A South African exploration of the Jerusalem collection in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9

Abstract

In response to a request made by the Jerusalem council (Gl 2:10), Paul collected funds from the Gentile churches for the poor in Jerusalem. This collection, also called the Jerusalem Collection, formed a big part of Paul’s ministry, evidenced by the number of references in his epistles. This article aims to influence the contemporary church through a South African perspective, as a microcosm of the modern, global context, in an evaluation of the Jerusalem Collection. The aim is to provide clear strategies for the Church to contribute to improving poverty, economic inequality and unemployment, based on principles introduced by Paul through the Jerusalem Collection. The research was conducted through desk research and interviews. The outcome of this research showed that contemporary churches should employ a job-creation strategy through market-creating innovation to achieve a similar objective to Paul’s concerning the Jerusalem Collection. Through the Jerusalem Collection, Paul sought to alleviate poverty while maintaining relative financial equality within the Church. Through the collection raised by Gentile churches for the poor in Jerusalem, Paul promoted partnership and unity across racial and social lines. The local church can replicate this in its contemporary context by emphasising job creation programmes, using Market Creating Innovation as a guiding paradigm.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Utilising Osmer’s four tasks of practical theological reflection about job creation, church programmes and the meaning of the Jerusalem Collection in relation to the South African context leads to an interdisciplinary exploration between economics, sociology and theology.