Redemptive Almsgiving in Early Christianity

Description

In the light of the New Testament's conviction that Jesus Christ died for sins, and that the Cross is a 'once for all' act that makes the Temple cult unnecessary, this challenging work probes the reasons for the emerging doctrine of redemptive almsgiving in early Christianity. Do the New Testament writers themselves (even Jesus!) implicitly endorse the view that a 'supplementary' or alternative means of atonement is necessary? What is the background of this theme in Graeco-Roman sources and in the Hebrew Bible? What are the principal texts in early Christian literature that advocate almsgiving as a 'ransom' for sin? These questions firmly govern this investigation of the social and theological forces that gave legitimacy to a doctrine that at first appears to contradict the primary New Testament soteriology, namely that the death of Jesus Christ is the exclusive means of redemption from sin. Preface Abbreviations Chapter I IN1RODUCIlON a. The Problem b. Relevant Literature c. Social Stratification in Rome and Corinth in the Early Empire 25 1. Rome 27 2. Corinth 33 Chapter 2 THE GRAECO-ROMAN BACKGROUND OF REDEMPTIVE ALMSGIVING 38 Chapter 3 THE JEWISH BACKGROUND OF REDEMPTIVE ALMSGIVING 46 a. The Hebrew Scriptures 46 b. The Septuagint and the Apocrypha 52 c. Early Rabbinic Literature 56 Chapter 4 THE BACKGROUND IN EARLY CHRISTIAN TRADITION 60 a. The Sayings of Jesus 60 1. Harsh Words about Wealth 61 2. Contentment with the Necessities of Life 62 3. Give without Expecting a Return 62 4. Charity as a Heavenly Investment 63 b. Acts 66 c. The Letters of Paul 68 d. Other New Testament Texts 70 e. Doctrina 74 f. Summary 75 Chapter 5 THE APOSTOLIC FATIlERS 76 a. 1 Clement 77 b. The Shepherd of Hermas 86 c. 2 Clement 94 d. Summary 107 Chapter 6 ANALYSIS 109 a. The Social Problems 110 b. The Theological Issues 119 c. Summary 133 Chapter 7 THE ROMAN CHURCH AND TIlE DEVELOPING DocTRINE 135 Appendix A THE DlDACHE, BARNABAS, AND DOCTRINA 143 Appendix B G.E.M. DE STE CROIX'S THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE ANCIENT GREEK WORLD 153 Bibliography 155 Index of References 167 Index of Authors 176