Wealth and Poverty in Early Church and Society

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.

• Foreword, by either Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis, or by Dean Thomas FitzgeraldPreface, Susan R. HolmanPart One: The New Testament Period1. Injustice or God's will? Early Christian Explanations of Poverty--Steven J. Friesen2. "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 Buell3. James 2:2-7 in Early Christian Thought--Görge Hasselhoff4. Wealth, Poverty, and the Value of the Person: Some notes on the Hymn of the Pearl and its early Christian context--Edward MoorePart Two: Egypt in Late Antiquity5. Widening the Eye of the Needle: Wealth and Poverty in the Works of Clement of Alexandria--Annewies van den Hoek6. Care for the Poor, Fear of Poverty, and Love of Money: Evagrius Ponticus on the Monk's Economic Vulnerability--David Brakke7. Wine for Widows: Papyrological Evidence for Christian Charity in Late Antique Egypt--Adam Serfass8. Rich and Poor: Rhetorical Pairing in Sophronius of Jerusalem's Miracles of Ss. Cyrus and John--Susan R. HolmanPart Three: John Chrysostom, The Cappadocians, and Friends9. This Sweetest Passage: Matthew 25:31−46 and assistance to the poor in the homilies of John Chrysostom--Rudolf Brändle10. Poverty and Generosity towards the Poor in the Time of John Chrysostom--Wendy Mayer11. Poverty and Wealth as Theater: John Chrysostom's Homilies on Lazarus and the Rich Man--Francine Cardman12. Wealthy and Impoverished Widows in the writings of St. John Chrysostom--Efthalia Makris Walsh13. The Background and the Nature of Patristic Philanthropy in the Early Byzantine Era--Demetrios J. ConstantelosPart Four: Wealth, Trade, and Profit in Early Byzantium14. Gilding the Lily: A Patristic Defense of Liturgical Splendor--A. Edward Siecienski15. Wealth, Stewardship and Charitable "Blessings" in Early Byzantine Monasticism--Daniel Caner16. Trade, Profit, and Salvation in the Late Patristic and the Byzantine Period--Angeliki E. LaiouPart Five: Patristic Studies for Today17. St. Basil's Philanthropic Program and Modern Micro-lending Strategies for Economic Self-Actualization--Timothy Patitsas18. The Use of Patristic Socio-Ethical Texts in Catholic Social Thought--Brian Matz