Within chapter nine, Horsley presents a picture of the socio-economic landscape in which the emerging church was situated. Specifically, it focuses on Philippi, Thessaloniki, and Corinth to highlight the general economic realities of the ancient Greek world in the Hellenistic period. Through his analysis, we gain a greater understanding of the realities of the early church and the overall mission that Paul and his colleagues were attempting to accomplish. The mission field to which Paul was called was profoundly influenced by Rome's economic and military occupation. As a result, many city residents have been displaced and, therefore, placed in an economically precarious situation. Because of Roman realities, Horsley believes that the socioeconomic status of the emerging community was likely at or near a subsistence level. This is noteworthy because it establishes the relationship of the early communities to the Roman Empire and sets the tone for the larger work we see in Paul's ministry. In particular, Horsley outlines the particular levels of the primitive community...