📚 No cover available

Paul, poverty and survival

By Justin J. Meggitt

Book Description

In this groundbreaking exploration of early Christianity, scholar Justin Meggitt invites readers to discover a radically different picture of the apostle Paul and his communities. Rather than viewing these foundational Christian groups through modern assumptions, this work places them squarely within the harsh economic realities of first-century Roman society.

Drawing on cutting-edge research in classical studies, Meggitt examines the daily struggles that shaped Paul's followers. He reveals how these early believers navigated unemployment, inadequate nutrition, and substandard housing while building their spiritual communities. The book challenges long-held assumptions about whether wealthy individuals were present in Christianity from its earliest days.

What emerges is a compelling portrait of resilience and faith under extreme economic pressure. Readers will gain fresh insights into how Paul's teachings took root among people facing genuine survival challenges. The author uncovers the unique strategies these communities developed to support one another in an unforgiving environment.

This thorough investigation offers modern spiritual seekers a deeper understanding of Christianity's origins. By examining the intersection of faith and poverty in the ancient world, the book illuminates how spiritual movements can flourish even amid material hardship. Those interested in the historical foundations of Christian community will find this scholarly yet accessible work particularly valuable for understanding how economic circumstances shaped early Christian identity and practice.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)

📄 Length: 268 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Pauline churches
  • ✓ Explore Brieven van Paulus
  • ✓ Explore 11.47 cultural-historical background of the New Testament
  • ✓ Explore Economic conditions
  • ✓ Explore Christian communities
  • ✓ Explore Criticism, interpretation
  • ✓ Explore History of doctrines
  • ✓ Explore Social conditions

Topics Covered

Pauline churches Brieven van Paulus 11.47 cultural-historical background of the New Testament Economic conditions Christian communities Criticism, interpretation History of doctrines Social conditions Biblical Sociology Communautés chrétiennes Critique, interprétation Civilization, Greco-Roman Bible Geloofsgemeenschappen Conditions économiques Bible, criticism, interpretation, etc., n. t. Economische aspecten Social scientific criticism Gemeinde Conditions sociales Urchristentum Briefe History

Related Books You Might Like

Cover of Families in the New Testament world

Families in the New Testament world

Carolyn Osiek

1997 • 329p

Understanding the family dynamics of early Christianity offers profound insights for modern spiritual seekers navigating the intersection of faith and relationships. This scholarly exploration examines how the first Christian communities balanced the...
Cover of Paul, Judaism, and judgment according to deeds

Paul, Judaism, and judgment according to deeds

Kent L. Yinger

1999 • 318p

This scholarly exploration tackles a fundamental question that has puzzled students of Christian theology for centuries: how can the apostle Paul simultaneously champion salvation by faith while consistently speaking of divine judgment based on human...
Cover of Jesus and God in Paul's eschatology

Jesus and God in Paul's eschatology

L. Joseph Kreitzer

1987 • 293p

In the letters of Paul, two central figures emerge in discussions of the end times: Jesus Christ and God the Father. Scholar L. Joseph Kreitzer examines how these divine roles intersect and overlap within Paul's eschatological vision, revealing a com...
Cover of Noncanonical writings and New Testament interpretation

Noncanonical writings and New Testament interpretation

Craig A. Evans

1992 • 281p

For those seeking to deepen their understanding of early Christian spirituality and the New Testament's rich historical context, Craig A. Evans offers an invaluable gateway into the ancient world that shaped these sacred texts. This comprehensive gui...
Cover of Paul and politics

Paul and politics

Krister Stendahl, Richard A. Horsley

2000 • 248p

This scholarly collection challenges conventional interpretations of the apostle Paul by examining the political dimensions of his teachings that have often been overlooked or minimized. Rather than viewing Paul solely through the lens of personal re...
Cover of Healing in the New Testament

Healing in the New Testament

John J. Pilch

2000 • 180p

When encountering the healing narratives in the New Testament, modern readers often struggle to bridge the gap between ancient accounts and contemporary understanding. John J. Pilch offers a transformative approach to these sacred stories, moving bey...