At this week’s Theological Research Seminar, Isaiah Padgett will be presenting, “Charity in the Presence of Scarcity: Utilizing Ruth 2 as a Resource for Old Testament Economic Ethics.”
Read the abstract and his bio below.
All are welcome to attend in Camelford Hall (room 226) at McMaster Divinity College at 1:00pm or via livestream at the link below:
Join the Livestream
Password: z00m (Note that the password has zeros rather than “o”)
Abstract
Perhaps more than any other time in history, ethical concerns are at the forefront of public consciousness. While some topics have relatively modern permutations, many concerns are perennial ones. Issues such as caring for the poor and marginalized in society, the ethical challenges of war and violence, and how one is to understand their connection to state and government are all issues that reemerge on a recurring basis. One such concern is that of economic ethics, an issue that is not only discussed in modern society, but also features prominently within the Old Testament where condemnations of social abuse and calls for justice are frequent. Despite this, such ethical explorations have neglected many areas of the Old Testament, choosing instead to focus almost exclusively on legal and prophetic material. One overlooked area is the book of Ruth. While the issues of migration and the treatment of the foreigner have rightly been emphasized, what has largely been missed are the economic dimensions of the text and its relation to the ethics of the book. With this in mind, this paper explores Ruth 2—particularly vv. 8-16—as a resource for Old Testament economic ethics by highlighting the character and actions of Ruth and Boaz with attention to the dual concepts of economic charity and material scarcity. Ultimately, I will argue that Ruth 2 is an underutilized and underappreciated text which can serve to greatly enrich the exploration of Old Testament economic ethics.
Bio
Isaiah Padgett is currently a PhD student in Christian Theology working in Old Testament ethics. Originally from Virginia in the United States, Isaiah currently resides in Hamilton with his wife, Becca. Isaiah has a passion for local church education and for helping Christians see the enduring relevance and importance of the Old Testament for faith and praxis.
About TRS
The MDC Theological Research Seminar (TRS) is a bimonthly gathering for all MDC students and faculty. TRS meets over the lunch hour on Wednesdays, and includes about thirty minutes for the paper presentation and twenty minutes for discussion.
All advanced degree students are invited to present a paper and share your research with your colleagues. TRS is an excellent opportunity to “test drive” a paper you will be presenting at an upcoming conference and receive helpful feedback on your current research projects. Thinking about submitting an article to a journal and want some interaction first? TRS will provide it. Just published an article or an essay and want to share it us? TRS is an excellent opportunity to broadcast it.
This year the organizing committee consists of Dr. Francis Pang, Dr. Phil Zylla, and Dr. Gord Heath. To submit a paper, contact a member of the organizing committee.