Theories of poverty in the world of the New Testament
Cover -- Preface -- Table of Contents -- Abbreviations -- Chapter 1: Purpose and Context -- 1.1 Aims -- 1.2 Research on Poverty and the NT -- 1.2.1 Poverty 'behind the texts' -- 1.2.2 Poverty 'in the texts' -- 1.2.3 Poverty 'in' and 'behind' the NT texts: Pres...
| Summary: | Cover -- Preface -- Table of Contents -- Abbreviations -- Chapter 1: Purpose and Context -- 1.1 Aims -- 1.2 Research on Poverty and the NT -- 1.2.1 Poverty 'behind the texts' -- 1.2.2 Poverty 'in the texts' -- 1.2.3 Poverty 'in' and 'behind' the NT texts: Present Priorities -- 1.3 Wider Contexts -- 1.3.1 Poverty Relief as Distinctively Christian? - Julian's Challenge -- 1.3.2 Contemporary Issues -- 1.4 Summary -- Chapter 2: Methodology and Concepts -- 2.1 Scope and Strategy -- 2.1.1 'Theories of Poverty in the New Testament World': Scope and Limits -- 2.1.2 Survey strategy -- 2.1.3 Interpreting Parallels -- 2.1.3.1 The Significance of Parallels -- 2.1.3.2 The Question of Influence -- 2.2 Conceptualizing Poverty for the New Testament World -- 2.2.1 Delineating and Analysing Poverty -- 2.2.1.1 Absolute and Relative Poverty -- 2.2.1.2 Structural / Conjunctural and Chronic / Transient Approaches -- 2.2.1.3 The Vagueness and Multidimensionality of Poverty -- 2.2.1.4 Ancient and Modern Dimensions of Poverty -- 2.2.2 Poverty as 'Material Deprivation': A Working Hypothesis -- 2.2.3 Material Deprivation and the Human Telos -- 2.3 The Language of Poverty in the New Testament World -- 2.3.1 Methodological Considerations -- 2.3.2 Greek Poverty Vocabulary -- 2.3.3 Latin Poverty Vocabulary -- 2.3.4 Hebrew and Aramaic Poverty Vocabulary -- 2.3.5 'Religious' and 'Spiritual' Appropriations of Poverty Language -- 2.3.6 The Language of Poverty: Key Outcomes -- 2.4 Summary -- Chapter 3: Poverty in Greco-Roman Formative Tradition -- 3.1 Poverty and the Formative Tradition(s) -- 3.2 Poverty and the Gods -- 3.2.1 The Gods as the Source of Poverty -- 3.2.2 Zeus: Champion of Beggars and Strangers -- 3.3 Poverty, Fate and Chance -- 3.3.1 Fate, Chance and Poverty in Solon and Theognis -- 3.3.2 Fate, Chance and Poverty in Sophocles and Menander 3.3.3 Philosophical Perspectives on Unlucky Poverty -- 3.4 Poverty and Vice -- 3.4.1 Poverty and the Vices of the Poor -- 3.4.2 Poverty and the Vices of the Rich -- 3.4.3 Poverty: Progenitor of Vice and Enemy of Virtue -- 3.5 Poverty and Virtue -- 3.5.1 The Honourable Πτωχός and the Noble Πένης -- 3.5.2 Assistance for the (Virtuous) Poor -- 3.5.3 Virtue, Strength and Blessing: The Benefits of Poverty -- 3.6 Summary -- Chapter 4: Chance and Vice: Poverty in Plutarch -- 4.1 Plutarch, the Poor and the Greco-Roman Tradition -- 4.2 Between Atheism and Superstition: Plutarch's Middle Way -- 4.3 Poverty and Chance in Plutarch -- 4.3.1 Poverty: A Gift of the Blessed Ones? -- 4.3.2 Plutarch and Poverty: The Roles of Τύχη and Εἱμαρμένη -- 4.3.2.1 Τύχη and Εἱμαρμένη in De audiendis poetis -- 4.3.2.2 Τύχη and Εἱμαρμένη in Quaestiones convivales 9.5 -- 4.3.3 The Origins of Τύχη and the Origins of Poverty -- 4.4 Oppression and Impoverishment in the Sphere of Τύχη -- 4.5 The Solution of Poverty in Plutarchan Perspective -- 4.5.1 'Solutions' to Poverty in Present Existence -- 4.5.2 The Ultimate 'Solution' of Poverty -- 4.6 Summary -- Chapter 5: The Irrelevance of Poverty: Stoic and Cynic Perspectives -- 5.1 Stoics and Cynics in the World of the New Testament -- 5.2 Fated Poverty and Providential Abundance -- 5.2.1 Fate and Poverty -- 5.2.1.1 Poverty and Fate in Seneca's De Providentia -- 5.2.1.2 Poverty and Fate in Manilius' Astronomica -- 5.2.2 Nature's Sufficiency -- 5.2.2.1 Sufficiency for the Poor in Musonius and Epictetus -- 5.2.2.2 Sufficiency for the Rich in Seneca -- 5.3 Living according to (Predetermined and Abundant) Nature -- 5.3.1 Expecting and Accepting Poverty: Divination and Prayer -- 5.3.1.1 Poverty and Divination -- 5.3.1.2 Poverty and Prayer -- 5.3.2 Choosing Poverty -- 5.3.2.1 Poverty as Training against Fortune in Seneca 5.3.2.2 The Cynic Scout -- 5.3.2.3 The Idealization of Rural Poverty in the Euboicus -- 5.3.3 Stoic responses to victims and agents of impoverishment -- 5.3.3.1 Stoic Reactions to the Poverty of Others -- 5.3.3.2 Stoic Philanthropy -- 5.3.3.3 Stoic Reactions to Agents of Impoverishment -- 5.4 Stoic Eschatology and Poverty -- 5.5 Summary -- Chapter 6: Perspectives on Poverty in the Hebrew Bible -- 6.1 Hebrew Bible Poverty Discourse and the New Testament -- 6.1.1 Formative Traditions and Foundational Narratives -- 6.1.2 Poverty in the Hebrew Scriptures: Unity and Diversity -- 6.1.2.1 Sources for Theories of Poverty in the Hebrew Scriptures -- 6.1.2.2 Unity and Diversity in Hebrew Bible Poverty Discourse -- 6.2 The Origins of Material Deprivation -- 6.2.1 The Human Telos in the Good Creation -- 6.2.2 Poverty and Curse -- 6.2.2.1 Impoverishment and Curse in Genesis -- 6.2.2.2 Impoverishment and Curse in Deuteronomy -- 6.2.3 Poverty and Transcendent Agency in the Jewish Scriptures -- 6.2.3.1 Chance and the Hebrew Scriptures -- 6.2.3.2 Poverty and Divine Action in the Hebrew Bible: Narrative Tensions -- 6.3 Life in the Time of Poverty -- 6.3.1 Wise Living in the Time of Poverty -- 6.3.2 Poverty and Abundance in the Community of the Torah -- 6.3.3 The Defence of the Helpless Poor - Protest and Plea -- 6.3.3.1 Prophetic Protest -- 6.3.3.2 Petition and Plea -- 6.4 The Future of Poverty -- 6.5 Summary -- Chapter 7: Poverty Discourse in Later Second Temple Judaism: Divergent Trajectories -- 7.1 Poverty Discourse at the Jewish-Hellenistic Interface -- 7.2 Sirach on Poverty: Wise Living in the Fear of the Lord -- 7.2.1 Sirach on Wise Living in the Time of Poverty -- 7.2.2 Sirach and the Hope of the Pious Poor -- 7.2.2.1 The Good End of the Pious Poor -- 7.2.2.2 The Fear of the Lord as the Essence of the Good Life 7.3 Eschatological Reversal for the Righteous 'Poor' -- 7.3.1 Eschatological Hope in the Congregation of the Poor -- 7.3.1.1 Possessions and Poverty at Qumran -- 7.3.1.2 Future Abundance for the Congregation of 'the Poor' -- 7.3.1.3 Apocalyptic Wisdom for the Righteous Poor -- 7.3.2 The Reward of the Righteous Poor in the Testament of Job -- 7.3.2.1 Job: A Righteous Man Impoverished -- 7.3.2.2 Endurance and Expectation in the Testament of Job -- 7.4 Philo of Alexandria on Poverty -- 7.4.1 Philo and Poverty: A Rich Man in a Vulnerable Community -- 7.4.1.1 Philo and the (Jewish) Poor -- 7.4.1.2 Impoverishment Observed: The Alexandrian Crisis -- 7.4.2 Philo and the Dignity of the Poor: Divine φιλανθρωπία in the Law -- 7.4.2.1 Divine φιλανθρωπία: A Lesson from the Decalogue -- 7.4.2.2 The Poor in the Law -- 7.4.3 Analysis and Evaluation of Material Deprivation in Philo -- 7.4.3.1 Providence and Divine Goodness in Philo -- 7.4.3.2 Undesirable Experiences and the Greater Good -- 7.4.3.3 Intermediate Powers and the Origins of Evil -- 7.4.3.4 Philo and the Irrelevance of Material Deprivation -- 7.5 Summary -- Chapter 8: Poverty in the New Testament: Origins and Resolution -- 8.1 Poverty Discourses in the New Testament World: A Review -- 8.2 Diversity and Unity in New Testament Poverty Discourse -- 8.2.1 Sources for Theories of Poverty in the New Testament -- 8.2.2 Contrast and Coherence in New Testament Poverty Discourse -- 8.2.2.1 Diversity and Unity in New Testament Theology -- 8.2.2.2 Rationale for New Testament Synthesis -- 8.2.2.3 Summary: The Status of 'New Testament Poverty Discourse' -- 8.3 The Roots of Poverty in the New Testament -- 8.3.1 The Perpetual Problem of Poverty -- 8.3.2 Cosmic Futility and Uncertainty in the New Testament -- 8.3.2.1 The Uncertainty of Wealth -- 8.3.2.2 The Futility of Creation 8.3.3 Subjection of the World to Evil Powers -- 8.3.4 Transgression and Poverty: Direct Links -- 8.3.4.1 Judgment for Neglecting the Poor: Two Parables -- 8.3.4.2 James and the Rich Oppressor -- 8.4 The Future of Poverty in the New Testament -- 8.4.1 The Great Reversal: The 'Poor' made Rich -- 8.4.1.1 Present and Future Reversals for the 'Poor' in Luke -- 8.4.1.2 Revaluing Poverty -- 8.4.2 Cosmic Transformation: The End of Poverty -- 8.4.2.1 The End of the Curse -- 8.4.2.2 New Creation and the Human Telos -- 8.4.3 The Future in the Present -- 8.4.3.1 Good News for the Poor in the Mission of Jesus -- 8.4.3.2 The Community of the Cross and the End of the Curse -- 8.5 Summary -- Chapter 9: Responses to Poverty in the New Testament -- 9.1 New Testament Perspectives on Aid for the Poor -- 9.1.1 Giving to the Poor in the Gospels -- 9.1.2 Responding to the Poor in the Eschatological Community -- 9.1.2.1 Mutual Responsibility within Local Churches -- 9.1.2.2 Remembering the Πτωχοί: A Question of Identity -- 9.1.2.3 Motivating Charity: Imitating Christ in the Power of the Spirit -- 9.2 New Testament Perspectives on Voluntary Poverty -- 9.2.1 Contentment and Deliberate Self-Impoverishment in the Gospels -- 9.2.2 Poverty, Contentment and the Apostolic Vocation -- 9.2.2.1 Poverty and Contented Dependence -- 9.2.2.2 Poverty and Authentic Apostleship -- 9.3 Summary -- Conclusions and Implications -- Bibliography -- Primary Sources -- Biblical Texts -- Other Ancient Jewish Texts -- Classical Texts -- Early Christian Texts -- Secondary Sources -- Dictionaries and Philological Tools -- Monographs, Articles and Commentaries -- Index of Ancient Sources -- Old Testament -- New Testament -- Apocryphal / Deuterocanonical Books -- Old Testament Pseudepigrapha -- Qumran -- Philo -- Josephus -- Rabbinic Texts -- Early Christian Texts -- Greek and Roman Authors Index of Modern Authors |
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| ISBN: | 3161544005 |