Hungry Are Dying - Beggars and Bishops in Roman Cappadocia

This study examines the theme of poverty in the fourth-century sermons of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory Nazianzen, and Gregory Nysson. These sermons are especially important for what they tell us about the history of poverty relief and the role of fourth century Christian theology in constructing the body of the redemptive, involuntary poor. Some of the topics explored include the contextualization of the poor in scholarship, the poor in late antiquity, and starvation and famine dynamics. In exploring this relationship between cultural context and theological language, this volume offers a broad and fresh overview of these little-studied texts.

Summary

This study examines the theme of poverty in the fourth-century sermons of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory Nazianzen, and Gregory Nysson. These sermons are especially important for what they tell us about the history of poverty relief and the role of fourth century Christian theology in constructing the body of the redemptive, involuntary poor. Some of the topics explored include the contextualization of the poor in scholarship, the poor in late antiquity, and starvation and famine dynamics. In exploring this relationship between cultural context and theological language, this volume offers a broad and fresh overview of these little-studied texts.

Additional text

An excellent study ... very sensitive and perceptive.

Product details

• Authors: Susan R. Holman, Holman Susan R.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 09.08.2001
• EAN: 9780195139129
• ISBN: 978-0-19-513912-9
• No. of pages: 256
• Series: Oxford Studies in Historical Theology; Oxford Studies in Historical Theology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Social structure research; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Poverty & Homelessness, RELIGION / Christianity / History, RELIGION / Christianity / General, RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources, Christianity, Poverty & unemployment, History of Religion, Church history, BCE to c 500 CE, Religious social and pastoral thought and activity, BCE period – Protohistory, Poverty and precarity, Christian social thought & activity