He expelled the money changers. So was Jesus anti-capitalist?

About this episode

The episode explores Jesus's views on money and capitalism through a discussion with biblical scholar Tom Thatcher.

What did Jesus really think about money? When he overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple in Jerusalem, accusing them of turning a sacred "house of prayer" into a "den of robbers", he also set off a series of events that would eventually lead to his death. But what exactly was he attacking? The traders themselves, or the wider economic and religious system they represented?  Biblical scholar Tom Thatcher joins Gillian and Robin to explore the financial world of Jesus of Nazareth - from taxation, debt and inequality to the extraordinary economic power of that Temple in Jerusalem. Plus, if Jesus were alive today, where would he sit on the political and economic spectrum? Could his ideas about money and inequality offer a challenge to the way we think about capitalism today? Could he even be described as socialist? Further reading:  John, Jesus, and the Renewal of Israel by Richard A. Horsley and Tom Thatcher Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant by John Dominic Crossan To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts, also on…

People in this episode

Hosts: Gillian Tett, Robin Wigglesworth

Guest: Tom Thatcher

Topics covered

• Jesus and money
• capitalism
• economic systems
• inequality
• religion
• historical analysis

Keywords

• Jesus
• capitalism
• money
• inequality
• economic power
• Temple in Jerusalem
• taxation
• debt

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Financial Times

Books & works: John, Jesus, and the Renewal of Israel, Antiquities of the Jews, The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant

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