Faith and Wealth: A History of Early Christian Ideas on the Origin, Significance, and Use of Money

Ideas pertaining to economics and social order were central concerns of the early Christian church, yet modern theologians and scholars have paid little or no attention to these issues as important theological questions. This brillant and thorough study is a history of the views which Christians held on the origin, significance, and use of wealth. Justo Gonzalez examines early Christian ideas, beliefs, and teachings about the use of money, property, communal sharing, and the rights and obligations of rich and poor. Setting the Christian community in the political, social, and economic contexts of the times, Gonzalez highlights the ideas of such prominent writers as Cyprian, Ambrose, Augustine, John Chrysostom, and the Desert Fathers concerning wealthnoting what traditional scholarship has overlooked. As the author points out, this book is not a social or economic history of the views which Christians held on economic matters. This profound, enlightening, and highly readable work of excellent scholarship is a major contribution to the study of the history of Christian thought. It clearly demonstrates that the issues of economics and social justice are central theological concerns, deeply rooted in Christian doctrine and Christian tradition.