Thinking Like an Ancient

Honor and Shame The primary value is honor, life is a secondary value in such a culture. Better to die than to be dishonored or shamed. Honor was a public and male value in this culture, shame a private and often female value. The primary value is honor, life is a secondary value in such a culture. Better to die than to be dishonored or shamed. Honor was a public and male value in this culture, shame a private and often female value. Society was structured such that one got ahead by means of Honor challenges-- in which there were always winners and losers. A win-win situation did not occur. Society was structured such that one got ahead by means of Honor challenges-- in which there were always winners and losers. A win-win situation did not occur.

Group verses Individual Ancient Mediterranean persons got their primary sense of identity not from their uniqueness but from the groups and locale of which they were a part Ancient Mediterranean persons got their primary sense of identity not from their uniqueness but from the groups and locale of which they were a part For example, their family group, ethnic group, homeland (e.g. Simon Bar-Jonah; Jesus of Nazareth; Paul of Tarsus) For example, their family group, ethnic group, homeland (e.g. Simon Bar-Jonah; Jesus of Nazareth; Paul of Tarsus)

Limited Good In antiquity, goods, services, honor, and the like were all in limited supply. If one person had them another did not. In antiquity, goods, services, honor, and the like were all in limited supply. If one person had them another did not. There was not a free market economy. Bartering, trading, stealing, or winning were the chief means of obtaining what one did not have. There was not a free market economy. Bartering, trading, stealing, or winning were the chief means of obtaining what one did not have. One could seldom earn improvement in life or advance because of hard work. It had to be bestowed by another and one had to know the right people. One could seldom earn improvement in life or advance because of hard work. It had to be bestowed by another and one had to know the right people.

Limited Good

Patron – Client Relationships The chief means of succeeding in antiquity was through patronage. The chief means of succeeding in antiquity was through patronage. “you scratch my back and I will scratch yours” kind of world.“you scratch my back and I will scratch yours” kind of world. Favors and payback were the order of the day.Favors and payback were the order of the day.

Patron – Client Relationships The culture was hierarchical; one needed a patron to gain what one needed. The culture was hierarchical; one needed a patron to gain what one needed. Once one entered a patron-client relationship, it was difficult if not impossible to get out of it.Once one entered a patron-client relationship, it was difficult if not impossible to get out of it. In such a culture, “grace” was a foreign concept.In such a culture, “grace” was a foreign concept.

Patriarchal World The world Paul lived in was highly patriarchal. That is, not only was it a male dominated world, but the major values of the world were set up to keep it that way. The world Paul lived in was highly patriarchal. That is, not only was it a male dominated world, but the major values of the world were set up to keep it that way. Ancient literature was almost all written from a male point of view. Higher education was basically the right of males, and so most ancient literature was written by and for men. Ancient literature was almost all written from a male point of view. Higher education was basically the right of males, and so most ancient literature was written by and for men. In this world, Paul’s attempts to modify patriarchy will be seen as much more revolutionary than they may appear today. But it is world-shaking nonetheless. In this world, Paul’s attempts to modify patriarchy will be seen as much more revolutionary than they may appear today. But it is world-shaking nonetheless.