For Fall 2012 The James W. Richard Lectures Present:
Philip and Beulah Rollins Professor of History, Emeritus, Princeton University
"Treasure in Heaven": Wealth, Labor and the "Poor Among the Saints."Christian Giving from Paul to Pachomius
Lecture 1: "Remember the Poor": Leadership and Giving from Paul to Cyprian
The first lecture centers on the role of religious giving in the build up of Christian communities from the time of Saint Paul to the conversion of Constantine. From the time of Paul onwards, this giving raised the issue of the role of the religious entrepreneur and the rights of religious leaders to cultivate support from their communities. Thus, Christian giving bifurcated early into two aims: the need to collect money for the relief of the poor and the need to collect money also to support an increasingly prominent and active group of religious leaders.
