Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / On title page: Master of Philosophy (Bible Skills) / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The apostle Paul was called and commissioned to the city centres of the eastern
Mediterranean world. These city centres were places of power, trade, wealth and travel.
They were the nerve centres of civilisation in the East. People from various parts of the
Roman Empire were found in these major cities. The city was therefore a highly significant
institution in the Roman Empire. The governing authorities wanted hellenization and
romanization to spread from these cities. The Christian leaders also decided that
Christianity had to spread in the Roman Empire from its city centres. The apostle Paul's
Christian mission was therefore to the various cities in the Roman Empire. The sociohistorical
realities in these cities therefore formed the context of Paul's life and apostolic
work and determined his relation to a city. The political, social, cultural and religious
factors in a city could therefore impinge on his life and work. The apostle Paul was usually
drawn to these large cities where he could find Jewish communities. As Christianity was
resting on a Jewish foundation, his initial strategy was his work in the synagogues amongst
the Jews. Paul also needed an alternative venue for his Christian work in the city. These
alternate venues were usually the private homes of individuals who had become Christians.
In these homes Paul established his church in a city. The hosts in these homes would
usually become the benefactors and leaders in the church. Paul's apostolic work in a city
was also done in the city streets. His church therefore became thoroughly mixed in terms of
social status, however, the church gave all equal rights and privileges. When Paul left a
city, he also placed on them the responsibility to reach their surrounding regions and
provinces with the Christian message. These cities therefore had to be strategically located.
The apostle Paul chose five specific cities that had an advantageous geographical position
in the Roman provinces to complete his apostolic work in the eastern Mediterranean world. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die apostel Paulus was geroep en opgedrag vir die stedelike sentrums van die ooste
Middellandse wereld. Hierdie stedelike sentrums was plekke van invloedryke mag,
ekonomiese handel, rykdom en reis aktiwitiete. Hulle was ook die kern van menslike
beskawing in die Ooste. Bevolkings groepe vanuit verskeie dele van die Romeinse ryk was
in hierdie groot stede te vinde. Stede was 'n hoogs betekensvolle instelling in die Romeinse
ryk. Die politieke owerhede wou he dat hellenization en romanization moes sprei van
hierdie stede. Die Christelike leiers het ook besluit dat Christendom moes in die stede van
die Romeinse ryk sprei. Die apostel Paulus se Christelike sending was dus tot die
verskillende stede in die Romeinse ryk. Die sosio-historiese realiteite in hierdie stede was
die samehang van Paulus se apostoliese werk en het ook sy verhouding met die betrokke
stede bepaal. Die politieke, maatskaplike, kulturele en godsdienstige faktore in 'n stad kon
dus 'n invloed uitoefen op sy lewe en werk. Paulus was gewoonlik aangetrokke tot hierdie
groot stede waar Joodse gemeenskappe te vinde was. Aangesien Christendom in die Joodse
geloof gegrondves was, was sy aanvanklike strategie om sy werk te loots in sinagoge waar
Joode te vinde was. Paulus het ook 'n alternatiewe ontmoetings plek vir sy Christelike werk
in die stede nodig gehad. Hierdie alternatiewe ontmoetingsplekke was gewoonlik in die
huise van indiwidue wat Christene geword het. Die eienaar van hierdie huishouding het
gedien as gasheer, weldoener en leier in die kerk. Paulus het ook sy apostoliese werk
voortgesit in die stedelike strate. Sy kerke het as gevolg hiervan 'n gemende samelewing
status gehad, nogtans het hy gepoog om alle Christene gelykwaardig te stel. Wanneer
Paulus 'n stad verlaat het, het hy het ook aan hulle die verantwoordelikheid gegee om uit te
reik na hulomliggende streke en provinsies met die Christen boodskap. Hierdie stede moes
dus strategies gelee wees. Paulus het vyf spesifieke stede wat 'n voordelig geologiese
posisie in die Romeinse provinsies uitgeken om sy apostoliese werk te voltooi in die ooste
Middellandse wereld.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52732 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Hardenberg, Benedict Ralph |
| Contributors | Thom, Johan C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Department of Ancient Studies. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 63 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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