The nature and theological import of Paul's collection for the saints in Jerusalem.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper examines the nature and theological import of Paul's effort to organize financial aid for the church in Jerusalem. It argues that a close reading of the biblical data, properly situated in its proper context, indicates that the collection was not an impromptu act of charity intended to meet a mere economic need that arose in Jerusalem. Rather, it was a concerted effort on the part of Paul and, probably, the Jerusalem church leaders meant to counter and soften Jewish resistance to Paul's gospel and the Gentile mission. It aimed at promoting the unity of the body of Christ in line with the ideal and demands of Paul's gospel---the solidarity of the Christian community.
The research closely investigates the nature of the collection. This is done by analyzing the biblical data and characterization of the project; the social conventions and institutions that informed the methods and infrastructures Paul used to make the collection a reality. Informed by an emerging picture of the nature of the collection, and the pastoral context that led to its inception an attempt is made to locate its function. This study makes the case that the theological function of Paul's collection is found at the intersection of the claims of Paul's gospel (theology and practice) and the pastoral reality of Jewish Gentile relationship in the early church.