Wealth and poverty are issues of perennial importance in the life and thought of the church. This volume brings patristic thought to bear on these vital issues. The contributors offer explanations of poverty in the New Testament period, explore developments among Christians in Egypt and Asia Minor and in early Byzantium, and connect patristic theology with contemporary public policy and religious dialogue. This volume inaugurates Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians. In these multi-author books, contributors from all traditions focus on the patristic (especially Greek patristic) heritage. Series Editorial Board Robert J. Daly, S.J., Boston College Bruce N. Beck, The Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute Fran̤ois Bovon, Harvard Divinity School Demetrios S. Katos, Hellenic College Susan R. Holman, Poverty Studies.org Aristotle Papanikolaou, Fordham University James Skedros, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.