Paul and Money: A Biblical and Theological Analysis of the Apostle's Teachings and Practices

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.