Paul as Benefactor: Reciprocity, Strategy and Theological Reflection in Paul's Collection

by Stephan Joubert

Reciprocity was at the heart of all forms of benevolence in the ancient Greco-Roman world. The bestowal of gifts usually initiated long-term relationships that involved mutual obligations and clear status differentials between the parties concerned. The leadership of the Jerusalem church requests at the so-called Jerusalem meeting not to forget the poor (Gal. 2:10), was interpreted by Paul in terms of these principles. In response to their benefactions, the Jerusalem church demanded that Paul address the needs of the socially destitute in their midst. In order to fulfill these obligations towards Jerusalem, but also in view of the fact that the church in Antioch did not live up to their responsibilities in this regard, Paul then took it upon himself to organize a collection in the Christian communities under his control. Paul utilized specific rhetorical strategies and contextual 'theologies' in the course of the collection project to ensure its completion, but also to secure his role as benefactor of Jerusalem.Paul and Jerusalem's conflicting ideologies threatened the eventual success of the collection. In anticipation of a possible rejection of the collection, Paul offered a new ideological angle of incidence to this project. In a 'Christian' reinterpretation of the basic principles of benefit exchange, Paul turned the collection into an 'eleventh hour success' within the framework of his communities.Although Luke is not well-informed on the Pauline collection, he presents us with the basic outlines of Paul's final visit to Jerusalem to deliver the collection. From the available information it may be deduced that Paul devised an emergency solution to ensure the eventual acceptance of the collection by the Jerusalem church. However, Paul's imprisonment brought an abrupt end to this imaginative project.

248 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2000

About the author

Stephan Joubert dien al vir meer as ‘n dekade as ‘n professor in Nuwe Testament studies by die Universiteit van Pretoria. Hy het al meer as 40 akademiese navorsingspublikasies, 10 artikels vir publikasie in internasionale akademiese werke, sowel as ‘n magtige navorsingswerk oor die lewe van Paulus die lig laat sien. Hy was ‘n leraar by ‘n mega gemeente in Pretoria, en is steeds ‘n gesogte spreker by internasionale konferensies en seminare oor leierskap en die kerk.

Hy skryf ‘n weeklikse bydrae vir ‘n koerant in Gauteng, ‘n maandelikse bydrae vir ‘n Christelike glanstydskrif, en is ook die redakteur van ‘n groot internet kerk (24 000 besoekers). Stephan het reeds 47 Christelike boeke geskryf, en is ook die mede-vertaler van ‘n moderne Afrikaanse vertaling van die Bybel, welke bekroon is as die beste Christelike publikasie van die jaar in Suid-Afrika. Hy het ook reeds die Van Drimmelen medalje vanaf die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad vir die Wetenskap en die Kunste ontvang.