Poverty in the Early Church and Today
A Conversation
Poverty in the Early Church and Today
A Conversation
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Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN: 9780567695505
Number of Pages: 264
Published: 23/07/2020
Width: 15.6 cm
Height: 23.4 cm
This book is open access and available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. It is funded by Knowledge Unlatched.
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.
How This Book Works
Reflecting on Poverty: - Bishop Graham Tomlin
Foreword: Cardinal Vincent Nichols
List of Abbreviations
List of Contributors
I. Poverty Then and Now
1. Two Concepts of Poverty: A Theological Analysis – Justin Thacker, Cliff College, UK
2. Poverty and Its Causes in the Early Church – Lynn H. Cohick, Denver Seminary, USA
3. Causes of Poverty Today – Katie Harrison, Tearfund, UK
4. Response to Lynn H. Cohick – Katie Harrison, Tearfund, UK
5. Dream Better Dreams: Response to Katie Harrison – Lynn H. Cohick, Denver Seminary, USA
6.‘Do Good to All (Galatians 6.10): Assets, Capital, and Benefaction in Early Christianity – Bruce W. Longenecker, Baylor University, USA
7. Benefaction Today?– John Coleby, Caritas, UK
8. Response to Bruce Longenecker – John Coleby, Caritas, UK
9. Response to John Coleby – Bruce W. Longenecker, Baylor University, USA
10. Patronage and People: Paul’s Perspective in Philippians– Steve Walton, St. Mary’s University, UK
11. Patronage Today – Helen Hekel, Tearfund, UK
12. Response to Steve Walton – Helen Hekel, Tearfund, UK
13. Response to Helen Hekel – Steve Walton, St. Mary’s University, UK
14. Paul and the Gift to Jerusalem: Overcoming the Problems of the Long-Distance Gift– John M.G. Barclay, University of Durham, UK
15. Raising Funds in One Place, Giving to Another: Gift Distribution Today– Virginia Luckett, Tearfund, UK
16. Response to John Barclay – Virginia Luckett, Tearfund, UK
17. Response to Virginia Luckett – John M.G. Barclay, University of Durham, UK
18. Wealth and Dehumanization: Ezekiel’s Oracles against Tyre – Myrto Theocharous, Greek Bible College, Greece
19. Poverty and Dehumanization – Ellie Hughes, Riverbank Trust, UK
20. Response to Myrto Theocharous – Ellie Hughes, Riverbank Trust, UK
21. Response to Ellie Hughes – Myrto Theocharous, Greek Bible College, Greece
22. The ‘Undeserving Poor’ in the Early Church – Fiona J. R. Gregson, Diocese of Birmingham, UK
23. The ‘Undeserving Poor’ Today: The Rhetoric and Theological Development of a Problematic Category – Hannah Swithinbank, Tearfund, UK
24. Response to Fiona Gregson – Hannah Swithinbank, Tearfund, UK
25. Response to Hannah Swithinbank – Fiona Gregson, Diocese of Birmingham, UK
26. The Early Church, The Roman State, and Ancient Civil Society: Whose Responsibility are the Poor?– Christopher M. Hays, Fundación Universitaria Seminario Bíblico de Colombia, Colombia
27. Poverty and the Powers Today – Stephen Timms MP, House of Commons, UK
28. Response to Christopher Hays– Stephen Timms MP, House of Commons, UK
29. Response to Stephen Timms, MP – Christopher M. Hays, Fundación Universitaria Seminario Bíblico de Colombia, Colombia
30. The Poor Will Always be among You: Poverty, Education and the Catholic Ideal – Francis Campbell, St. Mary’s University, UK
II. Responding and Reflecting
31. Review: Responding and Summarizing – Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary, USA
32. Between Today and Yesterday: Evidence, Complexity, Poverty and the ‘Body’ of Christ – Francis Davis
Select Bibliography
Index
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 *
