Includes bibliographical references (pages 345-365) and indexes.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel" : Paul's alleged disregard for the poor -- "You have dishonored the poor man" : advanced agrarianism and elite acquisitiveness -- "The least of these" : scaling poverty in the Greco-Roman world -- "When did we see you hungry?" : charitable initiatives in the Greco-Roman world -- "Good news to the poor" : Judeo-Christian theological traditions -- "Do good to all" : care for the poor in Paul's communities -- "Remember the poor" : interpretive paradigms in conflict -- "They added nothing" : the poor in the mission of the early Jesus-movement -- "Fulfill the law of Christ" : the poor in the rhetoric of Galatians -- "Not many of you were of noble birth" : economic profiles within Paul's communities -- "You would have plucked out your eyes" : the economic attractions of Paul's communities --"There were none in need" : care for the poor in Paul's theology -- "Content with whatever I have" : the poor in the life of Paul -- Appendix 1. An early critique of Steven J. Freisen's 2004 poverty scale -- Appendix 2. Non-Pauline configurations of generosity and the Mosaic law -- Appendix 3. Dating the origin of Paul's collection.