What Does the Bible Say About Economics?

Abstract: How do we use the Bible faithfully and wisely in relation to economics? What does the Bible actually say about economics? Which texts are relevant? How have they been read and what have been the effects of such readings? How should they be interpreted? What about natural law? These are large questions at the heart of debates about Christian faith and economics. In this article, I outline my approach to these questions, which emphasises a larger biblical framework for economic thinking, including a biblical mandate for doing economics. It can be seen as a natural law approach. Turning to specific texts about economic matters, it is important to read carefully, giving attention to their original contexts, reception in different times and places, and our own reading context. This is illustrated through a reading of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14–30, Luke 19: 11–27), which says less about economics than contemporary readers often assume.

Keywords: Christian Economics, Biblical Interpretation, Natural Law,
Parable of the Talents

JEL codes: A11, A12, B40, Z12