Pauline Churches and Diaspora Jews

by John M.G. Barclay

Book cover: Pauline Churches and Diaspora Jews

Extent: 454 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Ancient Near East, Biblical Studies

Series: Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament

Series volume number: 275

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(October 2011)

ISBN: 9783161506192

Price: $163.00

In stock

The ‘assemblies’ founded by Paul in the cities of the Mediterranean world were in many respects comparable to the synagogues of Diaspora Jews which flourished in the same locations. The comparison illuminates many features in the social formation of the first Christians, a complex and variegated process that continued through many generations of early Christianity. In these seminal essays – some previously published, some newly written – John M.G. Barclay examines aspects of the construction of early Christian identity, especially within the Pauline tradition (during and after Paul’s lifetime). Early Christian identity is shown to have been fragile, contentious, often under-defined, socially creative, and multiple in expression: in their practices, their conventions, their social attitudes and their language, the Pauline churches emerge as sometimes conformist and sometimes radically innovative.

  • By (author) John MG Barclay