Contents:
Part One: Early Christians as Benefactors
Chapter One: Seeking the Welfare of the City (1 Peter 1-2:11ff.)
I. Recent Social History and Sociological Studies
II. The People of God in politeia in 'the Dispersion'
III. Eschatology and the Welfare of the City
IV. The Calling to do Good
V. Politeia and Benefactors
Chapter Two: Civic Honours for Christian Benefactors (Romans 13:3-4 and 1 Peter 2:14-15)
I. The Form of the Benefaction Inscription
II. The Future Promise to Civic Benefactors
III. Gratitude and Incentives
IV. The Praising of Civic Benefactors
V. Christians as Civic Benefactors
Chapter Three: From Secular Clients to Christian Benefactors (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13)
I. The Patron/Client Relationship
II. 'Political' Quietism for Former Clients
III. 'Dependent on Nobody'
IV. Providentia after Paul's Departure
V. Christians as Benefactors not Clients
VI. Abolition of Personal Patronage
Chapter Four: Widows and Legal and Christian Benefactions (1 Timothy 5:3-16)
I. Legal Benefactions for Widows
II. Adopting the Jerusalem Church's Benefaction Mechanism
III. Avoidance of Benefactions by Children and Grandchildren
IV. Benefactions by the Believing Women
V. Benefactions for the 'Real' Widows
VI. Disqualifying Young Widows from Benefactions
VII. 1 Timothy 5:3-16 and its Social Context
VIII. 1 Timothy 5:3-16 and Benefactions
Part Two: Early Christians as Citizens
Chapter Five: Civic Responsibility (Philippians 1:27-2:18)
I. Functioning in politeia in Plutarch and Dio Chrysostom
II. Paul's own problems with politeia in Philippians 1:12ff
III. Christians and politeia in Philippians 1:27-2:18
IV. Potential Problems in politeia in Philippians 4:2-3
V. Live in politeia worthily of the Gospel
Chapter Six: Civic Litigation (1 Corinthians 6:1-11)
I. Civil Litigation in Roman Corinth
II. Judges and 'the Unrighteous' of 1 Corinthians 6:1
III. The Powerful and the 'unrighteous'
IV. Enmity and Civil Litigation
V. The Arbiter and Litigation
VI. Those Least Esteemed 'in the Church'
VII. Conclusions
Chapter Seven: Civic Obligations (Galatians 6:11-18)
I. The Presence and Nature of the Imperial Cult
II. Christian teaching on 'Gods on the Earth'
III. Avoidance of a Civic Obligation
Chapter Eight: Social Mobility (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
I. Reasons for Removing the Marks of Circumcision
II. Manumission of Slaves
III. Voluntary Slavery by Free Men
IV. Calling and Social Status in 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
V. Calling and Christians in politiea
Chapter Nine: Civic Rights (1 Corinthians 8-11:1)
I. The 'right' ___ of 1 Corinthians 8:9
II. Citizenship Rights and Civic Feasts
III. 1 Corinthians 8-10 and the Isthmian Feasts
IV. Christians and the Welfare of Others
Chapter Ten: An Early Christian Benefactors and Prominent Citizen (Romans 16:23)
I. The Election of an aedile in the City
II. The Role of the aedile in the city
III. Greek and Latin Terms for the Aedileship
IV. Romans 16:23 and the Oath of Office
V. Erastus, Romans 13:3-4 and 1 Peter 2:14-15
Chapter 11: Conclusions
I. An Ambivalence or a Paradox?
II. The Social Register of Early Christians
III. The Distinctiveness of Christian politiea

Includes bibliographical references (p. [211]-224) and indexes.