Blomberg, Neither Poverty Nor Riches

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Craig Blomberg, Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions. IVP Academic, 2001.

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LifeandLeadership.com Summary

This is a well researched, balanced, and thorough development of biblical teaching on the subject of wealth and poverty. It demonstrates a good degree of scholarly objectivity, without the excesses characteristic of strong advocacy of a particular social philosophy. I recommend it as first on the subject, followed by Randy Alcorn’s Money, Possessions, and Eternity as my top choices on a theology of giving for church leaders. Blomberg is a scholar and Alcorn is a more popular level communicator. Both are substantive, but Blomberg’s scholarship makes him the place for church leaders to start.

In the introductory section, he summarizes some alarming statistics about world poverty over against Western Christian wealth. Next he surveys the perspectives of leading Christian writers who have attempted to call the church to a more socially responsible understanding of the gospel in general and wealth/poverty in particular, some heavy on the ideas of structural evil (e.g. Sider’s Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger) and others that are more positive about the roles of money and wealth among God’s people (e.g. John Schneider’s The Good of Affluence). These and other observations serve as a backdrop to describing how Blomberg’s own work contributes to the scholarly discussion.

This book is well organized and accessible, with helpful chapter titles, major headings and sub-headings, along with a summary at the end of each chapter.

The first two chapters survey the Old Testament teaching on material possessions. Blomberg shows how the patriarchs (Abraham and Joseph especially) were at the time wealthy and radically generous. He also demonstrates the limited present day applicability of the O.T. promises of material blessings for obedience that are tied to the land covenant. The section on “safeguards relativizing the ownership of property” (laws against interest, sabbatical year, jubilee, taxes, tithes, offerings, justice for the poor) is especially helpful for current discussions on the redistribution of wealth. Equally as valuable is his survey of O.T. wisdom and prophetic literature, which not only thoroughly reviews relevant passages, but is conversant with and fair toward most writers on these subjects (e.g. Brueggeman).

The third chapter looks at historical and social developments of the inter-testamental period and their influence of Jewish customs leading up to the time of Christ.

Chapters 4-7 deal with the New Testament, beginning with a survey of Jesus and the Gospels, followed by a whole chapter on James, which is set in a historical milieu of social injustice in the Jewish-Christian communities. He devotes a chapter to Acts, especially the first half, and then ends this section with a survey of the teachings of Paul which includes a major development of 2 Corinthians 8-9. A separate chapter looks at John and the non-Pauline literature of the New Testament.

Chapter 8 provides summaries, conclusions, and applications. Although brief, this is an excellent section, where Blomberg shares his own testimony of adjusting himself to practicing the graduated tithe, i.e. begin with a tithe and then increase the percentage as God increases one’s annual provisions. Readers will appreciate the balance he brings to the subject, reiterating the basic idea of the book which echoes Proverbs 30:8, “give me neither poverty nor riches.”

This is an excellent work. It is academic and weighty by design, so do not expect light reading. I recommend it for all preachers as a reference tool, as it is impossible to avoid the many occasions that they must bring the message of scripture to the subject of poverty, wealth, and generosity. I believe the editorial review by D. A. Carson sums it up well: “On a subject as sensitive as this one, it is extraordinarily rare to find balance and prophetic voice rolled up in one. In my view, this is now the best book on the entire subject.” That said, if one has questions about biblical scholarship on wealth beyond Blomberg, consult the resources in “Theological and Spiritual Foundations” section of the Ministry Resource Guide on Giving and Financial Stewarship.

From the Publisher

“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” (Proverbs 30:8) One of the most difficult questions facing Christians today is that of the proper attitude toward possessions. In wealthy nations such as Britain and the USA, individuals accumulate much and yet are daily exposed to the plight of the poor, whether the homeless on their own city streets or starving children on their TV screens. What action should we take on behalf of the poor? What should we do with our own possessions? In Neither Poverty nor Riches Craig Blomberg asks what the Bible has to say about these issues. Avoiding easy answers, he instead seeks a comprehensive biblical theology of possessions. And so he begins with the groundwork laid by the Old Testament and the ideas developed in the intertestamental period, then draws out what the whole New Testament has to say on the subject, and finally offers conclusions and applications relevant to our contemporary world. Neither Poverty Nor Riches is one book that all should read who are concerned with issues of poverty and wealth.

About the Author

Dr. Craig Blomberg is currently a distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary. Dr. Blomberg completed his Ph.D. in New Testament, specializing in the parables and the writings of Luke-Acts, at Aberdeen University in Scotland . In addition to writing numerous articles in professional journals, multi-author works and dictionaries or encyclopedias, he has authored or edited 15 books, including The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (now revised in a 21st century edition), Interpreting the Parables, Matthew for the New American Commentary series, 1 Corinthians for the NIV Application Commentary series.

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