Usury, Interest and the Reformation: (Routledge Revivals)

This title was first published in 2003:In his Summa Theologica, Thomas Aquinas takes what most assume to be the orthodox Christian position when he condemns the practice of usury, which he defines as the charging a price for the loan of a sum of money. Yet, whilst this definition has become widely accepted by historians, it is clear from a close reading of contemporary texts, that by the Reformation, the situation was in fact much more complicated. Indeed, by the middle of the sixteenth century, Melanchthon was confidently to assert 'that which is interest is wholly different from usuries'. This book is the first systematic study of the practice of moneylending during the Reformation. Through the detailed examination of a variety of documents, it challenges the established views on usury and interest, providing a fresh interpretation that explains how figures such as Luther could condemn usury whilst still upholding the legality of lending money at interest. Divided into two parts, the first half of the book provides a background to the subject, putting forward Professor Kerridge's arguments about usury and interest in the context of the Reformation. The second part of the book presents selections from 38 contemporary documents on the subject (in both the original language and English translation) written by key Reformation figures such as Calvin, Luther and Zwingli. As such, this book will be useful as both a research and reference work.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; The Argument: Usury and interest; The Reformation; Usury and interest in England; Select Documents: Calvin, Commentarii in Libros Mosis; Aquinas, Summa Theologica; Bernardine, Quadraquesimale de Religione Christiana; Calvin, Praelectiones in Libris Prophetiarum Jeremiae; Bullinger, Sermonum Decades quinque; Bucer, Enarrationum in Evangelia; Calvin, Epistolae et Responsa; Luther, An die Pfarrherrn wider den Wucher; Melanchthon, Conciones Explicantes Integrum Evangelium; Melanchthon, Enarratio Psalmi Dixit Dominus; Melanchthon, Definitiones Appellationum; Melanchthon, Catechesis Puerilis; Zwingli, Von göttlicher und menschlicher Gerechtigheit; Calvin, Commentarii in Librum Psalmorum; Calvin, Praelectiones in Libris Prophetiarum Jeremiae; Luther, An die Christlichen Adel Deudscher Nation; Luther, Kleiner Sermon vom Wucher; Luther, Letter to the Chancellor of the Elector of Saxony; Melanchthon, Enarratio Psalmi Dixit Dominus; Melanchthon, Catechesis Puerilis; Zwingli, Von göttlicher und menschlicher Gerechtigheit; Bullinger, Sermonum Decades quinque; Luther, An die Pfarrherrn wider den Wucher; Melanchthon, Philosophiae Moralis Epitomes; Melanchthon, Definitiones Appellationum; Melanchthon, Catechesis Puerilis; Calvin, Commentarii in Libros Mosis; Jewel, 'A paper on usury found in Bishop Jewel’s study'; Luther, Grosser Sermon vom Wucher; Luther, An die Pfarrherrn wider den Wucher; Luther, An die Pfarrherrn wider den Wucher; Luther, An die Pfarrherrn wider den Wucher; Wycliffe, Select English Works; Capel, Restitution in the Case of Usury; Bodleian Library, Western Manuscripts, MS. Rawl.D.677; Sanderson, XXXVI Sermons; Hall, Heaven upon Earth and Cases of Conscience; Jewel, 'A paper on usury found in Bishop Jewel’s study'; Summary of select manuscript sources; Select bibiliography; Index.

Review :
'This book is particularly useful for those interested in the application of biblical laws to society.' Calvin Theological Journal '... a thorough, well-documented and lucid account of this somewhat complex subject... a particularly useful volume for economic historians of the early modern period and those interested in the debate concerning religion and economic change.' History '... a concise and very scholarly introduction to the arguments about usury, its definition in canon law and English law, and how interest was defined as different.' EH.Net '... a helpful clarification of how Protestant reformers discussed one of the most intricate and often-misunderstood questions of Christian morality: the making of interest on money.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History '... tightly argued and welcome book... Grand theses about Protestantism and the capitalist spirit have received yet another blow.' Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte 'This is an excellent analysis of a complex issue...' Sixteenth Century Journal