What Are They Saying about the Formation of Pauline Churches?

Exploring the diverse structures of early Christian communities, this book examines four models from the Greco-Roman period that influenced the formation of Pauline churches: the synagogue, philosophical school, ancient mystery cult, and voluntary association. Each model is analyzed in its own chapter, integrating archaeological and literary evidence with insights from Pauline letters. The author highlights the strengths and limitations of each model, ultimately concluding that a combination of perspectives is necessary to fully understand the complexities of these early churches.