Everything together. On the early Christian economy

Lateral interior facade of the church lit by natural light

On what did Jesus and his disciples live? How did the apostle Paul and his companions finance their missionary activities? Were the preachers of the early Christian generations paid? What form took the material solidarity of the first Christian communities?

This is the theme of the online symposium with dr. Jonathan Cornillon, organized by the Universiteit van Tilburg. He is associated with the Université de Sorbonne (Paris IV) and wrote Tout en commun ? La vie économique de Jésus et des premières générations chrétiennes (Cerf Patrimoines, 2020). The symposium will be in English.

After an introduction by dr. Jonathan Cornillon, prof. dr. Bart Koet (Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature) and prof. dr. Paul van Geest (Professor of Church History and Augustine expert) will give a response.

The economic life of early Christian communities, from the preaching of Jesus to the end of the third century, was deeply connected with an ethical and solidarity-based approach to poverty.

Nevertheless, already from the preaching of Jesus onwards, there was an ambitious financing of the proclamation of the Gospel and church organization. The aim was to use resources efficiently, even if there occurred abuse or a lack of financial understanding. The ideal that property was not only private but always communal was and remained important. The remembrance of Jesus' preaching and of the practice of the first community in Jerusalem gave Christians an ambitious morality to put into practice.

Programme
15.00 Welcome and introduction by prof. dr. Bart Koet
15.10 Introduction by dr. Jonathan Cornillon
15.40 Response by prof. dr. Bart Koet
15.55 Response by prof. dr. Paul van Geest
16.10 Opportunity for questions and discussion
16.30 Ending

Practical information
The language of the symposium will be English.

Professor
More information

When:      15 October 2021, 15.00-16.30 
Location: by Zoom
Participation is free. 

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