Category: Series: Theologians and Economists
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Theologians and Economists: Parable of the Talents (2)
[Series Index] In the previous post, we looked at the cultural and Scriptural context for the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30. What are we to make of this parable? The first thing I would draw attention to is the relationship of the wealthy man to his servants/slaves. One talent was equivalent to about twenty…
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Theologians & Economists: Parable of the Talents (1)
[Series Index] (After a month-long hiatus, we pick up this series again.) In the previous post, I noted the problem of reading New Testament stories out of context and unwittingly inserting our economic context into the stories. The Parable of the Talents is frequently used to support stewardship and wise investment of our resources. There…
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Theologians and Economists: Reading Scripture in Context
[Series Index] In my previous post, I wrote that economics is not in the Bible. Many terms central to economics can't even be translated into Greek or Latin. Certainly, people of the Old and New Testament eras labored, traded, and used money, but they did not see what we would call economic activity as a…
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Theologians and Economists: Economics Isn’t in the Bible
[Series Index] I’ve recently been reading M. I. Finley’s classic The Ancient Economy. Early in the book, he explains that the Greek oikonomia (meaning “household management” and the word from which we get “economics”) dealt almost exclusively with the politics of managing the household. It had virtually nothing to do with what we would today…
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Theologians and Economists: Remedial Justice
[Series Index] In addition to distributive justice and commutative justice, there is also the issue of remedial justice. Remedial justice addresses just compensation and punitive action when malicious or careless damage has been done to life, liberty, or property. Someone must be reasonably certain that the fruits of their labor will not be taken by…
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Theologians and Economists: Commutative Justice
[Series Index] Commutative Justice is about honest and just economic transactions. It is a major theme in both Testaments of the Bible. From the Old Testament: Lev 19:11 NRSV You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. Lev 19:13 NRSV You shall not defraud your neighbor;…
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Theologians and Economists: Distributive Justice
[Series Index] Reading the legal codes in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, it is clear private property was taken for granted. One of the Ten Commandments was "Thou shall not steal." Numerous references exist for appropriate restitution when someone's property has been taken or damaged. Private property was central to Old Testament economic life. However,…
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Theologians and Economists: Economic Justice
(Today, we return to this series after a two-week hiatus due to duties with the Presbyterians. 🙂 ) [Series Index] In recent posts, I've been suggesting some biblical themes that need to be a part of deliberations on theology and economics. God created humanity for dominion. It is our mission. Our relationship to material things…
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Theologians & Economists: Linear Time and Progress
[Series Index] So far, we have noted the Hebrews' unique cosmology and notion of decentralized stewardship. But another peculiarity about Hebrew thought contributes directly to economic behavior: Linear time and progress. Ancient Near East culture had a cyclical view of time. Time moved in repeating patterns. Worship and daily life were about conforming to the…
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Theologians and Economists: Decentralized Stewardship
[Series Index] We have noted the peculiar cosmology of the Hebrews compared to the Ancient Near East (ANE) cultures. Another peculiarity is the construal of property rights in the Bible, particularly regarding land and labor. The idea of private property rights wasn’t foreign to ANE culture. Records dating back to at least the late third…