The Kingdom of God and the Common Good: Orthodox Christian Social Thought

Item No. 9781955890809

by Dylan Pahman

Jesus taught that whenever we feed the hungry or clothe the naked, we do that for Him (Matt. 25:40). But our economies today look much different than that of first-century Judea. Other Christian traditions have developed their own modern social thought to address contemporary economic problems since the industrial revolution. But what about the Orthodox Tradition? This book surveys Scripture, Orthodox Church history, and modern economics to provide the frameworks, principles, and tools needed to fulfill Christ’s teaching today.

About the Author: Dylan Pahman is founder and president of the St. Nicholas Cabasilas Institute for Orthodoxy & Liberty, and a research fellow at the Acton Institute, where he serves as executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality. He is also the author of Foundations of a Free & Virtuous Society (Acton Institute, 2017). In 2025, he completed his PhD in theology from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, on the basis of his published works on Orthodox Christian social thought and asceticism. He is husband to Kelly and father to four children.

Praise for The Kingdom of God and the Common Good: Orthodox Christian Social Thought

"The common good is an idea whose meaning has been debated since classical times. For Christians, a crucial question concerns the common good’s relationship with the Kingdom of God. In The Kingdom of God and the Common Good, Dylan Pahman has penned a systematic analysis of this topic from an Orthodox Christian standpoint that brings together a thorough grounding in theology with a strong grasp of history as well as the social sciences of economics and politics. Readers will discover that the Orthodox Tradition provides powerful guidance into how our anticipation of the Kingdom of God can help us realize the common good in this world while avoiding the errors of utopianism and resignation. All Christians, whatever their confession, will see the common good in a new light after reading this book." -Samuel Gregg, Friedrich Hayek Chair in Economics and Economic History, American Institute for Economic Research

"The Kingdom of God and the Common Good is a superb blend of history, theology, and social science. Pahman dispels the notion that concern for man’s economy of goods blinds us to God’s economy of salvation. In doing so, he offers a compelling vision of how faith and economics can work in harmony to promote both spiritual and societal flourishing." -Alexander William Salter, PhD, Georgie G. Snyder Professor of Economics, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University

"As Orthodoxy takes hold in the West, it must offer its distinctive social thought to fellow Christians and the world. The Church needs scholars to guide us through Orthodox thought and teach us how to apply those teachings to real-world institutions. In this book, Dylan Pahman emerges as precisely such a guide. This essential work will bless those seeking to engage contemporary social questions from an Orthodox perspective." -Kevin Vallier, Professor of Philosophy, Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership, University of Toledo

Author: Dylan Pahman

Paperback: 408 pages

Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches

Publisher: Ancient Faith Publishing

Additional Formats:

eBook
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LOOK INSIDE... The Kingdom of God and the Common Good: Orthodox Christian Social Thought