How did Paul's ideas of service, the role of women, and class distinctions compare with other religious groups of his time? How much were Paul's thoughts a reflection of the broader culture he lived in? Banks explores these questions and sifts through practices of the synagogue and mystery cults to give you a view of the nature, structure, and basis of Paul's communities as he saw them. In this extensively revised edition Robert Banks has rewritten chapters for clarity, taken into account recent scholarship on Paul's writings, updated and expanded the bibliography, and added an index. This new edition retains, however, all the freshness and vitality of the original.
Robert Banks is the Director and Dean of Macquarie Christian Studies Institute in Australia. Previously he was founding Professor of the Ministry of the Laity at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, and Executive Director of the De Pree Leadership Center.
