Power and Poverty

Power and Poverty by Dewi Hughes was published by Intervarsity Press in October 2008 and is our 30950th best seller. The ISBN for Power and Poverty is 9781844743124.

A significant, compelling biblical analysis and Christian response.

Dewi Hughes' conviction is that the suffering through poverty of such a vast number of people in our day is overwhelmingly the result of the misuse of power by others. Hence, the underlying theme of this wide-ranging, challenging study is that poverty has to do with the way in which we human beings use and abuse the power God gave us when he created us.

Part 1 starts with the Book of Origins, Genesis, to find the roots of poverty, then examines God's covenant with Abraham, divinely ordained government in the Old Testament, and the glory - and inadequacy - of the Mosaic covenant.

Part 2 turns to Jesus, the supreme Ruler, and the final revelation of divine government. What did Jesus do and teach? What is he doing through the work of the Holy Spirit? What is he going to do in final judgment?

Part 3 focuses on the Christian church, God's governed society, as a gathered and gathering community, a people joyful in the power of Christ's resurrection who speak the word of God, reflecting Christ's exaltation. The church gathers from the world to pray, and scatters into the world to prophesy. 'This is how a foretaste of the just government where there is no sorrow or poverty, that will be manifested when Jesus returns in glory, can be enjoyed today in our broken world.'

An Epilogue asks 'which story are we in?'

Dewi Hughes is Theological Advisor at Tearfund and is a member of ACUTE (the Evangelical Alliance’s theological commission) and the Lausanne Movement’s Theology Working Group. He is the author of Has God Many Names? An Introduction to Religious Studies (Apollos), God of the Poor: A Biblical Vision of God's Present Rule (OM Publishing), and Castrating Culture: A Christian Perspective on Ethnic Identity from the Margins (Paternoster).

'In this volume, Dewi Hughes writes compellingly on a matter of compelling importance. We are grateful to him; but true gratitude must be shown by our willingness to tread the path of biblically informed discipleship. I am glad to commend this volume warmly.'
Stephen Williams, Union Theological College

'It is thoroughly biblical, comprehensive, and with a clear central focus on the person, teaching and work of Christ. Dewi Hughes builds on some of my own work in biblical ethics, and makes it much more accessible with lots of practical and up-to-date application.'
Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership International