How could Paul afford his extensive travels?
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:01 am
I have previously speculated that Paul was a client to he household of a wealthy Herodian patron, and may have had more than one patron of this kind.
Now, just for the sake of heuristic investigation, let's assume that Acts was correct, and Paul was a "tentmaker." Basically, he fabricated products from canvas, so besides "tents" this probably included canvas awnings, privacy screens, and maybe even sails for ships. Keep in mind that he was a contractor, and contractors did not operate independently of patrons in Roman times.
Today, there are "international" contractors like security, construction, etc., who likely operate similarly to how a wide area contractor like Paul would have in the 1st century CE. Only without the technology of telephones, radio, iPhones, Androids, laptops, printers, etc. He would have, basically a handful of letters of credit from his patrons that authorized local bankers to extend him credit, that the patron would pay. He would also have a list of other clients who could recommend or provide lodging, technical expertise, etc.
Naturally, in exchange, Paul would be expected to fulfill a contract, which afforded his patron(s) with something of value (fancy villa, marketplace and stadium screens, sails for patron owned ships, etc.). Since they are sending Paul far and wide to do what he apparently did well, he may have over his career accumulated a long list of contacts, with details like where they lodged, who their patrons were, their personalities, etc. A good number of these seem to be Judeans of the diaspora, both slaves and freedmen, or collegial gentiles with connections to the Judean communities.
This is why I think that Paul worked for a Herodian "prince." Then there are the freedmen of those patrons, who in turn act as patrons for Paul. Paul himself was likely the 2nd or 3rd generation of a Freedman, who had converted to Judaism (circumcision law and all) as a token of gratitude. Paul considered himself a natural born Judean, although I notice he identifies his "tribe" as "Benjamin," which might have simply been a convention for identifying gentile converts to Judaism, and their families.
Paul would have been very much like a modern Conservative Jew (sans the conversion part). Observe as much as you can, within the restrictions of society. Back in Judea, where there were fewer societal restrictions restricting observance of Judea customs, those Judeans would likely resemble Orthodox Jews today.
But I digress ... Based on his range of travel, I'd suggest that his patrons might have included, at some point or another, the following:
1) Agrippa I, King of Batanaea AD 37–41, King of Galilee AD 40–41, King of all Judaea AD 41–44;
2) Herod of Chalcis, (King of Chalcis) AD ??–48;
3) Agrippa II, Tetrarch of Chalcis AD 48–53, King of Batanaea AD 53–100;
4) Aristobulus of Chalcis, King of Armenia Minor AD 55-72, Tetrarch of Chalcis AD 57-92.
Does anyone know of good sources for understanding the Roman banking system, and how letters of credit worked in that time?
Thnx. DCH
FWIW, Paul would have been developing his gentile friendly movement as a sideline to his duties as a client of wealthy patrons. I mean, he even had himself officially designated an "apostle" by the temple authorities (apostles was a technical term for persons who were officially authorized to collect and then transfer money gifts to the Judean temple authorities, an authorization that Romans denied to other ethnicities). To get such an authorization, I might well expect him to provide proof he had the ability/connections needed to carry this kind of thing out. I am curious to know how Paul managed to pull this off, as he eventually did make it to Jerusalem to provide relief funding for pilgrims, if we can believe Acts.
Now, just for the sake of heuristic investigation, let's assume that Acts was correct, and Paul was a "tentmaker." Basically, he fabricated products from canvas, so besides "tents" this probably included canvas awnings, privacy screens, and maybe even sails for ships. Keep in mind that he was a contractor, and contractors did not operate independently of patrons in Roman times.
Today, there are "international" contractors like security, construction, etc., who likely operate similarly to how a wide area contractor like Paul would have in the 1st century CE. Only without the technology of telephones, radio, iPhones, Androids, laptops, printers, etc. He would have, basically a handful of letters of credit from his patrons that authorized local bankers to extend him credit, that the patron would pay. He would also have a list of other clients who could recommend or provide lodging, technical expertise, etc.
Naturally, in exchange, Paul would be expected to fulfill a contract, which afforded his patron(s) with something of value (fancy villa, marketplace and stadium screens, sails for patron owned ships, etc.). Since they are sending Paul far and wide to do what he apparently did well, he may have over his career accumulated a long list of contacts, with details like where they lodged, who their patrons were, their personalities, etc. A good number of these seem to be Judeans of the diaspora, both slaves and freedmen, or collegial gentiles with connections to the Judean communities.
This is why I think that Paul worked for a Herodian "prince." Then there are the freedmen of those patrons, who in turn act as patrons for Paul. Paul himself was likely the 2nd or 3rd generation of a Freedman, who had converted to Judaism (circumcision law and all) as a token of gratitude. Paul considered himself a natural born Judean, although I notice he identifies his "tribe" as "Benjamin," which might have simply been a convention for identifying gentile converts to Judaism, and their families.
Paul would have been very much like a modern Conservative Jew (sans the conversion part). Observe as much as you can, within the restrictions of society. Back in Judea, where there were fewer societal restrictions restricting observance of Judea customs, those Judeans would likely resemble Orthodox Jews today.
But I digress ... Based on his range of travel, I'd suggest that his patrons might have included, at some point or another, the following:
1) Agrippa I, King of Batanaea AD 37–41, King of Galilee AD 40–41, King of all Judaea AD 41–44;
2) Herod of Chalcis, (King of Chalcis) AD ??–48;
3) Agrippa II, Tetrarch of Chalcis AD 48–53, King of Batanaea AD 53–100;
4) Aristobulus of Chalcis, King of Armenia Minor AD 55-72, Tetrarch of Chalcis AD 57-92.
Does anyone know of good sources for understanding the Roman banking system, and how letters of credit worked in that time?
Thnx. DCH
FWIW, Paul would have been developing his gentile friendly movement as a sideline to his duties as a client of wealthy patrons. I mean, he even had himself officially designated an "apostle" by the temple authorities (apostles was a technical term for persons who were officially authorized to collect and then transfer money gifts to the Judean temple authorities, an authorization that Romans denied to other ethnicities). To get such an authorization, I might well expect him to provide proof he had the ability/connections needed to carry this kind of thing out. I am curious to know how Paul managed to pull this off, as he eventually did make it to Jerusalem to provide relief funding for pilgrims, if we can believe Acts.