Social-Science Commentary on the Letters of Paul

by Bruce J. Malina, John J. Pilch

Overview

This latest addition to the Fortress Social-Science Commentaries on New Testament writings illuminates the values, perceptions, and social codes of the Mediterranean culture that shaped Paul and his interactions both harmonious and conflicted with others. Malina and Pilch add new dimensions to our understanding of the apostle as a social change agent, his coworkers as innovators, and his gospel as an assertion of the honor of the God of Israel.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800636401
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	01/11/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Bruce J. Malina is professor of new testament at Creighton University, Omaha, and author or coauthor or editor of many influential volumes in New Testament, including several recent Fortress Press titles: Social Science Commentary on the Book of Revelation (2000); Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels (2nd edition 2003); Social Science Commentary on the Gospel of John (1998); and The Social Gospel of Jesus (2001).

John J. Pilchteaches at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Among his numerous publications are The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday (1995-97), The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible (1999), and Healing in the New Testament (2000). Malina and Pilch have co-authored the Social Science Commentary on the Book of Acts (2008) and the Social-Science Commentary on the Letters of Paul (2005), both from Fortress Press.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations

Preface

Introduction

1 THESSALONIANS

I. 1 Thess 1:1 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. 1 Thess 1:2-3:13 About the Relationship between the Change Agents and the Jesus Group They Formed

III. 1 Thess 4:1-5:24 Directives and Exhortations

IV. 1 Thess 5:25-28 Letter Closing: Salutation and Blessing

1 CORINTHIANS

I. 1 Cor 1: 1-8 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. 1 Cor 1:9-6:20 Reaction to a Report from Chloe's People

III. 1 Cor 7:1-15:58 Response to Corinthian Questions

IV. 1 Cor 16:5-24 Letter Closing: Salutations and Blessings

2 CORINTHIANS

I. 2 Cor 2:14-6:13 Letter 1: Written before the Dispute

II. 2 Corinthians 10-13 Letter 2: Written during the Dispute

III. 2 Cor 1:1-2:13 [7:5-16] Letter 3: Written after the Dispute

IV. 2 Cor 8:1-24 Insert: Part of a Letter of Recommendation for Titus about the Collection for Jerusalem

V. 2 Cor 9:1-15 Insert: Part of a Letter about the Collection for Jerusalem

GALATIANS

I. Gal 1:1-5 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. Gal 1:6-9 Introduction

III. Gal 1:10-2:21 Paul Defends His Honor (Form: Encomium)

IV. Gal 3:1-6:10 Paul Defends His Gospel (Form: Public Argument)

V. Gal 6:11-18 Conclusion

ROMANS

I. Rom 1:1-7 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. Rom 1:8-10 Letter Thanksgiving

III. Rom 1:11-17 Introduction and Travel Plans

IV. Rom 1:18-32 They and the Ten Commandments

V. Rom 2:1-16 You Judeans and Judging Hellenists

VI. Rom 2:17-3:20 Israelites

VII. Rom 3:21-8:39 The Present Time: Now

VIII. Rom 9:1-11:36 Recalcitrant Israel

IX. Rom 12:1-13:14 You: Jesus-Group Values

X. Rom 14:1-15:13 They (the Weak) and the Torah Commandments

XI. Rom 15:15-32 Conclusion and Travel Plans

XII. Rom 15:33 Letter Ending

XIII. Rom 16:1-29 Appendix: Letter of Recommendation for Phoebe and Doxology

PHILIPPIANS

I. Phil 1:1-11 Superscription

II. Phil 1:12-2:15 Body A: Paul's Prison Circumstances and Its Significance for the Philippians

III. Phil 2:16-3:21 Body B: Ingroup and Outgroup Relations

IV. Phil 4:1-23 Concluding Remarks

PHILEMON

I. Phlm 1-3 Superscription

II. Phlm 4-7 Thanksgiving: The Exordium

III. Phlm 8-16 Body of the Letter Part A: Perobatio

IV. Phlm 17-22 Body of the Letter Part B: Peroratio

V. Phlm 23-25 Conclusion

Reading Scenarios for the (Authentic) Letters of Paul

Bibliography

List of Reading Scenarios