Property and Riches in the Early Church: Aspects of a Social History of Early Christianity

What should be the Christian attitude toward money and possessions? Have our own possessions left us blind to the utopian vision of the first Christians? Is anything short of a complete renunciation of possessions a compromise with Christian teaching?

In this brief and lucid study, esteemed New Testament scholar and historian Martin Hengel examines the views of property and riches to be found in the teachings of Jesus, the early Christian communities, and the church fathers down to the fourth century. He compares Christian ideals with those to be found in Judaism and ancient philosophy, and sets what was taught alongside what was achieved in practice. A final chapter summarizes the relevance of these findings for Christianity today, and an annotated reading list indicates suggestions for further study.

Martin Hengel is Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism at the University of Tubingen, Germany. Among his many important books are Judaism and Hellenism (1974), Between Jesus and Paul (1983), Crucifixion (1977), The Atonement (1981), and Property and Riches in the Early Church (1974), all published by Fortress Press.