Early Christianity, Mission, and the Survival of the Poor in the Graeco-Roman World

Abstract

If the poor survived in the ancient world, it was primarily through networks of mutual support, in which kin, friends and neighbours helped each other through periods of crisis. Christians formed new, trustworthy networks, mostly among the poor, in which, despite limited resources, they supported one another as “siblings”. Importantly, these networks were open, and the spread of early Christianity was related to “the strength of weak ties”, where acts of benevolence, including care for the sick, formed bridges into pagan households. Christian theology supported this dynamic by the assurance of divine reciprocation and by situating believers” benevolence within the generosity of God in Christ.

Keywords

• early Christianity
• mission
• the poor
• survival
• the Roman world
• earlyChristianity