416 CALLIA RULMU * * * Although Paul’s exhortation to turn from striving for political engagement to aloofness “might have sounded Epicurean” 95, it arose from a completely different concern. Paul knew that the Thessalonian Christians were regarded with diffidence by the Roman rulers simply because they were a hand-worker association in the reckless city of Thessalonica. He knew that the tradition of the city (quick in changing allegiance, when necessary) did not plead in their favor. But this was still bearable, especially in light of the fact that a more real menace to the Christian ekklesia came from their visibility in the Roman and city dwellers’ eyes caused by their rejection of the Cult of the Gods and the Emperor and by their indirect support of the local Greek oligarchy’s pretensions against Roman rulers. The Christian Thessalonians were also in danger of drawing upon themselves the wrath of the Greek patrons because of their eagerness to participate in the redistribution of the city’s resources — a pretension fostered by the Empire’s interests in regaining control over perhaps dissident and de facto unlimited local oligarchic powers. In light of the historical background reconstructed in this study, it appears that in 1 Thess 4,11-12 Paul is exhorting the local Christians to keep quiet and take a stance of political quietism — so as to remain incognito in their city — as a survival strategy. This behavior would help them remain unnoticed by imperial authorities (Roman benefactors), city dwellers, and local politarchs (Greek patrons), and secure the association’s continuance. Bene qui latuit, bene vixit (“One who has lived unnoticed has lived well ”, Ovid, Tristium III. 4.25). Adventist University of France Callia RULMU B.p. 74 – 74165 Collonges-sous-Salève Abraham 110) and the ambition of common folk (Philo, Agriculture 63) : MALHERBE, The Letters, 246. MALHERBE, Paul, 104, citing Seneca, Epistles 68.10, who “was aware 95 that by advising Lucilius to live quietly he might appear to be giving the same advice as Epicurus”.