Thomas Hanks, a Bible scholar who had previously written a book on the OT vocabulary on oppression, wrote The Subversive [NT] Gospel (2000). The following is based on Hanks' ideas.
There are four NT Greek words whose basic meaning is oppression, but these Greek terms are seldom translated as oppression in English translations:
1. Luke 4:18---tethrausmenous: oppress, crush, downtrodden
2. James 2:6---katadynasteou: oppress, exploit
3. Romans 8:35---thlipsis: oppression, affliction,suffering,distress; H. Schlier says there are seven kinds of oppression in Romans eight. James 1:27---thilpsis "widows and orphans in their oppression."
4. Luke 16:9 and 11; also Romans 1:18 and 29---injustice, oppression, wickedness.
In Luke 16, there is a discussion of Mammon, Money obtained by oppression which then becomes an idol. Money combines idolatry, greed and oppression. This understanding helps us to understand Luke's (and the rest of the NT) strong anti-rich/wealth/possessions teaching. This understanding is strongly affirmed in James as well. The Pharisees reaction to Jesus' teaching is highly revealing. They mocked, scoffed at Jesus, because they had created a cleverly designed system which was legitimated by religion and seemingly by God. In other words, a religious racket.
Much the same could be said for most of American evangelical Christianity---a syncretism, a wedding of corporate capitalism and Americanized Christianity and thus seemingly by God. Jesus once untactfully said,
"Woe to the rich. . . . " but American Christians, like the Pharisees, ignore Jesus as they neglect justice for the poor and thereby contradict the love of God.
More ideas from Hanks on the book of James; there are three different words for oppression.
1. James 2:6: the rich oppress the poor.
2. James 2:6; 4:4; 1:2 and 12: Injustice or oppression is what basically characterizes the entire worldly system.
3. James 1:27: thlipsis: the distress caused by oppression. Pure religion includes love and justice for the oppressed widows and orphans. A grasp of this teaching on oppression is key to understanding James strong anti-rich teaching.
The Religious Rich According to Luke
In New Testament times, a rich religio-politico-economic elite ran Jewish society. Therefore, the themes of rich, riches, money, possessions and the poor are prominent in Luke. Note the following passages from the gospel of Luke:
Luke 4:18-19: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, to release the oppressed, to proclaim and practice Jubilee justice for the poor." (Noble paraphrase)
Luke 6: 20, 24: "Blessed are you who are poor. . . . Woe to you who are rich. . . ."
Luke 11:39-42: "Pharisees . . . you are full of greed and wickedness . . . you neglect justice and the love of God."
Luke 16:13-14: "You cannot serve both God and Money. The Pharisees who loved money heard all this and were sneering at Jesus."
Luke 18:22-24: "Sell everything you have and give it to the poor . . . When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. . . . How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 19:45-46: "Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. . . . you have made my house a den of robbers."
Luke 19:8: "Here and now I give half my possessions to the poor."
See also Luke 1:53; 3:10-14; 8:14; 12:13-34.
Compare Luke's teachings with the Messianic passages from Isaiah:
9:7 "Of the increase of his government and shalom there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness."
11:1-4 "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him---The Spirit of wisdom and understanding....With righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor."
16:5 "In love a throne will be established. . . . . One from the house of David who seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness."
28:16-17 "I lay a stone in Zion . . . a precious cornerstone. . . . I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line."
42:1-3 Here is my servant . . . my chosen one. . . . I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations."
61:1-4 (Noble paraphrase) "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the oppressed poor, to proclaim freedom and release by practicing Jubilee justice for the oppressed poor."
"To bestow on the oppressed poor, a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."
"These transformed oppressed poor will be called oaks of righteousness or trees of justice."
"These transformed oppressed poor will rebuild the ruined cities."
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