Title for Greco-Roman Ἰουδαῖοι
Ioudaioi in the Ancient World and a Context for Matthew's Gospel
A Context for Matthew's Gospel
CHAPTER TWO
A Comparison of Corporate Visions in Associational Texts and the Gospel of Matthew: Honor, Status, and Hierarchy
The Experience of Associational Honor
Associational Honors for Patrons
Instances of Diminished Associational Hierarchy
Honor, Status, and Hierarchy: A Comparison between Matthew and the Associations
Conclusion
CHAPTER THREE
The Matthean Prohibition of the Title "Father": A Case Study of Matthew 23:9 through the Lens of Greco-Roman Associations
Father in the Greco-Roman Associational Context
Father in the Ancient Ioudaian Synagogue Context
The Content and Context of Matthew's Prohibition of the Title "Father"
Organizational and Theological Implications of Matthew's Prohibition of "Father"
Conclusion
CHAPTER FOUR
A Comparison of Corporate Visions in Associational Texts and the Gospel of Matthew: Experience and Interaction with the Divine
Corporate Interaction with the Divine
Individual Interaction with the Divine
Summary
Divine Experience and Interaction in Matthew
Conclusion and Implications
CHAPER FIVE
Divine Presence amidst Prosecution: A Case Study of Matthew 10:16-20 through the Lens of the Delian Sarapis Hymn
Matthew 10:16-20 and Divine Presence
Divine Presence of the Delian Sarapis Narrative
The Trial of the Delian Sarapis Hymn in Dialogue with Matthew's Gospel
Social and Theological Implications of Matt 10:16-20
Conclusion
CHAPTER SIX
A Comparison of Corporate Visions in Associational Texts and the Gospel of Matthew: Behavioral Expectations
Behavioral Expectations: Associations
Violations of Rules
Summary of Associational Data
Behavioral Expectations within Matthew's Gospel: A Comparison
Conclusion
CHAPTER SEVEN
Morality and the Divine: A Case Study of Matthew's Moral Obligations through the Lens of a Philadelphian Cultic Association
The Morality of the Philadelphian Cult of Dionysius
In Comparison with Matthew's Moral Expectations
Conclusion and Implications
CHAPTER EIGHT
Conclusion
Directions for Future Research
A Final Thought

• By (author) Rodney Kilgore