Paul, the Motherly Paterfamilias Essay -- History Paul Historical Essa

Paul, the Motherly Paterfamilias IntroductionIn Pauls succession the role of paterfamilias in Roman householdsas well as in general societywas that of an authoritarian ruler with absolute harbour over all people in his realm. In his letters to the congregations that he had founded and towards which he felt paternal affection, the apostle Paul transcended this dominating relationship by expressing deep emotions of longing and affection. He also nurtured them by sharing his invigoration with them and helping them resocialize to Christianity. Role of the PaterfamiliasDuring Pauls time, the ruling Roman tradition unsounded the family as the basis of society and the paterfamilias as the literal guide of the family. This man, the oldest male in direct line within his familia, had unprecedented place in the form of patria potestas (paternal mightiness).1 The unlimited authority that he exercised over all members of his household (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were all under his omnipotent hand) did non end when they grew up, rather the paterfamilias controlled every aspect of their lives (from collecting their income to allowing their marriages) until his death. His influence extended over the whole of the domus (household), meaning that slaves were in a similar relationship. Children and slaves were both owned by the paterfamilias because they are both born into their parents household and require to be supported.2 He even had ius vitae nescisque, the accountability of life and death over the members of his family.3 Such was the supremacy of paternal power that the second century lawyer Gaius was moved to say virtually no other men have over their sons a power much(prenominal) as we have.4Aristotle had maintained that... ...70), 157.26 Charles Wanamaker, Like A Father Treats His Own Children Paul and the novelty of the Thessalonians, Journal of Theology for Southern Africa 92 (1995) 51.27 1 Thess. 29 (NIV)28 Philip Esler, Imagery and I dentity in Gal. 5.13 to 6.10, in Constructing Early Christian Families, pp. 121-149. edit by Halvor Moxnes (New York Routledge, 1997), 122.29 Sara Ruddick, Maternal Thinking, in Mothering Essays in Feminist Theory, pp. 213-30. alter by Joyce Trebilcot (Savage Rowman & Littlefield, 1983), 226.30 Barbara Katz Rathman, Beyond Mothers and Fathers Ideology In a Patriarchal Society, in Mothering, Ideology, Experience, Agency, pp.139-60. Edited by E.N. Gelnn, G. Chang and L.R. Forcey (New York Routledge, 1994), 155.31 Rathman, Beyond Mothers and Fathers, 157.32 Ruddick, Maternal Thinking, 227.