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, 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.