"This is a splendid book, a substantial contribution on a topic of perennial import for scholars of religion and theology. The essays collected here offer important reassessments of scholarship to date. They present fresh, vivid material and provide revised models through which to study, reflect upon, and respond to deprivation and surplus as realities in antiquity and in our own time. Practical, pragmatic considerations are interwoven with cultural, historical, and theological analyses. Excellent work throughout!"--__Susan Ashbrook Harvey__, professor of religious studies, Brown University  
  
"The social obligations of the wealthy and the needs of the poor in the teachings and practices of early Christians are examined in these essays with rich insight, having much contemporary value. The authors remind us that for the patristic mind, virtue cannot be separated from piety and learning. To praise the living God as philanthr&amp;omacr;pos and to recall his saving actions require also a genuine love for human persons, especially the poor."--__Thomas FitzGerald__, dean and professor of church history and historical theology, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology  
  
"In this collection of essays, the reader will find insightful questions raised and conclusions made concerning the early Christian perspectives of need and surplus. It is refreshing to find careful attention paid to the kind of complexities that existed in the minds of those who wrote, directly or (mostly) indirectly, on these matters."--__D. H. Williams__, professor of religion in patristics and historical theology, Baylor University  
  
"This volume is a rarity: a collection of conference papers that is both coherent and consistently excellent. Ably edited by Susan R. Holman, these essays explore a wide variety of texts and topics from diverse methodological perspectives, but they never lose sight of the primary theme of the book: the problem of poverty and the appropriate Christian response to it. The outstanding contributors deftly balance theological and rhetorical analysis with attention to social and economic contexts. The result is an essential contribution to the historical reconstruction of early Christian moral traditions and their theological retrieval today."--__David G. Hunter__, Cottrill-Rolfes Chair of Catholic Studies, The University of Kentucky

__Susan R. Holman__ (PhD, Brown University) is the author of The Hungry Are Dying: Beggars and Bishops in Roman Cappadocia, a member of the board of the Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and the creator of PovertyStudies.org.

Wealth and poverty are issues of perennial importance in the life and thought of the church. This volume brings patristic thought to bear on these vital issues. The contributors offer explanations of poverty in the New Testament period, explore developments among Christians in Egypt and Asia Minor and in early Byzantium, and connect patristic theology with contemporary public policy and religious dialogue.  
  
This volume inaugurates Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians. In these multiauthor books, contributors from all traditions focus on the patristic (especially Greek patristic) heritage.   
  
__Series Editorial Board__  
__Robert J. Daly, SJ__, Boston College  
__Bruce N. Beck__, The Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute   
__François Bovon__, Harvard Divinity School  
__Demetrios S. Katos__, Hellenic College  
__Susan R. Holman__, PovertyStudies.org  
__Aristotle Papanikolaou__, Fordham University  
__James Skedros__, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

An ecumenical roster of leading specialists approach wealth and poverty through the theology, social practices, and institutions of early Christianity.

Foreword, by either Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis, or by Dean Thomas Fitzgerald  
Preface, Susan R. Holman  
Part One: The New Testament Period  
1\. Injustice or God's will? Early Christian Explanations of Poverty--Steven J. Friesen  
2\. "Be not one who stretches out hands to receive but shuts them when it comes to giving:" Envisioning Christian Charity When Both Donors and Recipients are Poor--Denise Kimber Buell  
3\. James 2:2-7 in Early Christian Thought--Görge Hasselhoff  
4\. Wealth, Poverty, and the Value of the Person: Some notes on the Hymn of the Pearl and its early Christian context--Edward Moore  
Part Two: Egypt in Late Antiquity  
5\. Widening the Eye of the Needle: Wealth and Poverty in the Works of Clement of Alexandria--Annewies van den Hoek  
6\. Care for the Poor, Fear of Poverty, and Love of Money: Evagrius Ponticus on the Monk's Economic Vulnerability--David Brakke  
7\. Wine for Widows: Papyrological Evidence for Christian Charity in Late Antique Egypt--Adam Serfass  
8\. Rich and Poor: Rhetorical Pairing in Sophronius of Jerusalem's Miracles of Ss. Cyrus and John--Susan R. Holman  
Part Three: John Chrysostom, The Cappadocians, and Friends  
9\. This Sweetest Passage: Matthew 25:31−46 and assistance to the poor in the homilies of John Chrysostom--Rudolf Brändle  
10\. Poverty and Generosity towards the Poor in the Time of John Chrysostom--Wendy Mayer  
11\. Poverty and Wealth as Theater: John Chrysostom's Homilies on Lazarus and the Rich Man--Francine Cardman  
12\. Wealthy and Impoverished Widows in the writings of St. John Chrysostom--Efthalia Makris Walsh  
13\. The Background and the Nature of Patristic Philanthropy in the Early Byzantine Era--Demetrios J. Constantelos  
Part Four: Wealth, Trade, and Profit in Early Byzantium  
14\. Gilding the Lily: A Patristic Defense of Liturgical Splendor--A. Edward Siecienski  
15\. Wealth, Stewardship and Charitable "Blessings" in Early Byzantine Monasticism--Daniel Caner  
16\. Trade, Profit, and Salvation in the Late Patristic and the Byzantine Period--Angeliki E. Laiou  
Part Five: Patristic Studies for Today  
17\. St. Basil's Philanthropic Program and Modern Micro-lending Strategies for Economic Self-Actualization--Timothy Patitsas  
18\. The Use of Patristic Socio-Ethical Texts in Catholic Social Thought--Brian Matz

Cover

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Foreword—Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis

Preface—Susan R. Holman

Part One The New Testament Period

1. Injustice or God's Will? Early Christian Explanations of Poverty—Steven J. Friesen

2. "Be not one who stretches out hands to receive but shuts them when it comes to giving": Envisioning Christian Charity When Both Donors and Recipients Are Poor—Denise Kimber Buell

3. James 2:2–7 in Early Christian Thought—Görge K. Hasselhoff

4. Wealth, Poverty, and the Value of the Person: Some Notes on the Hymn of the Pearl and Its Early Christian Context—Edward Moore

Part Two Egypt in Late Antiquity

5. Widening the Eye of the Needle: Wealth and Poverty in the Works of Clement of Alexandria—Annewies van den Hoek

6. Care for the Poor, Fear of Poverty, and Love of Money: Evagrius Ponticus on the Monk's Economic Vulnerability—David Brakke

7. Wine for Widows: Papyrological Evidence for Christian Charity in Late Antique Egypt—Adam Serfass

8. Rich and Poor in Sophronius of Jerusalem's Miracles of Saints Cyrus and John—Susan R. Holman

Part Three John Chrysostom, the Cappadocians, and Friends

9. This Sweetest Passage: Matthew 25:31–46 and Assistance to the Poor in the Homilies of John Chrysostom—Rudolf Brändle

10. Poverty and Generosity toward the Poor in the Time of John Chrysostom—Wendy Mayer

11. Poverty and Wealth as Theater: John Chrysostom's Homilies on Lazarus and the Rich Man—Francine Cardman

12. Wealthy and Impoverished Widows in the Writings of St. John Chrysostom—Efthalia Makris Walsh

13. The Hellenic Background and Nature of Patristic Philanthropy in the Early Byzantine Era—Demetrios J. Constantelos

Part Four Wealth, Trade, and Profit in Early Byzantium

14. Gilding the Lily: A Patristic Defense of Liturgical Splendor—A. Edward Siecienski

15. Wealth, Stewardship, and Charitable "Blessings" in Early Byzantine Monasticism—Daniel Caner

16. Trade, Profit, and Salvation in the Late Patristic and the Byzantine Period—Angeliki E. Laiou

Part Five Patristic Studies for Today

17. St. Basil's Philanthropic Program and Modern Microlending Strategies for Economic Self-Actualization—Timothy Patitsas

18. The Use of Patristic Socioethical Texts in Catholic Social Thought—Brian Matz

Abbreviations

Select Bibliography

List of Contributors

Subject Index

Modern Authors Index

Ancient Sources Index

Notes

Holman, Susan R.

Wealth and poverty are issues of perennial importance in the life and thought of the church. This volume brings patristic thought to bear on these vital issues. The contributors offer explanations of poverty in the New Testament period, explore developments among Christians in Egypt and Asia Minor and in early Byzantium, and connect patristic theology with contemporary public policy and religious dialogue.  
  
This volume inaugurates Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians. In these multiauthor books, contributors from all traditions focus on the patristic (especially Greek patristic) heritage.  
  
Series Editorial Board  
Robert J. Daly, SJ, Boston College  
Bruce N. Beck, The Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute  
François Bovon, Harvard Divinity School  
Demetrios S. Katos, Hellenic College  
Susan R. Holman, PovertyStudies.org  
Aristotle Papanikolaou, Fordham University  
James Skedros, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Contains essays from various contributors that reflect on wealth and poverty in the early church.

Wealth and poverty are issues of perennial importance in the life and thought of the church. This volume brings patristic thought to bear on these vital issues. The contributors offer explanations of poverty in the New Testament period, explore developments among Christians in Egypt and Asia Minor and in early Byzantium, and connect patristic theology with contemporary public policy and religious dialogue. This volume inaugurates Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians. In these multiauthor books, contributors from all traditions focus on the patristic (especially Greek patristic) heritage. Series Editorial Board Robert J. Daly, SJ, Boston College Bruce N. Beck, The Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute Francois Bovon, Harvard Divinity School Demetrios S. Katos, Hellenic College Susan R. Holman, PovertyStudies.org Aristotle Papanikolaou, Fordham University James Skedros, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Susan R. Holman (PhD, Brown University) is the author of The Hungry are Dying: Beggars and Bishops in Roman Cappadocia, a member of the board of the Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and the creator of PovertyStudies.org.

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