Full Description
The apostle Paul, one of the most prominent figures in the early Jesus movement, had a lot to say about money. His letters deal with real people as they lived their Christian lives in the Greco-Roman world. He finds it necessary to address "those who are rich in this present world" (1 Tim 6:17). But he also has to address those do not want to work, for whatever reason, and are "idle and disruptive" (2 Thess 3:6). Moreover, whereas most churches today have a certain socio-economic homogeneity, some of Paul's churches had a combination of upper class wealthy people and lower class slaves worshiping side-by-side, and it inevitably created friction (esp. 1 Cor 11:17-34).
During the past twenty years a significant amount of research has been done on class-consciousness in the Greco-Roman world and on the significance of Paul's fund-raising venture "for the poor among the Lord's people in Jerusalem"—"the collection"—for his ministry. Relying on the surprising results of current Pauline scholarship and a careful exegesis of a variety of New Testament texts, this book offers a thorough investigation of the apostle Paul's sayings and dealings with money.
Contents
Introduction
Part 1: Meeting One's Personal Needs: Paul the Missionary and Financial Support
1. Earning a Living from the Gospel
2. Paul's Reluctance to Accept Money
3. Paul and Patronage in the Greco-Roman World
Part 2: Paul's Fund-Raising Ventures
4. Concern for the Poor and Paul's First Project
5. The Collection and Its Meaning for Paul
6. Fund-Raising for the Collection and Its Obstacles
7. Motivating Believers to Give for the Collection
8. The Success of the Collection and Its Aftermath
Part 3: Paul's Other Dealings with Financial Issues
9. The Thessalonians Freeloaders
10. The Corinthian Rich and Poor
11. The Message to the Rich in the World
12. Taxes, Debt, and Ongoing Care for the Disenfranchised
Conclusion
