Poverty eradication and the Bible in context: a serious challenge

Abstract

This article endeavours to reflect seriously on poverty in its ancient (biblical) and present-day contexts, and is motivated by the notion that present-day believers (whether Jewish or Christian) want their acknowledgement of the status of the Bible to contribute to the eradication of poverty in its present-day contexts. In this article, I shall briefly discuss the various terms for poverty used in the Bible, and I shall then reflect upon present-day definitions and distinctions. After a brief review of the (ancient) historical context of Israel (and the contemporary survival measures as revealed by archaeology), I shall then focus, again, on the present-day world, including the situation in South Africa. Only serious continued reflection can lead, ultimately, to any form of action. Is daar ‘n god? En waar is hy? Is there a god? And where is he? Hy ontmoet jou elke dag He meets you daily in mense wat jou nodig kry. in a needy person’s plea. (after Dietrich Bonhoeffer) How serious is poverty talk? We are philosophical about poverty, or religious, capitalistic or perhaps socialistically minded – but never really serious (C W du Toit).