395 BETWEEN AMBITION QUIETISM AND encouraged lower-class workers to challenge the local Greek oligarchies’ power, making the Christians in Thessalonica a disdained if not suspect association in the eyes of wealthy Greek authorities. I conclude by presenting results from my historical survey and arguing that the expression “strive to keep quiet” (1 Thess 4,11) has a political connotation and is better understood as practical advice motivated by a definite socio-historical situation rather than a philosophically or even theologically determined stance. Paul, concerned about how the civic authorities would perceive an association converted to an exclusive cult, delivered precise counsel to become invisible and independent, to remain unnoticed, and to give up any progressive socio-political aspirations, e ve n if that meant disqualifying themselves from actively participating in the redistribution of the benefits and goods of urban society. 1. The Hazards of Being a Voluntary Association in Thessalonica Richard Ascough’s thesis about the social location and o r g a n i z a t i o n a l structure of the e k k l h s ¥ a Uessalonike w n ß ı ¥ deserves attention 13. Acts 17,1-4 describes a community comprising by Jews and (mainly) God-fearers, since Paul met them in the synagogue. However, there is internal evidence in 1 Thessalonians that point to a very different picture (cf. 1 Thess 1,9). Focusing on epigraphic evidence, Aschoug argues that the Christian group in T h e s s a l o n i c a was very similar to a professional voluntary a s s o c i a t i o n ( e ve n s u g g e s t i n g a g u i l d o f t e n t m a k e r s o r leatherworkers) 14. Paul would have used his trade “to share his gospel message with fellow workers and customers” 15, people from R.S. ASCOUGH, “Voluntary Associations and Community Formation: 13 Paul’s Macedonian Christian Communities in Context” (PhD Thesis; Toronto 1997) ; id., “The Thessalonian”; id., Paul’s Macedonian Associations. The Social Context of 1 Thessalonians and Philippians (WUNT II/161; Tübingen 2003) ; id., “Voluntary Associations and the Formation of Pauline Churches: Addressing the Objections”, Vereine, Synagogen und Gemeinden im kaiser- zeitlichen Kleinasien (eds. A. GUTSFELD – D.A. KOCH) (STAC 25; Tübingen 2006) 149-183. ASCOUGH, “The Thessalonian”, 324. 14 ASCOUGH, “The Thessalonian”, 317. See for ex. IG 10/2, 291 and SIG3 15 1140. On the stigma attached to trades see Plutarch, Per. I.4-II.1, 2: “...while