Sondra Ely Wheeler, Wealth as Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions. Eerdmans, 1995.
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Since its publication, this volume has been referenced by most who write on the same subject. For example, Ben Witherington’s Jesus and Money (2010) begins with a summary of themes from Wheeler, and he demonstrates familiarity with her throughout. Wheeler writes with a scholarly weight that may not be appreciated by all preachers, but I believe it is worth a good perusal.
The first two chapters discuss her theological method. This is followed by in-depth treatments of five New Testament texts: Mark 10:17-31; Luke 12:22-34; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; and James 5:1-6. She also devotes a chapter that surveys the teachings on possessions in the larger canonical context (the remainder of the New Testament). This is followed by a summary of the major themes in the New Testament’s treatment of wealth, preceded by a similar summary of Old Testament themes.
Be sure and supplement Wheeler with other recommendations from the “Theological and Spiritual Foundations” section of the resource guide on Giving and Financial Stewardship.
From the Publisher
This painstaking study of the New Testament helps bring clarity to one of the great ethical dilemmas of the modern church – the moral status of wealth and possessions in relation to Christian faith. After first developing a general methodology for interpreting the New Testament’s moral witness, Wheeler gives a responsible exegesis of the key New Testament texts that deal with wealth and possessions.
About the Author
Sondra Ely Wheeler is Martha Ashby Carr Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
See Other Resource Guides on Christian Social Ministry:
- Theological and Philosophical Foundations of Social Ministry
- Spirituality for Ministry of Social Compassion and Justice
- Strategies For Christian Social Ministry
- Perspectives and Strategies For Social Ministry Among the Urban Poor, Urban Ministry
- Christian Perspectives on Political Theory and Church-State Relations
- Christian Perspectives on Economics and Public Policy
Other Ministry Resource Guides on Financial Stewardship:
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: