In chapter nine, Horsley presents a picture of the socio-economic landscape in which the emerging church was situated. Specifically, it focuses on Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth to highlight the overall economic realities of the ancient Greek world during the Hellenistic period. Through his analysis, we gain a better understanding of the realities of the early church and the overall mission that Paul and his colleagues were trying to accomplish. The missionary field to which Paul was called was deeply marked by the economic and military occupation of Rome. As a result, many urban residents were displaced and therefore found themselves in a precarious economic situation. Due to Roman realities, Horsley believes that the socio-economic status of the emerging community was probably at or near a subsistence level. This is notable because it establishes the relationship of the early communities to the Roman Empire and sets the tone for the larger work we see within Paul's ministry. In particular, Horsley describes the particular levels of the first community...