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Greed As Idolatry: The Origin and Meaning of a Pauline Metaphor
Brian S. Rosner

9780802833747 Retail Price: $22.00
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Format: Paperback, 214pp.
ISBN: 9780802833747
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Pub. Date: September 15, 2007

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Description

From The Publisher:

What are the origin and meaning of the words “greed is idolatry” found in Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5? In what sense are the greedy guilty of idolatry? Many different answers have been given to this question throughout the history of interpretation. In fact, a consensus exists on only one score — that the expression serves to vilify greed.

Brian Rosner ably takes on the challenge of interpretation by tackling the phrase as a metaphor, structuring his argument around an intriguing comparison to mountain climbing. From this vantage point, he offers a thorough history of interpretation of the phrase, including a study of the origin of the concept of idolatrous greed in biblical and Jewish sources. Rosner concludes that the comparison of greed with idolatry teaches that to desire to acquire and keep for oneself more money and material things is an attack on God’s exclusive right to human love, trust, and obedience.

With this work comes a stunning, fresh understanding of familiar terms — “greed,” “idolatry,” and even “God” — challenging both the church as a whole and individual believers to consider the far-ranging implications of our materialistic world. The first full-length study of this intriguing Pauline expression, Greed as Idolatry has profound implications for theological ethics today.

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About the Author

Brian S. Rosner is senior lecturer in New Testament and ethics at Moore Theological College and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Ancient History at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He is the author and editor of a number of books, including Understanding Paul's Ethics and New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.

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Table of Contents

Preface
Abbreviations

PART I   INTRODUCTION: ORIENTATION AND PREPARATION

  1. “Greed as Idolatry”: A Formidable Peak

  2. The History of Interpretation: Lessons from Other Climbers
    The Origin of the Expression
    The Meaning of the Expression
    1. No Interpretation
    2. Greed Is as Bad as Idolatry
    3. Greed Leads to Idolatry
    4. Greed Is the Worship of the God or Demon “Mammon”
    5. Greed Is Slavery Imposed by the Economic System
    6. Greed Is Service and Obedience to Wealth
    7. Greed Is Inordinate Love of and Devotion to Wealth
    8. Greed Is Trust and Confidence in Wealth
    9. Complex Interpretations
    Conclusion

  3. Method for the Present Study: Maps and Supplies
    A Biblical/Jewish Origin
         Jewish Moral Teaching in Colossians
         Jewish Moral Teaching in Ephesians
    “Greed Is Idolatry” as a Metaphor


PART II   THE ORIGIN OF THE CONCEPT OF IDOLATROUS GREED: A COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR PEAKS

  1. The Jewish Scriptures: The Distant Ranges
    The First Commandment
    Deuteronomy
    The Golden Calf
    Psalm 10
    Proverbs 30:7-9
    Job 31:24-28
    Job 22:23-30

  2. Early Jewish Moral Teaching: The Tablelands
    Qumran
    Testament of Judah 19.1
    Rabbinic Literature
    Philo

  3. The New Testament: The Foothills
    The Synoptic Gospels
    Revelation 18:1–19:10
    Philippians 3:19 and Romans 16:18

  4. Conclusion: Debriefing the Trekkers


PART III   THE MEANING OF “GREED IS IDOLARTY”: CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN

  1. Understanding Greed: The Surrounding Terrain
    Avarice or Sexual Greed?
    Sexual Immorality and Idolatry
    Greed, Violence, and Corruption
    Definitions of Greed

  2. Understanding Idolatry: The Surrounding Terrain
    Opposition to Idolatry
    The Concept of Idolatry
         The Marital Model
         The Political Model
    A Definition of Idolatry

  3. Understanding Greed as Idolatry: Reaching the Summit
    Preparing the Metaphor
    Feeling the Metaphor
         Excursus 1: Condemning Greed in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity
    Mapping the Metaphor
         Love and Devotion
         Trust and Confidence
         Service and Obedience
    Comparing the Metaphor
         Excursus 2: Idolatrous Greed as Implicit Religion

  4. Conclusions: Final Debrief and a Look Ahead
    Greed Is Idolatry
    The Fight against Greed
    Idolatry and the Knowledge of God

    Bibliography
    Indexes
         Index of Names
         Index of Subjects
         Index of Bible Passages

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