Families in the New Testament World: Households and House Churches (Family, Religion, and Culture)

What was the family like for the first Christians? Informed by archaeological work and illustrated by figures, this work is a remarkable window into the past, one that both informs and illuminates our current condition. The Family, Culture, and Religion series offers informed and responsible analyses of the state of the American family from a religious perspective and provides practical assistance for the family's revitalization. Families in the New Testament World......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 6 SERIES FOREWORD......Page 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 10 INTRODUCTION......Page 12 PART 1— MATERIAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE GRECO-ROMAN HOUSEHOLD......Page 14 1— Archaeology......Page 15 Ephesus......Page 21 Roman Palestine and Syria......Page 22 Pompeii and Herculaneum......Page 24 Ostia......Page 27 Architectural Aspects of Social Life......Page 34 Everyday Reality......Page 41 From Familia to House Church......Page 42 The Problem of "Culture"......Page 46 Honor and Shame......Page 48 Cultural Constructions of Gender......Page 50 Defining the Family......Page 51 Space as Boundary......Page 53 The Symbolic Function of Meals......Page 55 Geographical and Chronological Variation......Page 56 Patronage, Clients, Freedpersons......Page 58 Gender Roles and Concepts......Page 64 Legal Power of Men over Women......Page 66 Social Freedom of Women......Page 68 Marriage and Divorce......Page 70 Children's Education and Adults' Learning......Page 74 Greco-Roman Education......Page 78 Thought and Practice: Philosophy......Page 84 Professions of Slaves......Page 86 Control of Slaves: Marriages and Auctions......Page 88 Punishment of Slaves......Page 89 Slaves' Religion within the House......Page 91 Family Religion......Page 92 PART 2— EARLY CHRISTIAN FAMILIES AND HOUSE CHURCHES......Page 98 The Structures of Greco-Roman Society......Page 99 The Social Status of Christians......Page 104 Gender Roles in the Pauline House Church: 1 Corinthians 5—7 (and 14:33b–36)......Page 111 Greco-Roman Medical Handbooks and Sexuality......Page 112 Ascetic Practice in the First Century C.E. among Philosophers, Priests, and Charismatics......Page 115 Deutero-Pauline Epistles: Colossians and Ephesians......Page 126 The Deutero-Pauline Pastoral Epistles......Page 129 Family and Gender in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts......Page 131 Family Values as Penultimate in Roman, Greek, and Jewish Stories......Page 132 Family in the Sayings Source Q......Page 133 Family in the Gospel of Mark......Page 134 Gender Roles in Mark......Page 136 Family in the Gospel of Matthew......Page 138 Gender Roles in the Gospel of Matthew......Page 143 Family in the Gospel of Luke and Acts......Page 144 Gender Roles in Luke-Acts......Page 148 Gender Roles and Images......Page 151 Marriage......Page 156 The Growing Custom of Celibacy......Page 160 Children and Teachers in the New Testament and Beyond......Page 164 Women Teachers of Women......Page 175 Philemon......Page 182 Galatians 3:28 and 1 Corinthians 12:13......Page 186 1— Corinthians 7:21......Page 187 Colossians, Ephesians, the Pastorals: Slaves in Deutero-Pauline Household Codes......Page 190 Slavery in the Synoptic Gospels......Page 193 Slavery in the Gospel of John and Beyond......Page 196 Community Meals in Pauline House Churches......Page 201 Community Meals in the Synoptic Gospels......Page 212 The Importance of Hospitality and Its Effect on Families......Page 214 Meals as Center of Christian Life......Page 218 CONCLUSION......Page 223 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 231 Notes to Chapter 1— Archaeology......Page 233 Notes to Chapter 2— Cultural Anthropology......Page 245 Notes to Chapter 3— Social World......Page 248 Notes to Chapter 4— Social Location of Early Christians......Page 259 Notes to Chapter 5— Gender Roles, Marriage, and Celibacy......Page 262 Notes to Chapter 6— Education and Learning......Page 278 Notes to Chapter 7— Slaves......Page 283 Notes to Chapter 8— Family Life, Meals, and Hospitality......Page 289 F......Page 295 P......Page 296 U......Page 297 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 298 B......Page 309 E......Page 310 H......Page 311 L......Page 312 O......Page 313 S......Page 314 Z......Page 316 B......Page 317 D......Page 318 H......Page 319 L......Page 320 P......Page 321 S......Page 322 W......Page 323 Z......Page 324 L......Page 325 X......Page 326 Matthew......Page 327 Mark......Page 328 Luke......Page 329 Acts......Page 330 1— Corinthians......Page 331 Ephesians......Page 332 1— Timothy......Page 333 1— Maccabees......Page 334 2— Clement......Page 335 In Many Places The New Testament Reflects The Roman Empire's Values Of Social Stability, But At The Same Time, Other Passages Make Strong Statements That Seem To Be Against The Family. What Was The Family Like For The First Christians? How Did They Combine Their Family Values And Their New Faith? When There Were Conflicts Between Family And Faith, How Did Early Christians Make Choices Between Them? Osiek And Balch Provide Solid Scholarship On These Issues, Informed By Archaeological Work And Illustrated By Figures And Photographs.--book Jacket. Archaeology -- Cultural Anthropology -- Social World -- Social Location Of Early Christians -- Gender Roles, Marriage, And Celibacy -- Education And Learning -- Slaves -- Family Life, Meals, And Hospitality. Carolyn Osiek, David L. Balch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [291]-301) And Indexes. The world of the Roman Empire offered extensive cultural expectations about how families should live. Some passages from the New Testament reflect these values of social stability, but at the same time, other passages make strong statements that seem to be against the family. What was the family like for the first Christians? How did they combine their family values and their new faith? When there were conflicts between family and faith, how did early Christians make choices between them?Informed by archaeological work and illustrated by figures and photographs, Families in the New Testament World is a remarkable window into the past, one that both informs and illuminates our current condition.