The First Urban Churches 4: Roman Philippi (Writings from the Greco-roman World Supplement) (International Voices in Biblical Studies)

Investigate the challenges and opportunities experienced by the early church This fourth installment of The First Urban Churches, edited by James R. Harrison and L. L. Welborn, focuses on the urban context of Christian churches in first-century Roman Philippi. The international team of New Testament and classical scholars contributing to the volume present essays that use inscriptions, papyri, archaeological remains, coins, and iconography to examine the rivalries, imperial context, and ecclesial setting of the Philippian church. Features: Analysis of the material and epigraphic evidence relating to first- and second-century CE Roman Philippi Examination of important passages from Philippians within their ancient urban context Investigation of the social composition and membership of the Philippian church from the archaeological and documentary evidence Cover 1 Contents 6 Abbreviations 8 Excavating the Urban and Country Life of Roman Philippi and Its Territory 22 Rooted in Heaven and Resident in Philippi, but No ἐκκλησία? 84 The Social Constituency and Membership of the First Christian at Philippi: A Literary and Epigraphic Survey 100 Vindolanda Tablet 2.154, RPC 1651, and the Provenance of Philippians 144 Polis and Ekklēsia at Philippi: A Response to Kathy Ehrensperger, Paul Holloway, and Julien Ogereau 160 First-Century Philippi: Contextualizing Paul's Visit 174 Did the Philippian Christ Group Know It Was a “Missionary” Society? 210 The Imperial Authorities in Paul’s Letter to Predominantly Greek Hearers in the Roman Colony of Philippi 242 “Every Knee Bowed”: Jesus Christ as Reigning Lord over "the Heavenly, the Earthly, and the Subterranean Gods" (Philippians 2:10) 260 Rivals, Opponents, and Enemies: Three Kinds of Theological Argumentation in Philippians 312 From Rome to the Colony of Philippi: Roman Boasting in Philippians 3:4-6 in Its Latin West and Philippian Epigraphic Context 328 Contributors 392 Primary Sources Index 396 Modern Authors Index 416 This collection of essays examines the urban context of early Christian churches in the first-century Roman world. A city-by-city investigation of the early churches in the New Testament clarifies the challenges, threats, and opportunities that urban living provided for early Christians. Readers will come away with a better understanding of how scholars assemble an accurate picture of the cities in which the first Christians flourished--Publisher's website