Writing this book has taken me on a journey of many years. Originally, I was urged on by Associate Professor Raimo Hakola, my dear friend and colleague. For some periods, I was part of his research project Enemies in the Making, funded by the Academy of Finland. Apologies, Raimo, that it took longer to reach the goal than expected. Thank you for your support, which got me off to a good start. Raimo’s project, however, was not the beginning. There is also a prehistory. Some years before Enemies, Professor Antti Marjanen urged me to write an article on soldiers for his research project Gender, Social Roles and Occupations in Early Christianity. This project, also funded by the Academy of Finland, provided me an initial platform for discussion. Later, Professor Risto Saarinen invited me into the Academy of Finland’s Centre of Excellence, Reason and Religious Recognition, based in the Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki. One might note that the key concept “recognition” originates here. I wrote the current book alongside my official duties, first as a lecturer of New Testament Greek in the Faculty of Theology during the years 2013–2017, and later as a translator in the Finnish Bible Society, where I prepared a new Finnish translation of the New Testament. Now it appears that the day has come for this book to finally emerge from the sidelines.
Within this range of years, many persons both in Finland and abroad have contributed to my research by commenting on and discussing it. Any list of names would be incomplete, as I would surely forget to mention them all, so numerous you are! If you have ever commented on my texts and/or discussed them with me, you are worthy of my warmest thanks. I will just mention Professor Ismo Dunderberg, who commented on the manuscript at its late stage, and the anonymous peer reviewer at Brill, whose critiques and suggestions were very helpful. My thanks are also extended to those who have contributed to any of my earlier articles, of which I have incorporated material into this volume in a more or less modified form. No article is incorporated without modifications. These articles are as follows:
Stoic Law in Paul? Stoicism in Early Christianity. Ed. by Ismo Dunderberg, Troels Engberg-Pedersen, and Tuomas Rasimus. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010, 39–58 (Excerpt from Stoicism in early Christanity edited by Tuomas Rasimus, Troels Engberg-Pedersen, and Ismo Dunderberg, copyright © 2010. Used by permission of Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group.);
In the Category of Philosophy: Christians in Early Pagan Accounts. “Others” and the Construction of Early Christian Identity. Ed. by Raimo Hakola, Nina Nikki, and Ulla Tervahauta. Publications of the Finnish Exegetical Society 106. Helsinki: Finnish Exegetical Society, 2013, 239–281;
The Centurion’s Faith in the Gospels and Soldiers in Early Christian Imagination. Christ and the Emperor. Ed. by J. Verheyden and G. van Belle. Biblical Tools and Studies 20. Leuven: Peeters, 2014, 301–314;
How Fantasy Comes True: Paul between Political Realism and Eschatological Fantasy. Stasis 2/2015, 90–109;
Epictetus’ View on Christians: A Closed Case Revisited. Ancient Philosophy and Religion: Religio-Philosophical Discourses within the Greco-Roman, Jewish and Early Christian World. Ed. by Anders Klostergaard Petersen and George van Kooten. Ancient Philosophy & Religion 1. Leiden: Brill, 2017, 306–322;
Powers, Baptism, and the Ethics of the Stronger: Paul among the Ancient Political Philosophers. Paul and the Greco-Roman Philosophical Tradition. Ed. by Joseph R. Dodson and Andrew W. Pitts. London: T&T Clark, 2017, 101–116 (used by permission of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc);
Early Christians on Philosophy: Seeking Recognition in Greco-Roman Culture. Reflections on Recognition: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives. Ed. by M. Kahlos, H. J. Koskinen, and R. Palmén. London: Routledge, 2019, 90–108 (Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear);
Esivalta: The Religious Roots of the Finnish Moral View of Society. On the Legacy of Lutheranism in Finland: Societal Perspectives. Ed. by K. Sinnemäki, A. Portman, J. Tilli, and R. H. Nelson. Studia Fennica Historica 25. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society, 2019, 257–272;
After Anti-Imperial Readings: Early Christians in the Empire Re- Examined. Nordic Interpretations of the New Testament: Challenging Texts and Perspectives. Ed. by M. B. Kartzow, L. Heldgaard, and R. Falkenberg, Studia Aarhusiana Neotestamentica 5. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht (forthcoming);
Brothers in Arms: Soldiers in Early Christianity. Gender, Social Roles and Occupations in Early Christianity (the name of the book remains unconfirmed). Ed. by Antti Marjanen (forthcoming).
The translations of the biblical texts are from the New Revised Standard Version unless otherwise indicated. In the case that I use existing translations of other ancient texts, I always indicate this. As my native language is not English, I have consulted Lisa Muszynski, Ph.D. and Albion M. Butters, Ph.D., who have carefully corrected my numerous mistakes. I deeply thank you for your toil. All the remaining shortcomings are due to my negligence. I also express my gratitude to Professor Margaret M. Mitchell and Professor David P. Moessner, who as editors of the series made it possible in several ways to publish this book. I also thank the whole Brill staff, who greatly contributed to the publication.
I have dedicated all my previous books to my beloved wife Tarja and to my lovely daughter Liina. I do it again. This book is dedicated to you, Tarja and Liina, the best earthly gifts of God.