Publications by Jason G . Borges
Biblical Theological Bulletin, 2024
To mitigate the costs and risks of travel, Greek communities utilized the formal social instituti... more To mitigate the costs and risks of travel, Greek communities utilized the formal social institution of proxenia. The honorific title of proxenos (“public host”) was bestowed upon someone in another community who provided travelers with hospitality services, such as physical accommodation, social access, and legal protections. This social institution of proxenia, similar to but more specific than ancient patronage or benefaction, offers a fruitful heuristic model for interpreting travel among early Christians and the role of host-leaders within the emerging movement. Itinerant Christians would have utilized the proxenos-paradigm and cultivated proxenos-like relationships with prominent Christian hosts. This paper examines how Philemon and Phoebe functioned as proxenos-like hosts for Christians traveling through their respective cities. We conclude with discussions regarding the prominence and authority of proxenia-like host-leaders within early Christian social networks. Such people with the capacity to facilitate travel and grant social inclusion amassed significant power, as they became the centralized nodes enabling social connectivity.
JBL, 2024
In Rom 16:2, Paul refers to Phoebe in Cenchreae as “a patron [προστάτις] of many and of myself.” ... more In Rom 16:2, Paul refers to Phoebe in Cenchreae as “a patron [προστάτις] of many and of myself.” After considering the various proposals regarding the nature of Phoebe’s “patronage” toward Paul, I advance a hypothesis mentioned by Origen and some modern commentators in passing—that Phoebe was a προστάτις in that she provided hospitality services, such as accommodation and advocacy, to Paul and other Christian travelers. To support this interpretation, I bring to bear two types of evidence: epigraphic data regarding προστάτις and Paul’s socio- rhetorical purposes in Rom 16:2. Epigraphic evidence establishes that hospitality was a common aspect of being a προστάτης, as the term commonly defined πρόξενοι (“public friend-hosts”). In terms of rhetoric, Paul refers to Phoebe as a προστάτις in his commendation of her to the recipients in Rome (Rom 16:1–2), indicating that Phoebe’s past hospitality as a προστάτις makes her deserving of the Romans’ future hospitality.
Social scientists in disparate fields are now employing the construct of honour to ameliorate var... more Social scientists in disparate fields are now employing the construct of honour to ameliorate various social problems, such as immorality, failed states, international discord, poverty and mental illness. Moreover, historians of global religion cite Christianity’s shift towards cultures shaped by the values of honour and shame. Despite this growing prominence of honour in social theories and the emergence of Christianity in honour–shame cultures, the notion of honour remains absent from theological discourse. In light of these global realities, we explore how God’s active transformation of humanity from shame to honour can interpret both salvation-history and Christian theology. To this end I first explore the nature of humanity’s problem of shame before God, using anthropological and biblical insights. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s covenant initiatives with Abram, Moses and David, along with the common socio-literary pattern of God exalting a servant from unjust shame, reveals the dignified status God intends for humanity. God’s programme to restore people from shame to honour climaxes in Jesus, who embodies honour in the incarnation, mediates dignity to the marginalised by healings and public fellowship, elaborates God’s new code of honour which reinterprets social stigmas, and procures an exalted status for all peoples by atoning for shame and resurrecting to exaltation. Romans and 1 Peter are interpreted in their socio-historic contexts as apostolic instruments which expound the social implications of God’s honour code. To unify the fractured Romans for the upcoming Spanish mission, Paul confronts social imperialism by replacing false honour claims with God’s status now available by faith through grace in Christ. Meanwhile, 1 Peter assures maligned Christians of their exalted status and outlines honourable social relations. Then, in closing, we examine a soteriology of honour diachronically and systematically. In particular, how: biblical metaphors symbolise believers’ status transposition, group incorporation is key to New Testament soteriology, Eastern Orthodoxy’s doctrine of theosis articulates the infusion of divine status, and other theological categories could be interpreted through honour-shame social values. These reflections towards an exegetical soteriology of divine honour are offered as an initial theological platform for addressing social issues where honour values prevail.
Books by Jason G . Borges
Cappadoca History, 2020
A helpful guide to the network of stunning trails and cave churches in Red Valley, Cappadocia
Cultures - Just as fish do not think about water, we humans rarely think about our own culture (u... more Cultures - Just as fish do not think about water, we humans rarely think about our own culture (unless you happen to be an anthropologist). Fish do not realize just how pervasive water is to their existence until they are removed from it. Then, the absence of water becomes painfully obvious. Likewise, we don’t realize how pervasive our culture is until we’ve been taken out of it and put into another culture. Culture is the operating system running our life. Culture colors the way we see the world. Culture is like a tree with deep roots. Yet, most of culture is hidden below the surface.
Available at: https://amzn.to/2Qcp0Dz
Book Reviews by Jason G . Borges
Reviews of Biblical and Early Christian Studies , 2020
Reviews of Biblical and Early Christian Studies , 2020
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Publications by Jason G . Borges
Books by Jason G . Borges
Available at: https://amzn.to/2Qcp0Dz
Book Reviews by Jason G . Borges
Available at: https://amzn.to/2Qcp0Dz