a sufficient explanation for the presence of 13:1-7 in its present context may be found in the unfortunate consequences of inflighting between Jews and Christians a decade earlier that led to Claudius eviction of Jews from the city. Paul would almost certainly have favored a course of action that woud prevent the recurrenceof such a public display of the failure of the people of God to settle their differences respectably (see 1 Cor 6:1-8). Renewed civil unrest among the Roman populace that came to a head in the 50s concerning abuses in the collection of taxes may offer another plausible historical explanation for Paul's instructions here.