Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (Proverbs 30:8)
One of the most difficult questions facing Christians today is that of the proper attitude toward possessions. In wealthy nations such as Britain and the USA, individuals accumulate much and yet are daily exposed to the plight of the poor, whether the homeless on their own city streets or starving children on their TV screens. What action should we take on behalf of the poor? What should we do with our own possessions?
In Neither Poverty nor Riches Craig Blomberg asks what the Bible has to say about these issues. Avoiding easy answers, he instead seeks a comprehensive biblical theology of possessions. And so he begins with the groundwork laid by the Old Testament and the ideas developed in the intertestamental period, then draws out what the whole New Testament has to say on the subject, and finally offers conclusions and applications relevant to our contemporary world.
Neither Poverty Nor Riches is one book that all should read who are concerned with issues of poverty and wealth.
Series Preface Author's Preface AbbreviationsIntroductory Considerations A Sampling of Statistics Christian Response1. The Old Testament and Material Possessions: The Historical Books From Eden to Sinai From Sinai to Canaan: the Law of Moses In the Promised Land: Cycles of Obedience and Disobedience Summary and Conclusions2. The Old Testament Wisdom and Prophetic Literature Poetry and Wisdom Literature The Prophets Summary and Conclusions Conclusions Concerning the Entire Old Testament and Material Possessions3. Additional Historical Background: Between the Testaments Socio-political Developments The Literature of the Jews Other Ideological Developments Prior to the New Testament Information from the Gospels Bearing on the Socio-economic Status of the Main Characters Conclusions4. The Teaching of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels The Parables of Jesus The Remaining Teachings of Jesus Conclusions5. Earliest Christianity The Epistle of James The Book of Acts6. The Life and Teaching of Paul Galatians
1 and 2 Thessalonians
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians Romans The Prison Epistles The Pastoral Epistles Summary and Conclusions7. The Rest of the New Testament The Synoptic Evangelists The Rest of the New Testament Summary and Conclusions8. Summary, Conclusions and Applications Summary Additional Conclusions Applications Bibliography Index of Authors
Overview
Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (Proverbs 30:8)
One of the most difficult questions facing Christians today is that of the proper attitude toward possessions. In wealthy nations such as Britain and the USA, individuals accumulate much and yet are daily exposed to the plight of the poor, whether the homeless on their own city streets or starving children on their TV screens. What action should we take on ...