Books

Where is the Wise Man?

From the Cover

The divisions in the Corinthian church are catalogued by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12: “Each of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’” White shows how these splits are found in the milieu of 1st-century Graeco-Roman education. By consulting relevant literary and epigraphic evidence, White develops a picture of ancient education throughout the Empire generally, and in Roman Corinth specifically. This serves as a backdrop to the situation in the Christian community, wherein some of the elite, educated members preferred Apollos to Paul as a teacher since Apollos more closely resembled other teachers of higher studies.

Paul, Community, and Discipline

From the Cover

Over the course of several years, Paul established numerous Christian communities in cities throughout the Roman Empire. Each of these small groups was founded on the premise of inclusivity, mutual love, and shared concern for other members. But what happened when these core tenets were challenged or undermined? In Paul, Community, and Discipline: Establishing Boundaries and Dealing with the Disorderly, Adam G. White begins by examining the practice of exile and expulsion in the cities of the Graeco-Roman world as well as in the specific social institutions of the family, school, association, and synagogue. He then examines the Pauline letters in light of this context, arguing that what we see in Paul’s communities is both a continuation of as well as a divergence from contemporary practices.