Paul's teachings on wealth and poverty are fundamental to understanding the early Christian approach to social issues. His emphasis on generosity, unity, and compassion shaped the character of early churches, creating communities defined by their care for the poor.

In this episode, host Lynn Cohick welcomes Dr. Helen Rhee, professor of the history of Christianity at Westmont College, to a thought-provoking discussion on how Paul’s letters influenced early Christian thought on wealth, poverty, and charity. They also highlight the significance of Rhee’s contribution to the second edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, a brand-new article on “Wealth and Poverty” not featured in the first edition.

Their conversation covers the practical challenges early believers faced in caring for the vulnerable in light of contemporary Roman norms, the broader social implications of Paul’s teachings, and how the ethos of early church generosity continues to resonate today.

Tune in to this enlightening conversation and be inspired to live out these principles today.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The role of wealth and poverty in Paul's teachings and their application in early Christian communities
• The contrast between Roman societal norms and Christian practices regarding wealth
• The implications of generosity and communal support as foundational Christian values

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Helen Rhee: https://www.westmont.edu/people/helen-rhee-phd
• Get to know more about Lynn Cohick: https://www.ivpress.com/lynn-h-cohick?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Read Dictionary of Paul and His Letters: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship, 2nd Edition by Scot McNight, Lynn Cohick, and Nijay Gupta: https://ivpress.com/dictionary-of-paul-and-his-letters?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Read Illness, Pain, and Healthcare in Early Christianity by Helen Rhee: https://amzn.to/4be9X5f
• Read Remember the Poor: Paul, Poverty, and the Greco-Roman World by Bruce W. Longenecker https://amzn.to/3QIYiTO

As an Amazon Associate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above.

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Alexandra Horn and Travis Albritton

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Production Assistants: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Jack Reece

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Podcast Art: Brad Joiner

✅ Theme Song: "Trip Don't Fall" by Midnight Daydream

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Paul's letters offer a blend of raw emotion and profound theology, revealing a personality that could express both stern rebuke and tender warmth.

In this episode, host Lynn Cohick sits down with Jeaninne Brown, The David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations at Bethel Seminary. With over two decades of teaching and scholarship, Brown brings a wealth of insight into Pauline literature.

Together, they dive into the implications of Paul’s teachings in a Greco-Roman setting and unpack the concept of citizenship as portrayed in his letters.

Brown also shares her recent scholarly endeavors, including her forthcoming book Embedded Genres in the New Testament and her deep dive into the Christ poem in Philippians—offering rich theological insights against the backdrop of Roman cultural expectations.

Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on Pauline literature and its relevance today.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The complex interplay between Roman citizenship and the Christian identity in Paul's writings
• The role of genre and context in interpreting Paul's letters, particularly the Christ poem in Philippians
• Challenges and insights from Brown's career in a male-dominated field

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Lynn Cohick: https://www.ivpress.com/lynn-h-cohick?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Get to know more about Jeannine Brown: https://www.ivpress.com/jeannine-k-brown?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Read The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 2nd Edition by ​​Scot McKnight, Lynn Cohick and Nijay Gupta: https://www.ivpress.com/dictionary-of-paul-and-his-letters?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Read Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics by Jeannine Brown: https://amzn.to/4bbt4wS
• Read The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, 2nd Edition by Joel Green, Nicholas Perrin and Jeannine Brown: https://www.ivpress.com/dictionary-of-jesus-and-the-gospels?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Read Embedded Genres in the New Testament by Jeannine Brown: https://amzn.to/4dAKKUj
• Read Philippians: From People to Letter by Peter Oakes: https://amzn.to/4aifFSv

As an Amazon Associate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above.

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Alexandra Horn and Travis Albritton

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Production Assistants: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Jack Reece

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Podcast Art: Brad Joiner

✅ Theme Song: "Trip Don't Fall" by Midnight Daydream

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

The depth of Pauline theology extends well beyond traditional interpretations and individual word studies, reaching into the very core of the Christian lived experience. Central to this theological journey is the concept of cruciformity, how the cross becomes both the shape and the source of salvation.

Join host Scott McKnight and his guest Michael Gorman, a revered scholar in New Testament studies and contributor to the DPL2, as they discuss on the extensive bibliography of the DPL2 and explore how this concept of cruciformity fostered a newfound joy in the early Church communities and continues to influence Christian thought and practice today.

Join us as we gain insights that bridge doctrinal history and practical applications, enriching the contemporary Christian’s lived experience.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The many benefits the DPL2 offers students, scholars, and pastors
• The structure and societal roles within the first-century Pauline church.
• The concept of cruciformity in Paul's theology.

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Scot McKnight: https://www.ivpress.com/scot-mcknight?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Get to know more about Michael Gorman: https://stmarys.edu/staff/dr-michael-j-gorman
• Read the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 2nd Edition by ​​Scot McKnight, Lynn Cohick and Nijay Gupta: https://www.ivpress.com/dictionary-of-paul-and-his-letters?utm_source=ivpod25&utm_medium=ivp_btb
• Read Romans: A Theological and Pastoral Commentary by Michael J. Gorman: https://amzn.to/3QAYULg
• Read Going to Church in the First Century by Robert Banks: https://amzn.to/4buB77L
• Read Reading Romans in Pompeii: Paul's Letter at Ground Level by Peter Oakes: https://amzn.to/3ybVeJC
• Read Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting by Robert Banks: https://amzn.to/3URXM8w

As an Amazon Associate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above.

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Alexandra Horn and Travis Albritton

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Production Assistants: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Jack Reece

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Podcast Art: Brad Joiner

✅ Theme Song: "Trip Don't Fall" by Midnight Daydream

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.