Translocal Relationships Among Voluntary Associations and Early Christianity

Ascough, Richard S.

doi:10.1353/earl.1997.0054

Cited by 23 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Indeed, in responding to Adams’s essay in the same volume, Meeks himself acknowledges the progress made in research on associations, which has led to ‘a correction of something I said earlier’ (i.e., in Meeks 1983) regarding the comparability of associations and Christ groups (2009: 141). Thus, Meeks’s initial reasons for rejecting the model can no longer be invoked, although he still expresses caution concerning my argument that Christ groups and associations both exhibit a local focus with limited translocal connections (Ascough 1997; Schmeller 2001 presents counter-arguments to my position).…”

Section: The Push-back: Resisting the Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Much of the work on associations and the Pauline Christ groups focused in the past on the city of Corinth, in part because the New Testament data for the Christ group(s) in the city is rich (Heinrici 1876;Kloppenborg 1996b;Ascough 1996;Schmeller 1995; see summary in Ascough 1998: 79-93). This trend has continued over the past 15 years.…”

Section: Pauline Christ Groups and Associationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fourth and final focus for Downs’s analogous comparison is the translocal economic links among associations, which demonstrate that material support extended beyond the bounds of a local group was uncommon albeit not unknown. Drawing on Ascough 1997, Downs concludes that resistance among the Corinthian Christ adherents to Paul’s translocal financing reflects their own assumptions that monies collected generally remain in the hands of the local group. Alongside the problem of distance, Downs adds the factor of different ethnic identity—Judaean v. non-Judaean—by showing how diaspora Judaeans were derided by others for their annual submission of the temple tax.…”

Section: Pauline Christ Groups and Associationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an essay published shortly after that of Horsley, I address each of Meeks’s objections in turn, along with a few others, using a wide swathe of association texts (Ascough 2006; cf. idem 1997, 2003: 47-109). It seems that while Christ groups are not the ‘same’ as associations, the evidence also demonstrates both that one particular Christ group is not the same as another Christ group any more than one particular association is the ‘same’ as all others.…”

Section: The Push-back: Resisting the Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What Are They Now Saying about Christ Groups and Associations?

Ascough

2015

Currents in Biblical Research

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Over the past decade and a half a considerable number of scholarly books and articles have addressed directly the relationship between associations and early Christ groups. Some, albeit not all, of the Pauline communities have been subjected to thorough investigation, while preliminary studies have been undertaken with the Gospels, Acts, and other early Christian writings. The majority of scholarly works leave little doubt regarding the relevance of the associations for understanding the organizational and ideological predilections of the early Christ groups. In their structure and organization Christ groups look and sound like associations. Thus, it no longer makes sense to construe the investigation, as has so often been the case in past scholarship, as focusing on three separate and distinct categories such as 'synagogues, churches, and associations'. A review of the data available and the trends in recent scholarship is suggestive for new and fruitful avenues of exploration that dismantle such falsely constructed categorical boundaries.

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Section: The Push-back: Resisting the Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Pauline Christ Groups and Associationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Pauline Christ Groups and Associationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Push-back: Resisting the Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

What Are They Now Saying about Christ Groups and Associations?

Ascough

2015

Currents in Biblical Research

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“… 59. I only note at this point that translocal professional associations, apart from one article by Richard Ascough (1997), have received far less attention by Early Christianity scholars than the local ones. …”

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confidence: 93%

Fellow Athletes or Fellow Soldiers? συναθλέω in Philippians 1.27 and 4.3

Kurek-Chomycz

2017

Journal for the Study of the New Testament

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There is no agreement between interpreters as to whether the verb συναθλέω in Phil. 1.27 and 4.3 presupposes an athletic or a military metaphor. Given that first-century athletes were unlikely to compete as a team, the prefix συν- often puzzles those who interpret συναθλέω as an athletic term, and it is also one of the reasons why others opt for a military background. While the use of the verb alone does not provide any certainty as to the presupposed imagery, in this article I argue that the presence of the prefix συν- does not preclude athletics as a plausible option. Even though team sports were not part of official athletic contests, based on epigraphic evidence I suggest that, in spite of fierce competition, there may have existed a sense of fellowship between ancient athletes in the Roman period. In addition, it is likely that it was enhanced by the existence of a ‘worldwide’ athletic association.

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Christianity and Roman Society

Clark

2004

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Early Christianity in the context of Roman society raises important questions for historians, sociologists of religion and theologians alike. This work explores the differing perspectives arising from a changing social and academic culture. Key issues concerning early Christianity are addressed, such as how early Christian accounts of pagans, Jews and heretics can be challenged and the degree to which Christian groups offered support to their members and to those in need. The work examines how non-Christians reacted to the spectacle of martyrdom and to Christian reverence for relics. Questions are also raised about why some Christians encouraged others to abandon wealth, status and gender-roles for extreme ascetic lifestyles and about whether Christian preachers trained in classical culture offered moral education to all or only to the social elite. The interdisciplinary and thematic approach offers the student of early Christianity a comprehensive treatment of its role and influence in Roman society.

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Translocal Relationships Among Voluntary Associations and Early Christianity

Cited by 23 publications

References 17 publications

What Are They Now Saying about Christ Groups and Associations?

What Are They Now Saying about Christ Groups and Associations?

Fellow Athletes or Fellow Soldiers? συναθλέω in Philippians 1.27 and 4.3

Christianity and Roman Society

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