Philosophies of Money in Early Christian Thought (First Pages) (original) (raw)

Devin Singh’s chapter explores philosophies of money in early Christian thought during the patristic period (ca. 300–600), when theology was systemized using Greco-Roman philosophical tools and formalized through councils and imperial edicts. Singh argues this period is significant because it reflects the merger of Christian thought with political ideology, institutions, and economic practices, shaping Christendom and secular Europe. Early Christian views on money varied: rigorists rejected it as dangerous, while moderates saw it as a tool for advancing God’s kingdom. However, no one fully embraced money or wealth uncritically, agreeing on its potential peril and need for careful handling. Singh examines several thinkers, focusing on Clement of Alexandria, who defended the righteous use of wealth. Clement’s middling view, which became dominant, held that the wealthy could be virtuous if their resources supported alms and ecclesial purposes. Instead of rejecting money itself, Clement advocated renouncing attachment to riches and luxuries. Despite its spiritual risks, money also became a conceptual tool for theologians, serving as metaphor and logic for explaining doctrines like the Trinity, incarnation, and redemption. Singh shows how monetary logic provided a framework for these theological ideas, linking Christianity to Greco-Roman economic institutions and shaping the political and economic development of the West. Understanding this early synthesis is key to grasping its enduring impact.