Ownership: Early Christian Teaching

244 Pages·2004·12.44 MB·English

by  Charles Avila

rfao*;»
juioo; 6*1
piito* **"*• 1
i®0ovta V> M*
tpdtfecrOas
15.T™"1,
jr ;rr« Ytv0^
ItlMfll |M
LV1VJ w 11
I %T^J II I i ■
jji) SIVu- f rf
jv pLopioitXaalwx
a itXoofffwj ^ **
i 3v oipavbv e«
> *j\ TevtaxiaX’-^1
xa\ 0u8e\<; a«xw'
J.5UXOV fev ioaou.«p • ^ ^
;w8ev lidb**** ‘» .
touTO Sattavtjpbv xa - •
IvOa waiMa ^*a xa i
pYeiW, 6 8k iiu»eev W-
S, afoot xotv%
_•> c ,W av dvwtaxoi.

OWNERSHIP:
EARLY CHRISTIAN
TEACHING
'
CHARLES AVILA
OWNERSHIP:
EARLY CHRISTIAN
TEACHING
□ R B I S
Maryknoll, New York 10545
Sheed and Ward
London
The Indexes were prepared by Marilyn Barr
Copyright © 1983 by Charles Avila
Published jointly by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY 10545, and Sheed and Ward
Limited, 2 Creechurch Lane, London EC3A5AQ
Manufactured in the United States of America
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Avila, Charles
Ownership, early Christian teaching.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Property—Religious aspects—Christianity—History.
2. Fathers of the church. I. Title.
BR115.E3A94 1983 261.8*5 83-8330
ISBN 0-88344-384-8 (pbk.)
Sheed and Ward ISBN 0-7220-6316-4
To
EUGENIO AND ELEANOR AVILA
my parents and first teachers
and to the memory of
VERNA GOLAMCO-AVILA
with gratitude and love

Contents
Preface xi
Chapter 1
The Concept of Ownership 1
Two Approaches 1
The General Notion 3
Origins of Private Property 4
An Ancient Notion Prevails 8
Exploring Patristic Thought 10
Chapter 2
Roman Law Theory and Practice of Ownership 14
Influence of Roman Law 14
Beginnings 16
Nature of Ownership and Property Distinctions 19
From Land Ownership to Slave Ownership 22
Socioeconomic Conditions in the Patristic Age 25
Resistance, Resignation, Decline 30
Chapter 3
Clement of Alexandria: The Koinonic Goal 33
The Texts 35
1. Autarkeia, or Self-Sufficiency, As a Purpose of
Property 35
2. Koinonia As a Purpose of Property 37
3. Limits of the Use of Wealth 42
4. All Wealth a Gift to All 43
Summary 45
• •
Vll
CONTENTS
Chapter 4
...
Basil the Great: Robbery by Any Other Name 47
The Texts 49
1. The Rich Are Thieves 49
2. The Injustice of Usury 56
3. The Injustice of Luxury in the Midst of Poverty 56
Summary 57
Chapter 5
Ambrose: Born Naked 59
The Texts 61
1. The Natural Equality of All in Womb and
Tomb 61
2. The Wealthy Few Cause the Many to Groan in
Misery 64
3. The Earth Belongs to All: The Wealthy Few Have a
Duty of Restitution 66
4. Helping Others Places God in Our Debt 69
5. The Most Excellent Christian Quality 70
6. We Lose Things That Are Common When We Claim
Things As Our Own 71
7. Nature Is the Mother of Common Right, Usurpation of
Private Right 73
8. His Sun Rises for All, His Rain Falls on All, and He
Has Given the Earth to All 76
9. It Is Idolatrous of the Rich to Usurp God's Absolute
Dominion 78
Summary 78
Chapter 6
John Chrysostom: You Are Possessed by Possessions 81
The Texts 83
1. Not to Share One's Resources Is Robbery 83
2. The Meaning of <fMine" and (<Not Mine" 85
3. To Possess and Not Be Possessed by One's
Possessions 87
4. The Many Poor A re Not Slothful: The Huge
Inheritance of a Few Is Unjust 88