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This essay focuses on Paul�s shifting leadership styles in his relationship with the church in Corinth during the organization of an ecumenical collection for the believers in Jerusalem (cf 1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8-9). Paul�s basic textual strategy in 2 Corinthians 8-9, which involves the assignment of new roles to the interlocutors, serves to anti-structurally bridge the hierarchical gap between him (as the mild patriarchal figure) and the Corinthians (as his spiritually mature children) within the intratextual discourse. This pragmatic adjustment of the apostle�s autocratic leadership role in 1 Corinthians 16, in order to salvage the collection project in Corinth, serves as an example to modern church leaders to take cognizance of the impact of social and ideological contexts on their own styles of leadership.

Patronage as dominant social system in the Roman world during the New Testament era Patronage was one of the most important forms of social exchange in the Roman world during the Republic as well as in Imperium Romanum. It functioned as a pervasive, voluntary form of interaction between socially disproportionate individuals and groups involved in a reciprocal exchange of material goods and services. This essay presents an overview of the nature of the various forms of interaction between patrons and their clients in the Roman world, such as that between former masters and their freedmen; the Emperor and the populus Romanus; brokers as mediators of imperial benefits to their clients; and the functions of patrons in the Roman collegia. Finally, the implications of this assessment of patronage in the Roman world for our understanding of the New Testament is discussed briefly.

�It is high time that we say something about time!� New Testament perspectives on the last days In this article Mediterranean views on time prevalent during the New Testament period, are discussed. The discussion is preceeded by an overview on apocalyptic thought in early Judaism(s), around the first two centuries BCE. The discussion on Mediterranean views on time is followed by an analysis of New Testament perspectives on the concept of time, as influenced by the impact of the Christ-event on early Christians� understanding of the past, present and future. Various theological explanations for the delay of the �parousia� by New Testament authors, such as Paul and the authors of 2 Peter and Revelation, also receive attention.

New Testament perspectives on the Sabbath and the Sunday In order to come to terms with New Testament views on the Sabbath and the Sunday, an investigation of Jewish schematizations of time and of the Sabbath in particular, around the first century A.D. is undertaken. This is followed by a discussion of relevant New Testament texts on the Sabbath and the Sunday. Finally, the available information from the New Testament is placed within the interpretative framework of the �Christ event� which inaugurated the eschaton, and which also replaced the strong emphasis on specific holy days within early Christianity. However, the Sunday was probably chosen by some early Christian groups as the most suitable day to commemorate the resurrection of Christ.

Jesus of Nazareth�s liberating vision for a violent society All political, economical and religious power in first century Palestine were in the hands of less than 5% of the population. This gave rise to a situation of "social rootlessness" among and different violent responses from many Jewish pedants. Within this society, characterized by "ideological" and physical violence, Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed an encompassing new reality, the Kingdom of God. In this regard He not only offered salvation to the victims of violence, hut also expected a new, violent-free, orientation and code of conduct towards God and all human beings from his followers.

This essay focuses on Jesus' understanding of the term kingdom of God as reflected in the Synoptic Gospels. Advancing from the viewpoint that he used it as a master symbol for the new reality which he proclaimed during his public ministry, the following aspects are discussed in this regard: Jesus’ view of himself, God, others, time and place. Throughout the essay attention is paid to Jesus’ activities in creating an encompassing new reality with new ‘borders’, which differed radically from the world views of the Jewish religious leaders of his day.

New Testament perspectives on divorce New Testament perspectives on divorce practices in the first century Mediterranean world is first of all undertaken. Against this socio-historical framework the New Testament "divorce" texts are then analysed. Pronouncements on divorce in the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline corpus, being our main sources of information in this regard, are respectively investigated in terms of their communicative functions within their textual and cultural contexts. A short summary of the New Testament views with regards to marriage and divorce, and the intercultural relevance thereof, concludes the essay.

The point of view of the narrator and the function of the Jerusalem congregation within the summaries in Acts This paper focusses on Luke�s presentation of the Jerusalem congregation in the summaries (Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35, and 5:12-16) and their function within the narrative framework of Acts. A brief investigation of the author-narrator�s point of view makes it clear that it is not his aim to give a comprehensive account or a biography of the Jerusalem congregation. The references to them in the summaries are solely employed to support the overarching theme of Acts. As secondary characters within the broader narrative framework of Acts they therefore serve as the visible fulfilment of the first part of Christ�s promise to the apostles in chapter 1:8.