Publisher's Synopsis
A number of papyri and inscriptions first published in 1982-83 have been selected for this volume to illustrate a range of topics relevant to New Testament and Jewish studies. These include the addressing and conveyance of letters, transportation and accommodation available to travellers, the question of the influence of Hellenistic law on the development of Judaism, and the preference for the gospel of John in Egypt and what this might tell us about the supposed heterodoxy of this Roman province.;Texts are provided with translation and discussion. The contemporary social institutions are explained, and their bearing on critical points of New Testament interpretation discussed. Extensive bibliographical detail is supplied.