| Paul’s collection was an economic venture that must be understood in the light of the economic realities of the Roman Empire. Especially, his appeal to isotēs in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 should be read against the income inequalities in Roman Corinth and the Roman Empire. The top income groups earned a startlingly disproportionate amount of the total income while the vast majority lived near subsistence level. Paul’s economy of grace that aims toward equality reverses the economic flow under Roman rule, and confronts the inequalities between the few at the top and the majority at the bottom. A cursory look at the “economic miracle” of South Korea shows a trend toward a similar degree of inequality that could worsen as the country moves toward greater competitiveness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Paul’s idea of isotēs poignantly warns against the relentless drive for the next economic miracle while turning a blind eye to the realities of inequality in Korea today. |
