For your sake he became poor : ideology and practice of gift exchange between early Christian groups / Georges Massinelli.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Massinelli, Georges, author.

Series:

Beihefte Zur Zeitschrift Für Die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft ; 251

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Paul, the Apostle, Saint.

Paul.

Bible. Epistles of Paul--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Epistles of Paul.

Money--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Money.

Church finance--History--Early church, ca. 30-600.

Church finance.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XII, 420 p.)

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; Boston, MA : Walter de Gruyter GmbH, [2021]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

The Pauline collection for the poor in Jerusalem is the most famous example of financial support for geographically distant groups in early Christianity. Recent assessments of the Pauline collection have focused on patronage to explain the social relations between Jerusalem and the Pauline groups and the strategies adopted by Paul. Through a comparison with the Greco-Roman world and a close reading of the texts, this study challenges the recent approach and proposes that other factors shaped Paul's stance. Paul was interested in reassuring the Corinthians about the financial outcome of the collection and dispelling doubts that he might take advantage of them. The collection was an action modeled on divine generosity and an exchange within a reciprocal relationship between Christian groups.This study also surveys intergroup support between Christian groups in the first three centuries CE. This practice involved churches from most of the Mediterranean Basin and was known even outside of Christian circles. Transfers of money were organized according to a consistent pattern modeled on local charitable practices. The Pauline collection had similar characteristics and can be seen as part of this widespread economic practice.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Acknowledgements

Abstract

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Patronage and Exploitation in the World of Paul

3 Multiplicity of Exchange Forms in the World of Paul

4 Concerns over Paul's Collection

5 Paul's Description of the Collection

6 Early Christian Collections in the First Three Centuries

7 Conclusions

Bibliography

Index of Names

Index of Ancient Sources

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

3-11-072394-8