Paul's Graeco-Roman Context

These papers of the 62nd Colloquium Biblicum Lovaniense (July 16-18, 2013) illustrate that the Apostle Paul is an excellent example for the cultural exchange so typical of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire during the early imperial age. He was a Jew from Tarsus and regarded himself, accordin [...]
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These papers of the 62nd Colloquium Biblicum Lovaniense (July 16-18, 2013) illustrate that the Apostle Paul is an excellent example for the cultural exchange so typical of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire during the early imperial age. He was a Jew from Tarsus and regarded himself, according to his own words, as Hebrew descended from Hebrews, and as Pharisee according to the way of interpreting the Law. However, he wrote his letters in Greek, showing acquaintance not only with the Greek translations of the Law and the Prophets, but also with contemporary Greek philosophical concepts, rhetorical style and e.g. the tradition of Euripides' tragedies. He lived and worked in several Roman colonies and absorbed Romanized concepts, metaphors and a vision of reaching from the eastern frontier of the Empire to Spain in the West. Influenced by different intellectual worlds, Paul stood at the crossroads of cultural interaction.