The world in which early Christianity developed consisted of a complex ofdistinct communities and cultural layers which interacted with one anothersometimes coo... » 

The world in which early Christianity developed consisted of a complex ofdistinct communities and cultural layers which interacted with one anothersometimes cooperatively and sometimes in confrontation.The Three Worlds of Paul of Tarsus explores this world through the life of theapostle Paul examining the three fundamental cultural layers the native cultures the common Hellenistic culture which had been spread in the east as a resultof the conquests of Alexander the culture of the political overlord Rome.It shows how Paul as a Jew a Greekspeaker and a Roman citizen participatesin all of these layers. The authors give an account of the places Paulvisited showing their historical cultural and political differences anddiscuss the varied categories such as religion philosophy and language whichconstituted identity. «