Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ASSOCIATIONS, VOLUNTARY

A group of men and/or women organized on the basis of freely chosen membership for a common purpose. In antiquity such associations were popular from the 5th century b.c.e. until the late Roman Empire, despite various attempts to suppress them. Thousands of associations are attested through inscriptions and, in the case of Egypt, papyri. These inscriptions most often record the association’s membership list, decrees, or statutes, although they might also record the founding of the group. These groups were relatively small, with membership generally between 10 and 100. Among the members themselves it is not uncommon to find citizens and noncitizens, masters and slaves, and men and women, rich and poor, all gathered together in a single association (cf. Gal. 3:28).

Three broad categories of associations can be distinguished. Funerary associations insured a proper burial in exchange for entrance fees and/or regular dues. Religious associations focused on the worship of a particular deity or deities through cultic acts and special festival days. Professional associations were formed by traders or artisans living in a particular locale. There is no consistency in terminology for the associations, and many titles were used including thíasoi, collegia, ekklēsía, synagōgḗ, and koiná. Almost all associations worshipped one or more patron deities and performed cultic acts, and most met together for social occasions such as banquets or drinking parties. Such social and religious events were funded by human patrons, who received various honors in exchange for their benefaction.

The internal organization of an association included the designation of various officials and functionaries. For the most part this replicated the civic structure. However, there is little consistency among various groups in the terminology used for these officials.

Associations are generally considered to have been popular because they offered a person a sense of belonging at a time when the traditional kinship and civic groups were being broken apart. Through membership a number of social networks could be established and charity was available to those who fell on hard times. Membership in a group also allowed for the attainment of honor and prestige which was otherwise not available to the majority of persons.

The most obvious NT reference to a voluntary association is the account at Acts 19:23-40 of the uproar caused by the silversmiths at Ephesus. Voluntary associations have also been used by a number of scholars as an analogy for understanding early Pauline community formation and social relationships, particularly the Corinthian church.

Bibliography. R. S. Ascough, What Are They Saying About the Formation of Pauline Churches? (New York, 1998); J. S. Kloppenborg and S. G. Wilson, eds., Voluntary Associations in the Greco-Roman World (London, 1996).

Richard S. Ascough

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ASSOCIATIONS, VOLUNTARY

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)