DESCRIPTION: This course is an examination of theological perspectives on wealth, poverty, and justice in a variety of biblical traditions, with a special focus on the New Testament witness. In addition to considering the literary, socio-economic, and religious contexts of Scripture's discussions of wealth and poverty, this course will also address questions concerning the responsible stewardship of wealth and possessions in an age of consumerism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with theological perspectives on wealth, poverty, and justice in a variety of biblical traditions; (2) an understanding of the historical and socio-cultural contexts in which these perspectives developed; and (3) an ability to examine critically, in light of the New Testament's witness, their own and others' beliefs and practices regarding wealth, poverty, and justice; and (4) the capacity to engage issues related to the church's care for the poor and powerless constructively in their diverse contexts.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Responsible stewardship of wealth and possessions and consideration of the church's ministry to the poor and powerless represent crucial issues confronting followers of Jesus both ancient and modern. Careful reflection on these issues, therefore, is critical for teaching and preaching that is faithful to the Bible's witness.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets weekly for three-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Nardoni, Enrique. Rise Up, O Judge: A Study of Justice in the Biblical World. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004.

Stegemann, Ekkehard W., and Wolfgang Stegemann. The Jesus Movement: A Social History of Its First Century. Translated by O. C. Dean Jr. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1999.

West, Gerald O. The Academy of the Poor: Towards a Dialogical Reading of the Bible. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.

Wheeler, Sondra Ely. Wealth as Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.

Course reader.

Blomberg, Craig L. Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions. New Studies in Biblical Theology 7. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Brown, Peter. Poverty and Leadership in the Later Roman Empire: The Menahem Stern Jerusalem Lectures. Hanover and London: University Press of New England, 2002.

Gonzalez, Justo L. Faith and Wealth: A History of Early Christian Ideas on the Origin, Significance, and Use of Money. San Francisco: Harper & Row; repr. ed., Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2002.

Hoppe, Leslie J. There Shall Be No Poor Among You: Poverty in the Bible. Nashville: Abingdon, 2004.

1. 5 reflection papers (2-3 pp. each; 25%).

2. A project consisting of either (a) a 20-page research paper or (b) a service-learning project (50%).

3. An open-book, take-home final exam (25%).