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Here is some background to the house churches referred to in the New Testament. I will post more information from time to time.
Society and living arrangements were very different from our modern society. Life was highly stratified according to rank and status. There was a relatively small upper class, and a very large lower class for whom life was often very hard. Life in the cities was centred around people living close together in mutually dependant relationships, overseen and dominated by one family. Privacy as we know it was not common. Families were larger units, often with several generations living together in the one house.
Roman society was highly patriarchal. The dominant male had total rights over his household extending to slaves and associated dependants, with no right of appeal on any of his decisions. The household of a wealthy person could involve direct relationships with a large number of people. Family and slaves would be part of his family home. Surrounding his house would be associated artisans, traders, various associates and their families. We can see what Paul was referring to in his advice regarding elders requiring them to manage their households well and being of good repute. 100-200 people could be part of that 'household'.
Undoubtedly Paul operated within these social structures, meeting with Christians in such a setting where a wealthy person had become a Christian and made their house available, or in a smaller one as necessary. Thus size would be limited. Smaller homes could accommodate about six to eight people, larger ones up to twenty, or if people stood rather than reclined, as was the custom around a meal, possibly up to fifty if the atrium was used as well.
John
NZ
Society and living arrangements were very different from our modern society. Life was highly stratified according to rank and status. There was a relatively small upper class, and a very large lower class for whom life was often very hard. Life in the cities was centred around people living close together in mutually dependant relationships, overseen and dominated by one family. Privacy as we know it was not common. Families were larger units, often with several generations living together in the one house.
Roman society was highly patriarchal. The dominant male had total rights over his household extending to slaves and associated dependants, with no right of appeal on any of his decisions. The household of a wealthy person could involve direct relationships with a large number of people. Family and slaves would be part of his family home. Surrounding his house would be associated artisans, traders, various associates and their families. We can see what Paul was referring to in his advice regarding elders requiring them to manage their households well and being of good repute. 100-200 people could be part of that 'household'.
Undoubtedly Paul operated within these social structures, meeting with Christians in such a setting where a wealthy person had become a Christian and made their house available, or in a smaller one as necessary. Thus size would be limited. Smaller homes could accommodate about six to eight people, larger ones up to twenty, or if people stood rather than reclined, as was the custom around a meal, possibly up to fifty if the atrium was used as well.
John
NZ
