A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America Paul's
epistles, written in the mid-first century A.D., bristle with
complex, passionate arguments that offer insights into the heart
and mind of a remarkable person and his times. For centuries,
theologians and biblical scholars relied on scripture and church
tradition to assess Paul's career and missionary achievements.
Now archaeology is offering intriguing data about the lands
where Paul preached and organized his churches and about the
broader social context behind the spread of Christianity. Some
evidence is drawn from large-scale excavations of temples,
forums, and private houses in Roman provincial cities. Other
clues come from salvage excavations beneath the streets of
modern Mediterranean cities. Perhaps the most important sources
of new information are regional survey projects, which are
documenting the changing settlement patterns and economic life
of areas under Roman rule. Reassessment of Augustan art,
architecture, and literature shows ho