Christoph W. Stenschke: Übergemeindliche Verbindungen in den Briefen der paulinischen Mission, Gebunden

Klappentext

Christoph W. Stenschke addresses a largely neglected dimension of the Pauline mission: the inter-congregational connections among the early Christian communities. He first outlines the fields of research in which such relationships are relevant for New Testament studies - for example, introductory issues, the historical reconstruction of early Christianity, ecclesiology, and the theological unity and diversity of the New Testament. The core analysis focuses on the seven generally recognized authentic Pauline letters, examined in canonical order with regard to the connections visible before, within, and around each letter. Through specific references to persons, greetings, prayers, material assistance, hospitality, letters of recommendation, and shared missionary efforts, the author reveals how closely the congregations were intertwined. These relationships serve important rhetorical functions within the letters and simultaneously strengthen a shared sense of identity. A comparison with the Acts of the Apostles confirms a largely consistent picture. Christoph W. Stenschke further evaluates the historical plausibility of these occurrences and considers the connections maintained by Paul's so-called opponents, thereby demonstrating that inter-congregational relations were not exclusive to Pauline circles. He concludes by discussing the significance of these findings for exegetical research and contemporary ecclesial practice.