Paul's Language of Grace in its Graeco-Roman Context

by Jim Harrison

James R. Harrison argues that the Graeco-Roman benefaction context of ('favour') is the backdrop of Paul's understanding of divine and humane grace. By the first century AD was the leitmotiv of the Hellenistic reciprocity system. It shaped the conventions of giving and receiving throughout the eastern Mediterranean basin.Before Paul's converts were exposed to the gospel, they would have held various beliefs regarding divine beneficence. The apostle needed to tailor his language of grace as much to the theological concerns of Graeco-Roman culture as to first-century Judaism.In making benefaction terminology the touchstone of his theology of grace, Paul chose to articulate his understanding of over and against the theological and social beliefs of the Mediterranean city-states and the imperial rulers. While Paul endorses the reciprocity system, he redefines its rationale in the light of the gospel of grace and transforms its social expression in his house-churches.

440 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2003

About the author

Jim Harrison was born in Grayling, Michigan, to Winfield Sprague Harrison, a county agricultural agent, and Norma Olivia (Wahlgren) Harrison, both avid readers. He married Linda King in 1959 with whom he has two daughters.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

His awards include National Academy of Arts grants (1967, 68, 69), a Guggenheim Fellowship (1969-70), the Spirit of the West Award from the Mountain & Plains Booksellers Association, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2007).

Much of Harrison's writing depicts sparsely populated regions of North America with many stories set in places such as Nebraska's Sand Hills, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Montana's mountains, and along the Arizona-Mexico border.

Reviews

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the main book I used for my Masters thesis. Harrison's research and thoroughness is quite incredible. Harrison studies the term charis and its cognates in their Graeco-Roman context. He identifies that the term charis is used in social, commercial and religious papyri dating from the 5th century BC and the 1st century which is important as St Paul’s letters are written in the mid to late 1st century. The term charis and its cognates are found in the social institution of benefactor/patron client relationships in the ancient world; whether they be in be household letters, commercial transactions or thankfulness to the gods. Moreover, he finds that charis can mean ‘gratefulness’ (from a client to their patron), ‘benefit’ (received from a patron/benefactor), ‘benefaction’, ‘favour’. It refers to concrete goods, whether from the gods or human benefactors/patrons rather than any kind of ‘spiritual’ goods or resources.

Unfortunately, ‘grace’ or charis has been theologised and spiritualised by the many theologians over 2000 years, which means that ‘grace’ has come to mean something that St Paul may never have intended it to mean. However, Paul uses the language of ‘grace’ to portray God as the great Benefactor to his Greaco-Roman audience, which would have been a familiar concept to them.

Having said all of this, it is an academic book and well out of the price range of many people. I only bought it because it was the main resource for my thesis. But it was well worth the $100 plus that I paid for it.