"When You Were Gentiles"

Specters of Ethnicity in Roman Corinth and Paul's Corinthian Correspondence

Concannon Cavan W.

Cavan W. Concannon makes a significant contribution to Pauline studies by imagining the responses of the Corinthians to Paul's letters. Based on surviving written materials and archaeological research, this book offers a textured portrait of the ancient Corinthians with whom Paul conversed, argued, debated and partnered, focusing on issues of ethnicity, civic identity, politics and empire. In doing so, the author provides readers a unique opportunity to assess anew, and imagine possibilities beyond, Paul's complicated legacy in shaping western notions of race, ethnicity and religion.

About the Author

Cavan W. Concannon is currently visiting assistant professor of religion at Duke University.

Reviews

"An important and timely contribution, this book invites Paul and his talk of malleable and fixed ethnicity to linger among the archaeological and literary remains of Roman Corinth so that readers might conjure some of the ghostly Corinthians who shaped, misheard, and talked back to Paul in the context of a lively Corinthian assembly" – Melanie Johnson-DeBaufre, Drew Theological School

Back to the list of books