Bruce J. Malina's Timothy, Paul's Book Review

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Paradoxically, while the entirety of Molina's book argues that a sociological, network-centric analysis of the New Testament is necessary to understand the spread of Jesus groups in the first century AD, Molina does not pay much attention to the sociological and cultural details which organized interpersonal relationships in the first century AD. Aside from broad conceptions of in-group/out-group relations as they apply to Jews centered around Jerusalem and those "Greek" Jews of which Paul and Timothy are likely part, Molina does not examine the contextual realities that would have informed and constrained Paul and Timothy's relationship. In other words, Paul and Timothy's travels throughout the Mediterranean were likely organized by a far more complex set of interpersonal standards than those organizing the interactions between coworkers on an extended business trip. Thessalonica is not Toledo, and the institution of churches practicing an offshoot, apocalyptic Judaism seems a far cry from regional sales calls. It seems that Molina discusses Paul and Timothy's working relationship in relatively "modern" terms as way of making the oftentimes obscure functioning of early Christianity more accessible, but in doing so, he glosses over details that seem intrinsic to an understanding of the spread of Pauline Christianity.

he book assumes Paul and Timothy's success, and so rather than examine what specific, individual facets of their social network made them so successful in spreading their message (more so than concurrent Jesus theologies), Molina goes for a broader analysis, and points out the differences between the Pauline generations of Jesus groups and others without really drawing any conclusions regarding the effects of these differences.

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Of course, this may be beyond the intended scope of the book, as Molina's analysis hints at itself being only an introductory examination as to the sociological underpinnings of Paul's missionary work, but nonetheless, it runs the risk of selling itself short by failing to engage its object of study in more detail.

Bruce J. Molina's Timothy: Paul's Closest Associate examines Timothy as part of a larger generational struggle regarding the legacy of Jesus following his death. Molina locates Timothy, and Paul, in a second generation of Jesus groups which made it goal the spread of Christianity to pockets of Jews living in predominantly Gentile regions. Timothy was especially suited for this goal, as his cultural background made his particularly adept at conferring with churches in various regions. However, Molina's analysis only goes so far, and in his efforts to discuss Timothy in large-scale, sociological terms, he manages to obscure relevant details concerning the particular standards of interpersonal relationships during the establishment of the early Christian church.

Malina, Bruce J. Timothy:….....

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