Poverty in the Early Church and Today: A Conversation

by Steve Walton (Editor), Hannah Swithinbank (Editor)

Overview

This innovative volume focuses on the significance of early Christianity for modern means of addressing poverty, by offering a rigorous study of deprivation and its alleviation in both earliest Christianity and today's world. The contributors seek to present the complex ways in which early Christian ideas and practices relate to modern ideas and practices, and vice versa.

In this light, the book covers seven major areas of poverty and its causes, benefaction, patronage, donation, wealth and dehumanization, 'the undeserving poor', and responsibility. Each area features an expert in early Christianity in its Jewish and Graeco-Roman settings, paired with an expert in modern strategies for addressing poverty and benefaction; each author engages with the same topic from their respective area of expertise, and responds to their partner's essay. Giving careful attention toboth the continuities and discontinuities between the ancient world and today, the contributors seek to inform and engage church leaders, those working in NGOs concerned with poverty, and all interested in these crucial issues, both Christian and not.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567677761
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/24/2019
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Steve Walton is Associate Research Fellow at Trinity College, Bristol, UK, and was formerly Professor in New Testament at St Mary's University, Twickenham, UK.

Hannah Swithinbank leads the Theology and Network Engagement Team at Tearfund, UK.

Table of Contents

Prefaces
Foreword
Contributors
Introduction
Two Concepts of Poverty: A Theological Analysis – Justin Thacker, Cliff College, UK
Key Themes
1. Poverty and its Causes a. Poverty and Its Causes in the Early Church – Lynn Cohick, Wheaton College, USA
b. Poverty and its Causes Today – Katie Harrison, Tearfund, UK
2. Benefaction: What It Is and What It Looks Like a. Benefaction in the Early Church – Bruce W. Longenecker, Baylor University, USA
b. Benefaction Today – John Coleby, Caritas, UK
3. Patronage and Being Patronised a. Patronage in the Early Church – Steve Walton, St. Mary's University, UK
b. Patronage Today – Helen Hekel, Tearfund, UK
4. Raising Funds in One Place, Giving to Another a. Paul and the Gift for the Jerusalem Church – John Barclay, University of Durham, UK
b. Gift Distributions Today – Virginia Luckett, Tearfund, UK
5. Poverty, Choice, and Dehumanisation a. Wealth and Dehumanization: Ezekiel's Oracles Against Tyre – Myrto Theocharous, Greek Bible College, Greece b. Poverty and Dehumanisation Today – Ellie Hughes, Riverbank Trust, UK
6. The 'Undeserving Poor': The Rhetoric and Theological Development of a Problematic Category a. The 'Undeserving Poor' in the Early Church – Fiona Gregson, University of Birmingham, UK
b. The “Undeserving Poor” Today – Hannah Swithinbank, Tearfund, UK
7. State, Church, and Civil Society: Who is Responsible for the Poor?
a. Poverty and the Powers in the Early Church – Christopher M. Hays, Fundación Universitaria Seminario Bíblico de Colombia, Colombia b. Poverty and the Powers Today – Stephen Timms MP, House of Commons, UK
8. The Poor Will Always be Among You: Poverty in an Educational Context – Francis Campbell, St. Mary's University, UK
Responses
Francis Davis, University of Birmingham, UK
Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary, USA
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Most Christians at most times have believed that loving our neighbour was intimately connected with loving God. In an age where there is a rush to activism this volume is a deep well of refreshment as it addresses why we act and how our actions connect with the mission of God and how that mission has been worked out in different times and places. This volume will help us serve the world with intelligence and compassion." --David Westlake, Chief Executive Officer, International Justice Mission, UK

"This is a wonderful, rich and diverse conversation about poverty and how to respond to it. Bringing experts on New Testament and early Christianity into conversation with experts in modern strategies for addressing poverty - this volume showcases the best of applied theological conversation. A must-read for anyone interested in thinking theologically and practically about poverty in our modern world." --Paula R Gooder, British and Foreign Bible Society, UK

"Academics and practitioners have contributed to this book that looks biblically, theologically and historically at issues relating to poverty. I have been ministering among the poor for almost four decades and am often at a loss to know how to respond to some complex issues I have faced. This book helpfully addresses some of those issues. I will be referring to it often. Both students and grassroots workers will be well served by this book." --Ajith Fernando, Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka

From the Publisher