This latest addition to the "Fortress Social-Science Commentaries on New Testament Writings" illuminates the values, perceptions, and social codes of the Mediterranean culture that shaped Paul and his interactions - both harmonious and conflicted - with others. Malina and Pilch add new dimensions to our understanding of the apostle as a social change agent, his coworkers as innovators, and his Gospel as an assertion of the honor of the God of Israel.

Table of Contents:

Abbreviations

Preface

Introduction

1 THESSALONIANS

I. 1 Thess 1:1 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. 1 Thess 1:2-3:13 About the Relationship between the Change Agents and the Jesus Group They Formed

III. 1 Thess 4:1-5:24 Directives and Exhortations

IV. 1 Thess 5:25-28 Letter Closing: Salutation and Blessing

1 CORINTHIANS

I. 1 Cor 1: 1-8 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. 1 Cor 1:9-6:20 Reaction to a Report from Chloe's People

III. 1 Cor 7:1-15:58 Response to Corinthian Questions

IV. 1 Cor 16:5-24 Letter Closing: Salutations and Blessings

2 CORINTHIANS

I. 2 Cor 2:14-6:13 Letter 1: Written before the Dispute

II. 2 Corinthians 10-13 Letter 2: Written during the Dispute

III. 2 Cor 1:1-2:13 [7:5-16] Letter 3: Written after the Dispute

IV. 2 Cor 8:1-24 Insert: Part of a Letter of Recommendation for Titus about the Collection for Jerusalem

V. 2 Cor 9:1-15 Insert: Part of a Letter about the Collection for Jerusalem

GALATIANS

I. Gal 1:1-5 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. Gal 1:6-9 Introduction

III. Gal 1:10-2:21 Paul Defends His Honor (Form: Encomium)

IV. Gal 3:1-6:10 Paul Defends His Gospel (Form: Public Argument)

V. Gal 6:11-18 Conclusion

ROMANS

I. Rom 1:1-7 Letter Opening (Superscription)

II. Rom 1:8-10 Letter Thanksgiving

III. Rom 1:11-17 Introduction and Travel Plans

IV. Rom 1:18-32 They and the Ten Commandments

V. Rom 2:1-16 You Judeans and Judging Hellenists

VI. Rom 2:17-3:20 Israelites

VII. Rom 3:21-8:39 The Present Time: Now

VIII. Rom 9:1-11:36 Recalcitrant Israel

IX. Rom 12:1-13:14 You: Jesus-Group Values

X. Rom 14:1-15:13 They (the Weak) and the Torah Commandments

XI. Rom 15:15-32 Conclusion and Travel Plans

XII. Rom 15:33 Letter Ending

XIII. Rom 16:1-29 Appendix: Letter of Recommendation for Phoebe and Doxology

PHILIPPIANS

I. Phil 1:1-11 Superscription

II. Phil 1:12-2:15 Body A: Paul's Prison Circumstances and Its Significance for the Philippians

III. Phil 2:16-3:21 Body B: Ingroup and Outgroup Relations

IV. Phil 4:1-23 Concluding Remarks

PHILEMON

I. Phlm 1-3 Superscription

II. Phlm 4-7 Thanksgiving: The Exordium

III. Phlm 8-16 Body of the Letter Part A: Perobatio

IV. Phlm 17-22 Body of the Letter Part B: Peroratio

V. Phlm 23-25 Conclusion

Reading Scenarios for the (Authentic) Letters of Paul

Bibliography

List of Reading Scenarios