the apostle paul foundation studies introduction the apostle paul paul’s ministry virginia wiles
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The Apostle
Paul
Paul’s Ministry
Virginia Wiles
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Paul’s World
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Two Cultures -- One Context
Jewish
And
Greek
In the City
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Judaism Diaspora Judaism centered in the
Synagogue
Torah and Prophets probably used in Septuagint version
The “Writings” were not yet canonical
The Temple was the center of Judaism -- even for the Diaspora
Many “God-fearers” and Proselytes
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Three Marks of Judaism
Circumcision
Sabbath Observance
Dietary Regulations -- Kashrut
These three issues were central to Paul’s ministry
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Greco-Roman Context
Many gods and goddesses
Philosophies
Collegia -- Voluntary Associations
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The Religionsof the
Greco-roman World
The religious environment of the
Greco-Roman world was
pluralistic syncretistic and inclusive
The Goddess Isis
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Religion in the Ancient World
Pluralistic and Syncretistic
The Greek Mysteries
Asclepius
Official Cult
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Pluralistic Features
Multiple Gods and Goddesses“populated by deities”
Assumption of multiple loyalties inclusive
In general -- Religion was not identified with moralitycontrast Ethical Monotheism
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Syncretistic Features
Identification or combination of deities of different origins
Oriental religions hellenized
Inherited ancient concepts reinterpreted to fit into new world culture
Creation of new religions out of Greek and non-Greek elements
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The Greek Mysteries
Demeter cult in Eleusis
Dionysian Cult
Sarapis and Isis
Mithras
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Demeter cult in Eleusis
“Mother of Grain”
Most significant of the mystery religions
Ritual Initiation
Consecration
Higher Consecration
Each stage consisted of demonstrations, actions, and words
Destroyed in 5th c. C.E.
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Dionysian Cult (=Bacchus)
Thracian == “Son of Zeus” Originally only women --
orgiastic feasts in middle of winter
Widely accepted Common meal and drinking of
wine Myth of the dying and
revivification of Dionysius Observances of ritual purity
and rules of abstentionGo toCult Initiation
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Sarapis and Isis
Egyptian -- most Hellenized oriental religion
Isis = the goddess of the royal throne
Horus = the mythical representation of the living Pharoah (=Isis’ son)
Osiris = the mythical embodiment of Nile’s fertile lands, also God of the dead Pharoahs
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God of
Healing
Temples =
Hospitals
Strong
Devotion
Asclepius
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Imported from Persia
Popular with military
Exclusive for men Strong competitor with Christianity
Mithras
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The Emperor Cult
Especially popular in Asia Minor & Macedonia
Pertained to Civic duty
Emperors proclaimed divine after death
Caesar Augustus
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Civic Religion
Greek Roman Characteristic Function
Zeus Jupiter FatherHera Juno Guardian of MarriageAres Mars War
Athena Minerva Wise Warrior – MaidenAphrodite Venus Goddess of LovePoseidon Neptune Sea
Hephaestus Volcanus Fire, Smith, TechnologyHermes Mercury Messenger of the Gods and Goddesses
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Philosophies of the Greco-Roman World
Middle PlatonismSeneca
StoicismEpictetusMusonius Rufus
EpicureanismLucretius
Skepticism Cynicism
The “hero” = Diogenes
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Influence of Philosophyon Paul
Lifestyle -- preaching in the agorastudying in the workshop
Notion of “Sin” as “Disease”
Importance of the Mind in both human misery and human hope
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Collegia
Burial Associations
Professional “Guilds”
Religious collegia
Other special interest groups
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The Urban Context
The Agora - Forum
The Workshop
Living Conditions
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The Agora - Forum
Living Quarters
A reconstructedA reconstructedmodel of a model of a Roman insula,Roman insula,with shops on thewith shops on thelower level andlower level andliving quartersliving quartersabove, similar toabove, similar toone that Paul mayone that Paul mayhave worked andhave worked andlived in while inlived in while inThessalonicaThessalonicaand Corinth.and Corinth.
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Upscale Living
The Workshop
A shoemaker and cordmaker at work, from an ancient sarcophagus. These were manual laborers like Paul, who according to Acts 18:3 was a leather-worker.
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On Journey with Paul