Translocal Relationships Among Voluntary Associations and Early Christianity

Abstract

An analysis of inscriptional data from voluntary associations in antiquity suggests that some associations had translocal links. At the same time, early Christian groups are shown to be more locally based than is often assumed. Thus, despite the common assumption within New Testament scholarship to the contrary, Christian congregations and voluntary associations can both be seen as locally based groups with limited translocal connections. This conclusion will open the way for the more profitable use of voluntary associations as an analogy for understanding the formation and organization of early Christian groups.