Social Message of the New Testament

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SOCIAL MESSAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT SOCIAL MESSAGE of the NEW TESTAMENT By H. SCHUMACHER, D. D. Professor of New Testament Scripture Author of a Handbook of Scripture Study, etc. THE BRUCE PUBLISHING COMPANY MILWAUKEE To the Fathers of the Precious Blood at Carthagena, Ohio In Grateful Remembrance of Their Kindly Interest and Hospitality While This Book Was Being Written CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE BY THE GENERAL EDITOR ........ xi AUTHORS PREFACE xv PART ONE THE SOCIAL MESSAGE OF CHRIST CHAPTER I. FOUNDATION OF THE NEW CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ORDER 3 II. THE SOCIAL MESSAGE OF CHRISTS TEACHING IN GENERAL 28 III. REFORMATION OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND INSTITUTIONS 65 PART TWO SOCIAL MESSAGE OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE IV. THE SOCIAL MESSAGE OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE IN GENERAL 131 V. APOSTOLIC TEACHING ON SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND INSTITUTIONS 164 CONCLUSION SOCIAL CRISIS AND CATHOLIC ACTION . 188 APPENDIX SOCIAL MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH . . . . 197 FOOTNOTES 217 INDEX 223 ix PREFACE BY THE GENERAL EDITOR For many years Dr. Schumacher has been known as a fore most Scripture scholar. The present book, however, is not written for any special group. It is universal in its appeal. The message it conveys is for all men. Its method of treat ment, while scientific, is popular, simple, and within the ready comprehension of all. It is a book for the many no less than for the few. Too little thought has hitherto been devoted to the subject here treated, although nothing could well be more important. Society today is lacking above all in spiritual vitality. It needs the dynamic message of the New Testament to urge it into action. Our most enlightened thinkers daily realize more pro foundly and all history bears out their contention that a culture whose spiritual life is dying or extinct already carries within it the seed of its own corruption. It matters not liow prosperous it may outwardly appear. The apple ruddiest to the eye is, proverbially, the one that bears the deadly canker at its core. The great nations of the world went down to ruin at the height of their own material display and sensuous enjoyment. They became as St. Paul found the pagans of his day to be hard, cruel, without pity, given to the lusts of the flesh. In our reconstruction of the social order the most essential element is not the choice of systems and techniques, but the religious factor. The sooner our modern nations will learn this truth, the closer they will find themselves to the realization of their dreams for world betterment, world peace, social and domestic happiness. Through the course of many years the author has revolved in his mind the subject of this book. Other volumes dealing xi Preface by the General Editor with this question have appeared from various non-Catholic sources, and due reference is made to them. Yet something different was needed. Theological commentaries could not answer the purpose nor Scripture studies expanded into socio logical essays, good though they might be. But what was supremely needed was a brief, clear, authentic exposition of the Scripture passages in the New Testament bearing on the social question. Thoughtfully gathered, scientifically grouped, and systematically built into a constructive message, these passages, with their authentic exposition, could then be pre sented to Catholic and non-Catholic alike, as the complete social ideal of the New Testament. That is the task the author set himself that is the work he accomplished. Fundamental for the authors treatment are the tremendous and far-reaching social implications contained in the Our Father, establishing the only possible basis for any brother hood of man. Of widest application also, embracing all who are one in Christ, no matter of what race or color or state of life under the sun, is the beautiful doctrine of the Mystical Body of the Vine and its branches...