Seek the Welfare of the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens

by Bruce W. Winter

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

The first Christians were members of households, possibly associations, and certainly cities in the first-century Graeco-Roman world before they embraced the preaching of the gospel. This new six-volume series, which gathers contributors who are specialists in the intersection of the New Testament with the Graeco- Roman world, seeks for the first time to describe systematically the challenges, difficulties, and necessary adjustments involved in being a Christian to Graeco-Roman society in the various spheres of life.

In this first volume, Seek the Welfare of the City, Bruce W. Winter maps out the role of obligations of Christians as benefactors and citizens in their society. Winter's scholarly insight is enhanced through the selective use of important ancient literary and nonliterary sources. Contrary to the popular perception that early Christians withdrew from society and sought to maintain a low profile, this outstanding study explores the complexities of the positive commitments made by Christians in Gentile regions of the Roman Empire.

Genres: Theology, Church History, History, Religion, Christianity

254 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1994

About the author

Originally from Toowoomba, Bruce and his wife Lyn lived in Cambridge for over 20 years, where Bruce was the Warden of Tyndale House, a leading centre for evangelical biblical scholarship. Bruce previously lectured in New Testament at Moore Theological College and in Singapore. He is a widely respected authority on the historical background to the New Testament, having published many works in this area as well as on Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.

Reviews

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book! Although a bit technical in places, Winter shows how the New Testament subverts many traditional practices of Greco-Roman civilization. The main point is that, rather than telling Christians to disengage from the culture, Paul integrates the traditional notion of "benefaction" into a Christological and eschatalotical framework to motivate Christians to seek the welfare of the city. Good discussions of other issues like slavery as well. Very important reading in the context of current discussions about "Christian nationalism" and how conservative Christians should engage with our culture.

[Радостин Марчев]

Технически, но лек за четене текст с характерното за Уинтър чудесно познаване на древните източници.