Wealth and Beneficence in the Pastoral Epistles:
A "Bourgeois" Form of Early Christianity?
by Reggie McReynolds Kidd
Wealth and Beneficence in the Pastoral Epistles (Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series No. 122. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1990) is an exploration of Martin Dibelius' claim that 1-2 Timothy & Titus are too "bourgeois" to have been written by Paul. Under examination are: - the social level of Christians in 1-2 Timothy & Titus;
- the degree to which the approach to wealthy Christians in these churches accommodates Greco-Roman values; and
- the extent to which the ethic of wealth is, to use Dibelius' term, "unheroically conservative" when compared to the social ethics of the earlier, acknowledged letters of Paul.
In each case Dr. Kidd challenges the critical opinion that these letters could not have come from Paul himself.
Excerpt from Gordon Fee's review in the Journal of Biblical Literature: Although this dissertation does not present itself as iconoclastic, it turns out to be so in a delightfully disarming way. With a thoroughly engaging style (indeed, to the author's credit and the reader's gratitude, here is a dissertation that does not read like one!), Kidd joins some other recent voices to take on one of the "assured results" about the Christianity of the Pastoral Epistles ... (JBL 1992/2: 352-354).
Excerpt from Casimir Bernas' review in Religious Studies Review: This extraordinarily well-researched and well-written treatise represents Kidd's 1989 Duke University dissertation (directed by Franklin W. Young). Under discussion is the dichotomy between "bourgeois" morality/ethics and eschatology in both the Pastorals and the authentic Pauline epistles. In the course of three chapters, Kidd first defines "bourgeois Christianity," then reconstructs the sociological origins of the Pastorals, and finally discusses the "beneficence" that is a chief element in their moral teaching. Nevertheless, Kidd concludes that "the Pastorals share the Pauline reticence to speak of this-worldly millennial hopes." In short, Kidd has produced an exciting, provocative treatise that contains more insight into the Pastorals than can be found in most commentaries. ... (RSR 18.2/ April 1992: 142-143).
Excerpt from Robert J. Karris' review in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly: ... Kidd has done us a service by using the benefactor/beneficence motif (see F. Danker's work to which K. is heavily indebted) to explore the problematic Pastoral Epistles. Further, he has convinced this reader that the category of "bourgeois" or "middle class" is virtually useless and actually misleading when applied to the Pastoral Epistles. What we need now in exploring the authenticity and very existence of the Pastoral Epistles is a new understanding of Paul's eschatology, from which it is alleged the Pastoral Epistles diverge so stridently. K. has given us a good first draft of such an understanding (CBQ 54, 1992: 789-790).
Excert from J. Murphy-O'Connor's review in Revue Biblique: ... Kidd provides a very adequate survey of attitudes towards the responsibilities of wealth in the ancient world, and his exegesis of the Pastorals is as sophisticated and careful as his on-going simulated conversation between Celsus and Origen is effective and entertaining. ... (RB Feb. 1995: 153-154).
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