Acknowledgements
This work is a revised version of my dissertation completed at Dallas Theological Seminary in 2019 under Joseph D. Fantin. He sparked my interest in exploring the first-century world and how it can, and must, inform our understanding of the New Testament. His direction and scholarship were essential in helping me to challenge my assumptions, ask the hard questions, and wrestle with the sources. I value his encouragement and continuing mentorship more than words can adequately express.
It was a privilege to work with Jennifer Glancy as my outside reader on my dissertation. Her scholarship and publications impacted me long before I had the opportunity to work with her. She provided astute comments and much needed encouragement while I wrestled with the dark topic of slavery, and I am grateful for her interest and investment in this project and in myself as a scholar.
Much of the original research could not have been done without the excellent resources of the DTS library and the expert help of reference librarian Debbie Hunn. Only she knows how many interlibrary loans of obscure sources she arranged for me.
The participants of the 2020 SBL Regional meeting in St. Louis provided helpful feedback on a paper I presented summarizing my fourth chapter. I particularly appreciated the insightful comments of Craig Keener, who served as the informal respondent of the session. I also benefitted from the comments of my anonymous reader at Brill. Thinking through the concerns and challenges raised allowed me to broaden my sources and sharpen my argument.
I am grateful for the many friends and family who have supported and encouraged me throughout this journey. All deserve to be acknowledged, but there are some specific people who I would like to name. Steven Sanders, Dan Pfeifer, Grace Iao, Elizabeth Woodson, Yun Li, and Sean McGever read rough drafts, provided thoughtful conversations, and offered genuine friendship. Blanchard Jacobus, Deanna and Roy Almond, Paul Eymann, and especially my parents, Al and Sue Hughlett, believed in me from the beginning and prayed me through the rough spots. My children, Brandon and Krista, grew up with their mom as busy with school assignments as they were—surely an odd experience. But they took it all in stride and were gracious reminders to enjoy the everyday moments in life and not miss what really matters. Rocky, my husband and best friend, had no idea that the Systems Analyst he married would later pursue an entirely different path. He was my cheering section when I most sorely needed one. I will always be grateful for his understanding and support of this wild pursuit.
And finally, to the one who calls me to keep asking and seeking: may he be honored in some way by the questions I have asked and the truth I have sought.