Abstract:
The early Christian communities had at their very beginning no established traditions nor could they rely on an old history. They had to find their way within the pagan world and were forced to develop step by step their identity. It was a way between integration (or even assimilation) on the one side and dissociation on the other side. This article deals with problems of integration and dissociation as they emerged in the Pauline communities in Philippi and Corinth. These problems are not identical due to the different historical and social situations of both cities. It is noteworthy that Paul is not only giving strict rules and clear advice but he also enables the communities to produce their own solutions. The communities will find their way in orientation towards the Lord, at the same time giving no offence "to Jews, or Greeks or the church of God".
