A Vision of Divine Economy provides a study of economics, class, and labor in the Gospel of Mark, examining both the imperial Roman and contemporary neoliberal global economies in bold contrast to the economic justice of God embodied through Jesus’s radical teaching and actions.
Neoliberal capitalism shapes every aspect of life across the globe, often reinforcing inequity, marginalization, and environmental degradation. In A Vision of Divine Economy, New Testament scholar Jin Young Choi examines how these contemporary global economic systems intersect with the Gospel of Mark, highlighting the divine economy Jesus embodies as an alternative vision of justice.
Choi interprets Jesus’s teaching and actions in Mark as embodying a “divine economy,” one that challenges imperial power, economic exploitation, and social hierarchies in Roman imperial and contemporary contexts. She critically explores the intersections of empire, economy, gender, and ecology, asking how Christian discipleship can respond to global crises such as economic inequality, biopolitical control, and climate change. By moving between the ancient Roman political economy and today’s neoliberal systems, Choi illuminates the continuing relevance of Jesus’s message for contemporary issues, including labor, food, debt, gender, and ecological justice.
Designed for seminary students, advanced undergraduates, and scholars, A Vision of Divine Economy challenges readers to consider how the Gospel of Mark engages economic and social justice. By connecting Jesus’s teachings to the pressing ethical and spiritual questions of our time, Choi provides a powerful framework for understanding and practicing a more just and life-giving economy in both church and society.
