Focusing on early Christian community organization, Richard Ascough employs Greco-Roman associations as a comparative framework. He specifically examines the dynamics within Paul's Macedonian Christian communities, offering insights into their structure and social interactions. This analysis highlights the influences of contemporary cultural practices on the formation and development of early Christian groups.
The book explores the role of associations in understanding the development of early Christian groups during the first and second centuries, drawing on insights from inscriptions and papyri. Richard Ascough compiles his significant contributions over two decades, featuring sixteen previously published articles organized into three sections. These sections examine associations as a model for Christ groups, their recruitment interactions, and vital aspects of group life, including communal meals and memorial practices. A new introduction provides context for these scholarly works.
Voluntary associations serve as a crucial lens for exploring Christ groups within modern New Testament scholarship, reflecting a long-standing consensus developed over decades. This approach builds on foundational work from the previous century, allowing both students and scholars to deepen their understanding of Christian origins through accessible influential texts in the field.