Cross-Cultural Management Journal Volume XVI, Issue 1 / 2014 Dan CONSTANTINESCU Ecological University of Bucharest [email protected] BIBLICAL REFERENCES TO Theoretical articles MONETARY AND CREDIT RELATIONS Keywords Functions of money Banking occupations Credit relationships Lending principles Biblical texts JEL Classification N15, Z12 Abstract It is unanimously accepted that the Bible is one reference in the writings of humanity. Of course, it is based – foremost – on the messianic idea, widely exploited in theological disciplines. Meanwhile, though, multilateral cognitive valences cannot be circumvented, especially, the character of historic document of many biblical texts that record facts and events that took place over a long period of time. Furthermore, we consider that the Bible – in its whole – is a foundation and a coherent configuration for a large number of scientific disciplines, the author’s concerns being channelled, naturally, toward economic origin disciplines. In this context there can be highlighted texts attesting the existence and development since the ancient times of economic relations, out of which – in the present study – we will focus on monetary and credit relations. 41 Cross-Cultural Management Journal Volume XVI, Issue 1 / 2014 Introduction 1. Money and their main functions The vast majority of academic writers of The concept of money is found from the this topic locate the emergence of early chapters of the Bible, the functional economics in the late eighteenth century, context being a means of payment, with in close connection with the development explicit reference to the purchase of slaves. and consolidation of capitalism in Western ... every man child in your generations, he Europe countries (Angelescu, Ciucur, that is born in the house, or bought with Marin, 2003).The establishment of the money of any stranger, which is not of thy Nobel Prize for economics only in1968 – seed. He that is born in thy house, and he just over70 years from the decision of that is bought with thy money, ...Genesis dynamite inventor to reward excellence in 17:12.13 other areas of science-seems to be an Moreover, the most frequent references to argument in this regard. the use of money are targeting their It is ignored the fact that the appearance of function as a means of payment (Dardac, the first "Treaty of political economy" is Barbu, 2009). Subject to the payment, first dated over a century earlier (1615), of all, is the value of the purchased goods although its author, Antoine de and services. Montchrestien is a knowledged paternity ... and Abraham weighed to Ephron the of the term, it otherwise coming from silver, which he had named in the audience Greek (oikos-house, household, of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels management, nomos - leadership, law, of silver, current money with the rule). merchant. Genesis 23:16 Without denying the much earlier concerns ... the children of Ammon sent a thousand to economic issues, concerns the rise talents of silver to hire them chariots and recorded by ancient historians, it was horsemen out of Mesopotamia, …1 preferred to accredit the idea that cognitive Chronicles 19:6 process out come shave long been Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he integrated into different systems of let out the vineyard unto keepers; every thought, such as philosophy, politics, law one for the fruit thereof was to bring a or morals. thousand pieces of silver. Song of However, there are opinions that support Solomon 8:11 the assertion that the process of And I bought the field of Hanameel my crystallization and differentiation of uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and sciences was done much earlier, the seeds weighed him the money, even seventeen of which are located in the culture of shekels of silver. Jeremiah 32:9 Ancient Orient, China, India and later Also in this chapter can be identified Ancient Greece. Thus, referring to payments of debt such as credit, but not economic sciences, the authors of a recent only, or others concerning obtaining study estimated that the Bible inspires the favours. economics as a necessary, morality, Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no behaviour and finally, as a science to man" means come out thence, till thou hast paid (Pop, Ioan-Franc, 2009) the uttermost farthing. Matthew 5:26 Building on this assumption, in the And when they were assembled with the following we intend to the main elders, and had taken counsel, they gave coordinates of monetary and credit large money unto the soldiers,…Matthew relations derive from biblical texts. 28:12-13 Moreover, we believe that the perennially He hoped also that money should have principles governing the field in question been given him of Paul, that he might lose may explain their divine inspiration. him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. Acts 24:26 42 Cross-Cultural Management Journal Volume XVI, Issue 1 / 2014 Another category of payment covers tax ... Keep this man: if by any means he be liabilities, whether they are due to state missing, then shall thy life be for his life, structures and/or national religions or is a or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. 1 tax levied by the occupants or by a Kings 20:39 suzerain state or military power. The main function of money is still the This they shall give, every one that passeth measure or standard of value of goods and among them that are numbered, half a services. It is shown both by the shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a expression to treasure – treasuring (in the shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel sense of worth) and the idea of selling shall be the offering of the LORD. Exodus (hypothetical, generic or real) the assessed 30:13 property. And Amaziah said to the man of God, But If a soul commit a trespass, and sin what shall we do for the hundred talents through ignorance, in the holy things of which I have given to the army of Israel? the LORD; then he shall bring for his ... 2 Chronicles 25:9 trespass unto the LORD a ram without And the king of Egypt put him down at blemish out of the flocks, with thy Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an estimation by shekels of silver, after the hundred talents of silver and a talent of shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass gold.2 Chronicles 36:3 offering Leviticus 5:15 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the And a chariot came up and went out of king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, offended; return from me: that which thou and an horse for an hundred and fifty ... 1 puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Kings 10:29 Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of ... that every place shall be, where there Judah three hundred talents of silver and were a thousand vines at a thousand silver thirty talents of gold. 2 Kings 18:14 lings, it shall even be for briers and ... Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or thorns. Isaiah 7:23 not?… But he, knowing their hypocrisy, For it might have been sold for more than said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring three hundred pence, and have been given me a penny, that I may see it. Mark to the poor. And they murmured against 12:14.15 her. Mark 14:5 Here you can also include acquiring It is interesting that concerning the real citizenship (Romanian) because it was not estate such as lands for agriculture it is a favour that could be obtained through described even the evaluation procedure, bribery, as it might seem at first glance, based on the yield of the land and not on but was related to the ability to pay tax the surface. liabilities that Romanian citizens were And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD subjected to. some part of a field of his possession, then And the chief captain answered, With a thy estimation shall be according to the great sum obtained I this freedom. And seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall Paul said, But I was free born. Acts 22:28 be valued at fifty shekels of silver. Material or moral damage is also an event Leviticus 27:16 for the payment: Also as a standard of value, the concept of If the ox shall push a manservant or a treasure can be used, even if – in some maidservant; he shall give unto their cases – we are dealing with another kind of master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox values that exceed material goods. shall be stoned. Exodus 21:32 She is more precious than rubies: and all And they shall amerce him in an hundred the things thou canst desire are not to be shekels of silver, and give them unto the compared unto her. Proverbs 3:15 father of the damsel, ...Deuteronomy 22:19 43 Cross-Cultural Management Journal Volume XVI, Issue 1 / 2014 Which long for death, but it cometh not; heaven, shall require of you, it be done and dig for it more than for hid treasures speedily, Ezra 7:21 Job 3:21. ... I have removed the bounds of the As a store of value and a method of people, and have robbed their treasures, hoarding, money is put in direct ...Isaiah 10:13 connection with the notion of treasury. But he shall have power over the treasures Separation between state organization and of gold and of silver, and over all the religion worked since ancient times, which precious things of Egypt ..