They who Give from Evil

Description

They Who Give From Evil is a stimulating exploration of the response of the Eastern Church in the Early Christian Era towards moneylending, with a detailed reference to Greek and Roman societies and Christian and Jewish scripture. Brenda Llewellyn Ihssen's analysis focuses on the Greek Fathers who were foundational to the Byzantine and Eastern Christian theology and historical traditions, to offer a nuanced understanding of sermons concerning the reality of debt, alongside the responsibility of Christian wealth. Ihssen contemplates Basil's Homilia in psalmum 14 and Gregory of Nyssa's Contra usurarios, exploring how the two bishops take usury as their primary subject and compose sermons around it. They Who Give from Evil offers a fresh perspective on a complicated theological and social issue and will be of great interest to both students and academics alike.