Paul between Synagogue and State: Christians, Jews, and Civic Authorities in 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians

Abstract

Paul between Synagogue and State: Christians, Jews, and Civic Authorities in 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians, by Mikael Tellbe. ConBNT 34. Stockholm: Ahnqvist & Wiksell, 2001. Pp. xii + 340. euro30.00 (paper). This thoroughly researched and well-presented doctoral dissertation (Lund University) warrants careful reading. Tellbe examines tripartite relationships between Christians, Jews, and civic authorities at three major urban centers: Thessalonica, Rome, and Philippi. The common link among three is, of course, Paul. Tellbe maintains that using Paul's letters to each of these communities, along with supplementary material from Acts, allows one to take note of interactions and tensions among major entities in each city. Doing so allows him to determine interactions in this tripartite relation shaped self-understanding and identity of Christian of 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians (p. 4). In particular, it reveals how need for political legitimacy shaped Christian identity as early as mid-first century C.E. The first chapter lays out need for this study within matrix of previous biblical scholarship on Paul and his communities. Tellbe's primary analysis is historical, with a detailed textual analysis of Paul's letters, although he also draws upon sociological and rhetorical methods. While few would question use of these letters as authentic Pauline letters (which for Tellbe are without interpolation), Tellbe is to take much of detailed material of Acts as a credible source of information in task of reconstructing setting of Pauline communities (p. 18). His decision to do so is under-defended and, given his reliance on Acts for critical information, his choice not to defend this more thoroughly is unfortunate. Those less inclined than he to place much reliance on Acts will find that some of his assumptions about composition of Pauline and urban interactions of Jews, Christians, and civic authorities rest on a somewhat unstable foundation. Chapter 2 sets stage for remainder of book by undertaking an analysis of the legal status of Diaspora under Roman rule, focusing primarily on information provided by Josephus and Philo, although with some reference to Roman writers. Jewish were treated by Romans much like other foreign cults and voluntary associations-left to their own religious activities as long as they did not disrupt public order, but brought under control if perceived to be unruly. Although Tellbe agrees with recent arguments against a special Jewish designation ofpolituema, he does note a number of unusual concessions granted only to Jews (p. 42): Judaism in first century CK was thus granted a legal standing in Roman society that in practice seems to have been more specific than what is actually conveyed by more general Roman expression collegium licitum (p. 59). Nevertheless, Jews in particular cities were not immune from periods of opposition by local authorities (p. 63). Chapter 3 gives attention to specific situation at Thessalonica, beginning with a description of city itself and Roman, Jewish, and Christian populations therein. Tellbe correctly surmises that Roman imperial ideology and propaganda played a large part in civic affairs. However, he is on less secure ground in asserting that there was an influential group of Jews in city. Here he relies only on Acts 17:1-9,1 Thess 2:13-16 (considered by many to be an interpolation), and either late or questionable epigraphic evidence. Although he acknowledges the apparent tension between Luke and Paul concerning composition of Thessalonian church Tellbe claims that it is important not to overplay these differences (p. 93). This seems to be understated in light of Tellbe's reliance on elimination of tension in order for his thesis to hold. …