Clemency, A Neglected Aspect of Early Christian Philanthropy

Bibliographic Data

ID3291731
AuthorsDaniel F Caner (Indiana University Bloomington, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume9
Issue8
Pages229
Publication date2018-07-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel9080229
OpenAlexW2884412640
LanguageEN
References cited13

In classical and early Christian usage the concept of philanthropia (philanthropy) rarely just meant "love for one's fellow human beings" or generosity towards people whom one did not personally know. Classicists have pointed out that in both of these ancient traditions it was most synonymous with the Latin term clementia. As such, it had a concessive facet and a universalizing force: showing kindness to humans, even if doing so went against one's natural or justified reluctance; being merciful, despite the fact that beneficiaries might not seem worthy of it. These observations have not informed prior scholarship on early Christian philanthropy. Based on a comprehensive survey of how the word philanthropia is used in church histories, hagiographies, monastic literature and church sermons written in the Greek language from the fourth to seventh centuries, this paper argues that the classical notion of philanthropy as clemency prevailed among Christian authors throughout late antiquity, and was fundamentally important in the early Christian promotion of universal almsgiving

Art · Christianity · Generosity · Kindness · Literature · Political science · Scholarship · Sociology · Theology · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Historical and Religious Studies of Rome · History · Law · Medieval Literature and History · Philosophy · Religious studies

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