The Good Works Reader

Often considered one of the sparks that ignited the Reformation, the place of "works" in the Christian life is still debated. In this volume distinguished theologian Thomas Oden draws together Christian teaching from across the centuries to provide a comprehensive witness on this essential topic.Oden listens to the timeless teaching of the patristic writers, the theologians who defined orthodoxy in the first five centuries after Christ. His listening extends not only to well-known fathers such as Augustine, Irenaeus, and Eusebius, but also to lesser-known yet no less important fathers such as Oecumenius, Pseudo-Basil, and Peter Chrysologus. Oden's masterly compendium of classic Christian teaching covers treatment of the poor, the outcast, the imprisoned, and "the least of these." Anyone involved in any ministry of compassion will find stunning spiritual resources here.

The poor	p. 27
"Come, O blessed of my father"	p. 27
"Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"	p. 35
Where your treasure is	p. 40
The law and the poor	p. 46
The rich man and Lazarus	p. 51
Relief for the needy	p. 56
The fatherless	p. 61
Protecting the widow	p. 64
The gifts and hospitality of true widowhood	p. 67
Overview of good works : feeding, quenching, welcoming, clothing, relieving, and visiting	p. 75
Food and hospitality : the good works of saving faith : "you relieved my suffering"	p. 83
Feeding the hungry : "you gave me food"	p. 83
The bread of life	p. 88
Not by bread alone	p. 97
Quenching thirst : "you gave me to drink"	p. 102
At table with the Lord	p. 107
Offering hospitality to the stranger : "you welcomed me"	p. 111
Biblical models of hospitality	p. 117
Clothing the naked : "you clothed me"	p. 126
Sheltering refugees and displaced persons : "you took me in"	p. 138
The homeless : "he had no place to lay his head"	p. 143
Nursing the sick : "you visited me"	p. 146
Reaching out for the outcast	p. 161
Touching the untouchables : reaching out to the leper	p. 163
Care for the handicapped : enabling the deaf to hear	p. 166
Enabling the disabled	p. 171
Becoming as eyes to the blind : "you were as my eyes"	p. 179
Loosening the tongues of the speechless : the demoniac set free	p. 182
Binding up demonic powers	p. 187
Uprooting addictions	p. 193
The imprisoned and the persecuted	p. 201
Visiting those in prison : "you came to me"	p. 202
Witnessing in prison	p. 210
Care for the persecuted : the martyrs' gift	p. 218
Blessing persecutors	p. 227
Absorbing hatred	p. 233
Nothing can separate us	p. 240
The least of these	p. 249
The child	p. 250
God works through human limitations	p. 255
Works of mercy	p. 264
The gentle touch	p. 270
Put away bitterness	p. 276
Learning empathy with the sufferer	p. 279
Philanthropy	p. 289
The difficulty of being rich	p. 289
The stewardship of wealth	p. 298
The love of money	p. 306
Cheerful giving	p. 313
The final judgment : "depart from me"	p. 317
Deeds not words	p. 321
Faith active in love	p. 321
The timing of good works	p. 325
Grace works through faith active in love	p. 329
What faith does when faith is working	p. 333
Reconciling James and Paul	p. 344
Faith bears fruit	p. 351
Summary review of classic Christian teaching on good works	p. 356
Conclusion	p. 359
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

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The Good Works Reader

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Table of Contents

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