Paul Middleton, the Roman empire, and Identity Formation

Paul Middleton, Lecturer in New Testament Studies at University of Wales, Lampeter, in his book Radical Martyrdom And Cosmic Conflict in Early Christianity, doesn’t see official Roman persecution of Christianity until the late 3rd century (2006: 2). However, he does sees the conflict between the two on the level of ideology and worldview differences right from the very beginning. He puts them in ‘binary oppositions with no middle way’ (95). His chapter on Rome is quite good. He notes a quotation from Horsley's Documents vol 4 concerning Nero’s coming to Corinth that is a good example of Roman imperial eschatology (56n.145). Also, Middleton notes ‘Christian language and symbols competed for the same ground as Roman imperial ideology’ (RII) (61). This is quite helpful from an identity formation point of view. If scholars wonder why RII is relevant? I would suggest that the confrontation was at this level, in that they were not being persecuted at this point. Furthermore, Middleton remarks that Christianity was un-Roman on every front (61). Is this too strong or maybe it is quite accurate in the second century but maybe not as much in the first century? So, can one sustain the idea that there was no conflict between the Corinthian Christ-followers and the provincial governing authorities in the mid-first century? If so, what evidence from the non-literary remains would indicate this general possibility? Any thoughts?