Trump and Economics in the Gospels Chapters – Dwellings and Other Structures

​As we approach the election we thought we would complete this series on Trump and Economics in the Gospels first began in 2017.

The Gospels are full of houses.  They are mentioned seemingly at all times and in all books.  The disciples had them.  Jesus’ friends had them, as did his enemies.  Everyone but Jesus himself seemed to have one.

Luke 9:58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

One might think Trump would be well represented in these passages given his profession as a builder – and indeed he is!

Trump is famous for his dwellings – and achieved much of his wealth through their building. He currently lives in perhaps the most famous house of them all: The White House. Building homes is the family business, though the Trumps have certainly diversified. This particular section of Trump and Economics in the Gospels study seems, therefore, particularly prescient somehow.

From an economics standpoint it would seem pretty obvious that homebuilding, like today, was a cornerstone of economic activity in the Roman economy.  As is seen in the chapters on labor and produced goods it is also apparent that tools and jobs were abundant in the home building sector, if you will.

Lastly, the Gospels never seem to disparage the owner of a home for owning it, as one might expect given the statements that one should sell everything and give to the poor.  Houses seem to be exempt.  Folks gotta live somewhere after all.

In addition to housing, there was a lot of other building going on back in the days of the Gospels.  Synagogues, tombs, prisons, barns – there’s quite a list. Perhaps the most famous structures in the Gospels are the manger and inn.

Luke 2:7 …and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

​One might wonder: Would there be room at a Trump hotel? 

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Read more about Trump and Dwellings
Read more about Trump and Other Structures