viii CONTENTS 
Chapter 4 
Basil the Great: Robbery by Any Other Name . 
The Texts 49 
1. The Rich Are Thieves 49 
2. The Injustice of Usury 56 
3. The Injustice of Luxury in the Midst of Poverty 
Summary 57 
Chapter 5 
4mbrose: Born Naked 
The Texts 61 
1. The Natural Equality of All in Womb and 
Tomb 61 
2. The Wealthy Few Cause the Many to Groan in 
Misery 64 
3. The Earth Belongs to All: The Wealth y Few Have a 
Duty of Restitution 66 
4. Helping Others Places God in Our Debt 69 
5. The Most Excellent Christian Quality 70 
6. We Lose Things That Are Common When We Claim 
Things As Our Own 71 
7. Nature Is the Mother of Common Right, Usurpation of 
Private Right 73 
8. His Sun Rises for All, His Rain Falls on All, and He 
Has Given the Earth to All 76 
9. It Is Idolatrous of the Rich to Usurp God’s Absolute 
Dominion 78 
Summary 78 
Chapter 6 
John Chrysostom: You Are Possessed b y Possessions 
The Texts 83 
1. Not to Share One’s Resources Is Robbery 83 
2. The Meaning of ““Mine*’ and ‘Not Mine’ 85 
3. To Possess and Not Be Possessed by One’s 
Possessions 87 
The Many Poor Are Not Slothful: The Huge 
Inheritance of a Few Is Unjust 88 
7 
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