| This dissertation is an analysis of the use of socio-scientific perspectives and methods in New Testament studies from 1980 to 1991. It is designed to be of practical help to the New Testament scholar by classifying and critiquing the vast array of methods and perspectives already in use and demonstrating the selection and use of a current sociological perspective, cultural sociology (a development of sociology of knowledge) and employing several models from sociology and anthropology in the analysis of selected Pauline texts.; The conclusions of the research on current methods and perspectives indicate that the two main foci, "social description" and "socio-scientific analysis," are interdependent and should not exist without each other. Social description emphasizes the importance of gathering and describing data while socio-scientific analysis emphasizes the importance of a theoretical framework for explaining these data.; Cultural sociology provides a way to examine texts as "cultural objects" in their social context. Wendy Griswold's "cultural diamond" was used as an accounting device to understand the relationships involved: creator, receiver, cultural object, and social world. This defined persons, geographical areas, and texts to be researched in an analysis of the "gospel of Paul" in Philippians, Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians and 1 & 2 Corinthians. Using David Zaret's analysis model of contextual pressures and intellectual precedents for cultural change suggested reasons for differences between the versions of Paul's "gospel."; Anthropologist Mary Douglas suggests the analysis of power, danger, spirit, mind and body to construct a society's world-view. An exploratory matrix model categorizing the occurrences of words and phrases for the five Douglas categories as well as selected issues (order, freedom, holiness, etc.) allowed a creative and objective comparison of the thought patterns evident in these Pauline texts.; The results of this sociological investigation indicate that Paul adjusted his "gospel" to his target audience. The major factor influencing the differences between these "gospels" is the strength of Jewish influence in the congregations. |
