First-Century Slavery and the Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7:21 - Paperback

by S. Scott Bartchy (Author)

In Bartchy's Harvard dissertation, a thorough investigation into the character of slavery in first-century Greece serves as the basis for a rethinking of Paul's advice to slaves in 1 Corinthians 7:21. Such a rethinking also sheds light on Paul's more general concern that the Corinthian Christians find their identity in their calling as followers of Jesus rather than in their circumstances of race, gender, or socio-political status.

Author Biography

S. Scott Bartchy serves as Professor of Christian Origins and the History of Religion in the Department of History, University of California, Los Angeles, and as Director of the Center for the Study of Religion at UCLA. An honors graduate of Milligan College, he earned his M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School and his Ph.D. in New Testament & Christian Origins from Harvard University, following which he taught in the Protestant Faculty of the University of Tuebingen, Germany and became the Director of the Institute zur Erforschung des Urchristentums there. He also has taught at Emmanuel School of Religion. Since the original appearance of this book Bartchy has continued to publish his research on ancient slavery, gender roles, and community formation in relation to Paul's letters and the traditions about Jesus of Nazareth.