St. John Chrysostom and St. Thomas Aquinas on Private Property

Abstract

The theological reflection on private property by two great theologians in Church history St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) and his great predecessor St. John Chrysostom (347-407) are quite different because of not only long chronological periods, but also because of different epochs and their pastoral and cultural experience as well. The divergence of their exegesis and spiritual reflection is very noticeable. Besides this, we can also see the contrast in their interior interpretation of verses of Holy Scripture which concern with social issues, because of two different Church traditions – Eastern and Western. The doctrine of St. Thomas Aquinas on private property, contained in his Summa Theologica, is a consequence of Aristotelean mentality and non-idealistic Patristic scholar system. On the contrary, St. John Chrysostom is mostly representive of the Stoic philosophical school and Apologetic theologian style of discussion. He is a supporter of the idea of the communion of all property and all possessions. Nevertheless, the theological arguments of both theologians are prominent and their biblical exegesis on social issues was in high demand. The reflection on private property based on the teachings of St. John Chrysostom and St. Thomas Aquinas and the comparative analysis is strongly needed in our modern society, which has social challenges very close to those in the ancient world: wealth and poverty which confronts us with the obligation of the righteous division of goods on earth. The problem of private property should lead us to the Christian practical answer in our global world.-