Alms

Alms: Charity, Reward, and Atonement in Early Christianity, Volume 1, examines the historical role of almsgiving within early Christianity. Author David J Downs explores how the first three centuries of the Common Era viewed material assistance to the poor as a means of cleansing or covering sin. This work of history of doctrines analyzes the economic context of the Greco-Roman world and the influence of Old Testament and New Testament traditions on early Christian thought.

The text investigates a theology of atoning almsgiving through the writings of figures such as Origen and Cyprian. By focusing on categories like redemption and biblical teaching, the book demonstrates how early believers integrated the death of Jesus with the practice of charity. This study of early Christianity reveals a social and ecclesiastical model of atonement that emphasizes the interconnectedness of fiscal relationships and spiritual salvation.