Book Description and Book Reviews

Philip A. Harland, Associations, Synagogues, and Congregations: Claiming a Place in Ancient Mediterranean Society (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003).

 **Winner of the 2004 Francis W. Beare book award**
(Canadian Society of Biblical Studies)

Description

This social historical study of religious groups in Roman Asia Minor brings the world of early Christians and Jews to life. Despite their distinct devotion to one God within a polytheistic context, synagogues and congregations could claim a place for themselves within ancient Mediterranean society. A fresh look at inscriptions and archeological evidence reveals new insights about the formation, operation, and function of congregations and synagogues within the larger framework of guilds and associations in the Greco-Roman world. To what extent did synagogues and congregations, like other associations, participate in city life under Roman rule? What place did emperors and imperialism hold in these groups? Harland's findings broaden our understanding of 1 Peter, Revelation, the Pastoral epistles, Ignatius' epistles, and other early Christian and Jewish literature from Asia Minor. The book fundamentally reassesses the relation of Christianity and Judaism to the ancient city and the Roman imperial order.

Paperback, 399 pages, 2 maps, 30 figures and illustrations,
ISBN 0-8006-3589-2; list price: $22 USD, $35.50 Canadian)

Excerpts from Book Reviews

“This is an excellent study of the sociology of early Christianity, diaspora Judaism and other religious activity during the first two centuries. . . . The methodology is exemplary.  . . . The scholarship throughout, ranging from sociological theory to studies of early Christian literature and Asia Minor epigraphy and archaeology is impressively up-to-date.  The book is lucidly written and well presented.  It deserves to be widely read and discussed.”
Journal of Ecclesiastical History 55 (2004): 744-45
Dr. Stephen Mitchell, University of Exeter

“Harland's clearly written, well-argued, and richly documented study . . . is a welcome addition to the body of new scholarship that challenges a number of long-standing historical assumptions on the basis of a thorough examination of archaeological evidence (architecture and art as well as inscriptions), a re-reading of Greco-Roman, Jewish, and Christian literature, and a sophisticated application of theories developed in religious studies.”
Worship 78 (2004): 281-82
Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson, Emory University

“This book, as an example of meticulous research and a keenly thoughtful perspective, will stand for a long time as an outstanding contribution to our knowledge of small group life in Roman Asia, and a thought-provoking, fresh approach to the ancient world . . .”
Studies in Religion / Sciences religieuses  32 (2003): 376-79
Dr. Nicola Denzey, Bowdoin College

“Harland's purpose . . . is not simply to replace the old paradigm [of group-society tensions and sectarianism] by its opposite; rather, his goal is to show that the old paradigm represents only one in a range of options for our understanding of the sociological self-awareness of the early Christian groups.  And he achieves this goal with precision and clarity.”
Review of Biblical Literature 10 (2004) =  
Journal of Biblical Literature 123 (2004) 377-380
Michael Kaler, Université Laval

“[A] brilliant volume like this can be either an introduction with a clear focus on how to use inscriptions and archaeological data or a finely tuned review of the methods employed to study them.  . . . No serious scholar of early Christian studies can avoid this volume.  It is pertinent, creative, well researched, and a good read.”
Church History 73 (2004) 836-837
Dr. Frederick W. Norris, Emmanuel School of Religion

“Harland has produced a most impressive and rich study that will serve students and scholars alike.  It is a must read for all who study Christian origins and the ancient synagogue as well as first and second century Roman society generally.”
Biblica 86 (2005) 137-141
Dr. Anders Runesson, McMaster University

“The extent and critical care Harland devotes to the issues . . . indicate that the socio-historical reconstruction of associations and imperial cult is more than a mere convenient backdrop for his historiographically orientated biblical studies . . . Particularly impressive is Harland's use of epigraphic material, which is often the only remaining information on some associations.  This alone will make this book highly recommendable to students who seek an entry point to this material . . .”
Bryn Mawr Classical Review (2005.06.20)
Juan Garcés, King's College London

“[T]his highly recommended book deserves a place among the best in biblical studies.  A fascinating read, it sheds new light on an important question in New Testament scholarship.”
Theological Studies  66 (2005): 668-69
Dr. J. Albert Harrill, Indiana University

 “What is impressive about Harland's study is not only the erudition, but also the comprehensiveness.  What we have here is a study that not only cites literary, archaeological, epigraphic evidence, but also discusses and analyses them.  Far too many studies of the 'world' of the Roman Empire tell of the evidence, and do not really investigate what the evidence actually tells us. . . This is a valuable contribution, and it is highly recommended.”
Hervormde Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies  61 (2005): 640-641
Dr. Pieter J. J. Botha, University of South Africa

“Harland's work is admirable for its clarity of argument  and methodological sophistication.  His use of epigraphic and archaeological evidence is a welcome corrective to the conventional reliance on literary and legal sources. . . and his attention to the social function of ritual, the symbolic value of 'monumentalizing', and the complexity of acculturation and assimilation in minority cultural groups offers an insightful framework for the interpretation of material data.”
Toronto Journal of Theology 20 (2004) 216-217
Rene A. Baergen, Toronto School of Theology

“An excellent study that uses not only literary but neglected archaeological evidence to argue its case.”
Religious Studies Review 32 (2006) 192
Fred W. Burnett, Anderson University
 

Advance evaluations of the book

“This intriguing study offers a new model for the social location of the earliest Christians in Asia Minor, not as opposed to Rome and imperial cult, but as residents who participate in their Roman world.  In intelligent and informed conversation with archaeology, social context, and social-science interpretation, the author offers a more balanced view of the interrelationships between popular associations, synagogues, and early Christian communities.”
Dr. Carolyn Osiek, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago

“A groundbreaking study.  Harland’s focus on associations in Roman antiquity as a way better to understand civic social life and the social sensibilities of those involved in such associations sets the stage for a reconsideration of the place of ancient Christianities and Judaisms in the Roman order. What emerges is a realistic picture of the ancient Christian associations of Asia Minor that produced such texts as 1 Peter, the Apocalypse, and the Pastoral Epistles. This new picture emphasizes the concrete, day-to-day ways in which ancient Christians did claim a place for themselves within the empire, and soundly dismisses conceptualizations of Christianity as an isolated sect.  This is an indispensable step toward re-imagining ancient civic life, ancient religion, and the origins of Christianity as well.”
Dr. William Arnal, University of Regina, Saskatchewan