Ballor and Matson, "A History of Christian Political Economy"

Program Co-Director Erik Matson published, along with Jordan Ballor, a two-volume project on the history of Christian economic thought. The first volume is a historical survey, A History of Christian Political Economy: From the Patristics to the Present. The second volume, Sources in Christian Political Economy, is a collection of excerpts from 49 primary sources from the second to the twentieth century. Both volumes are published by B&H Academic and released on May 1, 2026.

They may be purchased at the following links:

(1) A History of Christian Political Economy

Description from the publisher: Political economy concerns one of the most foundational organizers for society: how we order production, exchange, and consumption to achieve collectively determined goals. From its earliest days, Christianity has offered much to say directly to political economies, and through the centuries has shaped our intellectual inheritance in profound ways. However, very few studies have aimed to trace comprehensively the nature and scope of this inheritance. This book offers a survey of Christian thought, from the post-Biblical age to present, regarding how Christians from various eras and traditions have influenced how we think about political economies.

(2) Sources in Christian Political Economy

Description from the publisher: Sources in Christian Political Economy: A Reader, compiled by Jordan J. Ballor and Erik W. Matson, gathers forty-nine essential texts, spanning literary genres and theological traditions, that illuminate a rich history of political economies. From the early church to the twentieth century, this volume presents seven key works from each of seven distinct historical periods, showcasing the evolution of Christian thought on economic matters.  Encounter the influential ideas of Augustine, Gratian, Nicholas Oresme, John Locke, John Wesley, Pope Leo XIII, Kenneth Boulding, and many more.