It has long been acknowledged that Jews and Christians distinguished themselves through charity to the poor. Though ancient Greeks and Romans were also generous, they funded theaters and baths rather than poorhouses and orphanages. How might we explain this difference? In this significant reappraisal of charity in the biblical tradition, Gary Anderson argues that the poor constituted the privileged place where Jews and Christians met God. Though concerns for social justice were not unknown to early Jews and Christians, the poor achieved the importance they did primarily because they were thought to be "living altars," a place to make a sacrifice, a loan to God that he, as the ultimate guarantor, could be trusted to repay in turn. Contrary to the assertions of Reformation and modern critiques, belief in a heavenly treasury was not just about self-interest. Sifting through biblical and postbiblical texts, Anderson shows how charity affirms the goodness of the created order; the world was created through charity and therefore rewards it.

• We started tracking this book on December 20, 2013.
• This book was $14.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 48 times in the past 4,328 days.
• The current price of this book is $14.99 last checked 9 hours ago.
• This book is at its lowest price in the past year.
• The lowest price to date was $10.49 last reached on November 11, 2017.
• This book has been $10.49 one time since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $20.00 last reached on October 16, 2023.
• This book has been $20.00 one time since we started tracking it.

• Religion & SpiritualityChristian Books & BiblesBible Study & ReferenceCommentaries
• Religion & SpiritualityReligious Studies & ReferenceEthics
• Religion & SpiritualityReligious Studies & ReferenceSociology

• Publication Date: August 27, 2013
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 233 Pages
• File Size: 10 KB