Ancient Letters and the Purpose of Romans: The Law of the Membrane (The Library of New Testament Studies Book 630)

"Aaron Ricker locates the purpose of Romans in its function as a tool of community identity definition. Ricker employs a comparative analysis of the ways in which community identity definition is performed in first-century association culture, including several ancient network letters comparable to Romans. Ricker's examination of the community advice found in Rom 12-15 reveals in this new context an ancient example of the ways in which an inscribed addressee community can be invited in a letter to see and comport itself as a "proper" association network community. The ideal community addressed in the letter to the Romans is defined as properly unified and orderly. It is also defined as properly accommodating to - and properly distinct from - cultures "outside." Finally, it is defined as linked to a proper network with proper leadership (i.e., the inscribed Paul of the letter and his network). Paul's letter to the Romans is in many ways a baffling and extraordinary document. In terms of its community-defining functions and strategies, however, Ricker shows its purpose to be perfectly clear and understandable."-- Cover page Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Contents Introduction 1 The Perceived Problem of the Purpose of Romans 2 A New Way Forward 3 Social Identity Construction and the Purpose of Romans 4 Association Network Letters and the Purpose of Romans 1 Community Identity Definition in Greco-Roman Association Letters 1.1 Greco-Roman Association Networks and New Testament Studies 1.2 Greco-Roman Association Letters and New Testament Studies 1.3 The “Real” Letter of Ammonius to Apollonius 1.4 The “Ideal” Cynic Epistle of Aristippus to Arete Conclusion 2 Community Identity Definition in Ancient Jewish Letters 2.1 Ancient Jewish Networks and New Testament Studies 2.2 Ancient Jewish Letters and New Testament Studies 2.3 The “Real” Letters of Abaskantos to Judas and the Passover Papyrus 2.4 The “Ideal” Letters of Jeremiah 29, the Epistle of Jeremiah, and 2 Maccabees Conclusion 3 Romans 12–15, Ancient Association-Epistolary Culture and the Purpose of Romans 3.1 Rom 12–15 as Association-Epistolary Paraenesis, the Construction of Social Identity, and the Purpose of Romans 3.2 Greco-Roman Association Network Definition in Rom 12–15 3.3 Jewish Association Network Definition in Rom 12–15 Conclusion Study Conclusion Bibliography Index Aaron Ricker locates the purpose of Romans in its function as a tool of community identity definition. Ricker employs a comparative analysis of the ways in which community identity definition is performed in first-century association culture, including several ancient network letters comparable to Romans. Ricker's examination of the community advice found in Rom 12-15 reveals in this new context an ancient example of the ways in which an inscribed addressee community can be invited in a letter to see and comport itself as a “proper” association network community. The ideal community addressed in the letter to the Romans is defined as properly unified and orderly, as well accommodating to – and clearly distinct from – cultures “outside.” Finally, it is defined as linked to a proper network with recognised leadership (i.e., the inscribed Paul of the letter and his network). Paul's letter to the Romans is in many ways a baffling and extraordinary document. In terms of its community-defining functions and strategies, however, Ricker shows its purpose to be perfectly clear and understandable. "Ricker locates the purpose of Romans in its function as a tool of community identity definition. Ricker employs a comparative analysis of the ways in which community identity definition is performed in first-century association culture, including several ancient networking letters comparable to Romans"-- Provided by publisher