Journal: Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry
Volume: JBTM 19:2 (Fall 2022)
Article: Poverty, Prosperity And The Gospel: Is There Economic Good News For The Poor In Paul?
Author: John W. Taylor

Poverty, Prosperity And The Gospel: Is There Economic Good News For The Poor In Paul?

John W. Taylor

John W. Taylor serves as professor of New Testament and chair of Biblical Studies at Gateway Seminary in Ontario, California.

Introduction

Is there a biblical answer to poverty? Does the only economic hope for the poor lie beyond the grave? Is the Old Testament prophetic ideal of free people sitting under their own vines and their own fig trees (Mic 4:4) simply spiritualized in the New Testament, or postponed till the Parousia? In light of the prominence of the so-called “prosperity gospel,” or faith movement, and the reaction to it, this investigation asks how Paul viewed poverty, and how he addressed economic scarcity. It investigates whether there is a proper biblical theology of divine provision to be found in Paul’s Letters.

The last seventy years have seen massive growth in the so-called prosperity gospel movement, emphasizing financial prosperity as a positive result of faith. This movement has attracted widespread criticism,1 often being labeled a heresy or a false gospel.2 There are many problems caused by the so-called prosperity

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gospel, but criticism is easy coming from those who are affluent. Criticism of prosperity-gospel teaching often fails to account adequately for its widespread appeal, especially among poorer communities and dismisses it as merely deceptive and materialistic. There has been recently, though, a growth of academic criticism of this movement from non-western sources.3 One recent writer says, “Prosperity ministers ignore all economic standards of wealth accumulation, and proffer a divine magical route. . . . Adherents who have not experienced the proffered magical turn in their lives continue to accept the unproven arguments of these prosperity ministers as doctrinal.”4 Another complains, “It is clear that the prosperity gospel distorts the doctrine of salvation by making success and wellbeing the measure of spirituality and the sign of God’s approval.”5 And another, more stridently, “The greatest danger that has ravaged the church for decades is the prosperity gospel, circulated by Americans to the third world for their own selfish agenda and the destruction of the faith.”6 On the other hand, some acknowledge some positive aspects of the movement7 and re...