Back of the Envelope

This is the third and final post based on the notes from last week's Thursday night Bible study. Next week, maybe I'll post the notes from this week's Bible study.

---

One of the societal relationships that contributed to the stability of the society was the patron-client relationship. "It's not what you know, but who you know"

Think of mob movies - I do this for you, you don't do this for me? No laws, but a code of sorts.

Patronage was expected and publicized - Seneca said that the giving and receiving of favors was the practice that constituted the chief bond of human society.

In the world of the NT, it was essential for acquiring access to certain out of the ordinary goods, employment and advancement.

"For anything outside the ordinary the person sought out the individual who possessed or controlled access to what the person needed and received it as a favor."

• money to start a business
• appointment to political office
• advancement of some sort
• citizenship (access to Emperor, etc)

If the patron granted the petition, the petitioner would become a client and a long-term relationship would begin.

Mutual exchange of good/services

• patron available for assistance
• client doing everything to enhance the patron's fame and honor (publicize the benefits, showing respect, remaining loyal and ready to help if needed
• client available for assistance

Big Gift - access and influence with another patron who had power over the sought benefit

Patron 2: Trajan - Roman Emperor
Patron 1/Broker: Pliny - governor of Bithynia
Client: Voconius - petitions for senatorial appointment

Pliny offers his own character as a guarantee of his client's character - he vouches for him. Trajan's favorable judgment of Pliny is the basis for Trajan granting this favor. Voconius becomes indebted to both. Pliny becomes further indebted to Trajan.

Client indebted to both patron and broker

In a relationship among persons with unequal social status:

1. the patron provides material gifts or opportunities for advancement
2. the client contributes to the patron's reputation and power base

Another name for a broker is a 'mediator' - Jesus is a broker/mediator for God's favor (though this does not exhaust his relationship, of course)

Reciprocal relationship - not law based/enforced but enforced by honor/shame values. Client clearly refers to patron as patron, but not reverse to avoid mention of inferiority

Social equals can engage in the same - 'friendships' still have reciprocity and mutual fidelity as bedrock
Farmer who does more favors than he receives becomes a local patron of sorts

Public Benefaction - wealthy benefactors gave public entertainments (feasts, festivals, etc) and civic improvements (temples, theaters, etc) to the city. Also they would supply aid in times of crisis. There was public indebtedness to the benefactor but no personal relationships formed

• public honors like crowning at a festival, special seating at games, honorary inscriptions, statues
• extreme form of response is the offering of worship

The Social Context of Grace

These make up the social context of 'grace'

1. The willingness of a patron to grant some benefit to another person or group
   • favor or favorable disposition
   • Aristotle quote
2. Denotes the gift itself, the result of the giver's beneficent actions
3. The response to a benefactor - aka gratitude

Grace can be used to speak of both the act and response. Grace must be met with grace in the "dance of grace"

Code of conduct for the giver: (guidelines that sought to preserve the nobility of the generous act)

Motive - the giver must act not in self-interest, but in the interest of the recipient. If the motive is primarily self-interest, the sense of 'favor' is nullified and any deep feelings of gratitude and obligation are negated
Aristotle quote from Rhetoric 1385a35-1385b3

Wrong - Not out of the virtue of generosity, but anticipation of profit

Eg: Do not give to an elderly person to get into their will