4 - Body and soul
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
Summary
In their travels he came to a village, and a woman called Martha invited him to her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to him. Martha, distracted by all the serving, came and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone? Tell her to come and give me a hand!’ But the Lord replied, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and busy about so many things, but only one is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it shall not be taken from her.’
(Luke 10.38–42)A man from a leading family asked him, ‘Good teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God. You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.’ He said, ‘I have kept all these since I was young.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is one more thing that you lack. Sell all you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.’
(Luke 18.18–22; Mark 10.21 has ‘take up the cross and follow me’; Matthew 19.21 has ‘if you want to be perfect, sell what you have …’)RENOUNCING THE WORLD
In an Egyptian village church, at some time in the mid-third century, a farmer called Antony heard the story of the man from a leading family.
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- Christianity and Roman Society , pp. 60 - 77Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004