For approximately 25 years, Pedersen has focused his attentions on the writings of Paul the Apostle and on exploring how the structure and content of the Pauline epistles align with themes which are present in Stoic philosophy of the Hellenistic Period.
Unless a generous patron could intercede and assist in facilitating limited mobility of his or her client, the hierarchy stood strong; within smaller groups in Hellenistic culture, such as a family scenario and guilds, this kind of structure was established, as well.
Political celebrations and expectations from the Empire, inclusive of those in the early Christian communities Paul founded, proved to be problematic for the members and followers.
Troels Engberg-Pedersen complements Fitzgerald's discussion of Christian forgiveness as a means of illustrating how Paul's writings emphasize the link between relationship with God and human agency.
Through individual awareness and a recognition of connection with Father and Son, resulting in the building up the broader community, it is easy to see that this interaction between the human and divine illustrates the foundational tenets upon which the modern structure of church had been established.
It is the very same spirit of communion that he describes in his letter to Philippians which drives Paul to view the corporal Christian church as superseding the faith of the individual person.
However, in his book, Cosmology and the Self, Troels Engberg-Pedersen refers to this concept of true human self within a stoic understanding, as “prohairesis,” where he seeks to outline it as it relates to the being of a Christian.
Engberg makes the distinction that in looking at a person's capacity for decision-making, but also a sense of ‘self’ that recognizes commonality with fellow human beings, and a sense of other-centeredness: Within Troels Engberg-Pedersen's scholarship, he describes the sensibilities and social structures within a Hellenistic society, in order that he might further illustrate the significance of the Apostle Paul's writings as a continuation of spiritual understanding of the faith community, and demonstrate the influences of the period of Paul's writings.
[14] In remaining in communion with the spirit and Christ Jesus, and striving to proclaim the gospel message, Pedersen also believes that it is important to keep a healthy, realistic perspective regarding a person's humanity.