tithing in the new testament by claire l. eva a summary of the book by angel rodriguez biblical...

Tithing in theTithing in the New Testament New Testament

By Claire L. EvaBy Claire L. Eva

Tithing in theTithing in the New Testament New Testament

By Claire L. EvaBy Claire L. Eva

A summary ofA summary ofthe book by Angel Rodriguezthe book by Angel Rodriguez

Biblical Research InstituteBiblical Research InstituteSilver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring, Maryland

Pre-Israelite OriginPre-Israelite Origin

Pre-HebrewPre-Hebrew– Abraham and Jacob tithedAbraham and Jacob tithed

Genesis 14:20 and Genesis 28:22Genesis 14:20 and Genesis 28:22

Pre-Israelite OriginPre-Israelite Origin

Pre-MosesPre-Moses– Genesis reveals tithing before Genesis reveals tithing before

Moses and the formation of a Moses and the formation of a theocracytheocracy

Supported by JesusSupported by Jesus

Matthew 23:23/Luke 11:42Matthew 23:23/Luke 11:42

–Jesus endorses tithing:Jesus endorses tithing:“ …“ …You should have practiced the You should have practiced the

latter, without neglecting the latter, without neglecting the former.”former.” Mt 23:23Mt 23:23

Implied in PaulImplied in Paul

Old Testament law of tithing—model Old Testament law of tithing—model for Christian givingfor Christian giving

1 Cor 9:13: “Don’t you know that those who 1 Cor 9:13: “Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the work in the temple get their food from the temple … the Lord has commanded that temple … the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”their living from the gospel.”

Positive PerspectivePositive Perspective in Hebrews in Hebrews

Hebrews 7:1-10Hebrews 7:1-10

– Abraham gave tithe to MelchizedekAbraham gave tithe to Melchizedek

Melchizedek—”priest of God Most High” Melchizedek—”priest of God Most High”

Order of Melchizedek, superior to the Aaronic order Order of Melchizedek, superior to the Aaronic order

Presupposes tithing is divinely ordainedPresupposes tithing is divinely ordained

SummarySummary

Tithing—Tithing—

1. Should not be circumscribed to the 1. Should not be circumscribed to the ceremonial system of the OTceremonial system of the OT

2. Grows out of the Hebrew tradition2. Grows out of the Hebrew tradition

3. The little the NT says about it, 3. The little the NT says about it, suggests suggests conformity with the OT conformity with the OT principleprinciple

SummarySummary Tithing—Tithing—

4. The NT condemns tithing as a 4. The NT condemns tithing as a manifestation of self-righteousness manifestation of self-righteousness

5. The purpose of tithing remains the 5. The purpose of tithing remains the same—same—

The Lord uses it to provide for those who The Lord uses it to provide for those who dedicate their lives to the proclamation of the dedicate their lives to the proclamation of the gospelgospel

Elements of DiscontinuityElements of Discontinuity

1. Connected to the Sanctuary/Temple1. Connected to the Sanctuary/Temple

2. Connected to Levites and Priests2. Connected to Levites and Priests

3. Levites Gave a Tithe to Priests3. Levites Gave a Tithe to Priests

Searching for PrinciplesSearching for Principles

1. Different Procedures in Old Testament1. Different Procedures in Old Testament

Levitical system not indispensable for tithingLevitical system not indispensable for tithing

Tithing practiced before there was a LeviteTithing practiced before there was a Levite

Allows for a new way of tithing in Christian ChurchAllows for a new way of tithing in Christian Church


2. Relevance of Theology of Tithing2. Relevance of Theology of Tithing

Theology not limited to particular cultural Theology not limited to particular cultural setting or specific historical periodsetting or specific historical period

Concrete expression of recognition and Concrete expression of recognition and acceptance of God as Creator and Owneracceptance of God as Creator and Owner

Transcends Levitical systemTranscends Levitical system


3. Tithe Recipients Appointed by God3. Tithe Recipients Appointed by God

Tithe belonged to Lord, and not to Tithe belonged to Lord, and not to LevitesLevites

God selects those who will be sustained God selects those who will be sustained by titheby tithe

Those selected dedicate their lives to the Those selected dedicate their lives to the exclusive service of His peopleexclusive service of His people


4. Ministers and Tithing4. Ministers and Tithing

OT distinction between priest, Levite, and the OT distinction between priest, Levite, and the people of Israel, unknown in NTpeople of Israel, unknown in NT

No distinction among members in Christian No distinction among members in Christian ChurchChurch

Lay member and minister both to titheLay member and minister both to tithe

Storehouse: The PrincipleStorehouse: The Principle The Storehouse in the Old TestamentThe Storehouse in the Old Testament

““Storehouse” from Hebrew—”house, Storehouse” from Hebrew—”house, temple, palace”temple, palace”

Storehouse located in temple Storehouse located in temple complexcomplex

Tithe distribution centralizedTithe distribution centralized

Israelites separated tithe at home and Israelites separated tithe at home and brought it to the Lord—brought it to the Lord—Numbers 18:24Numbers 18:24

Tithing System—Tithing System—

According to 2 Chronicles 31:5-12:According to 2 Chronicles 31:5-12:

1. 1. CollectionCollection of tithes and of tithes and offerings offerings was centralizedwas centralized

2. 2. DistributionDistribution of tithes and of tithes and offerings offerings was centralizedwas centralized

3. 3. Portions assigned to Portions assigned to LevitesLevites

Collection of TitheCollection of Tithe

Israelites Bring the TitheIsraelites Bring the Tithe

Levites Collect the TitheLevites Collect the Tithe

Temple: StorehouseTemple: Storehouse

Distribution of TitheDistribution of Tithe

Temple: StorehouseTemple: Storehouse

Distributed by LevitesDistributed by Levites

Levites Priests Levites Priests


According to Nehemiah:According to Nehemiah:

1. People brought tithes and offerings to 1. People brought tithes and offerings to storerooms of House of God—the storerooms of House of God—the TempleTemple

2. Firstfruits given directly to priests2. Firstfruits given directly to priests

3. Tithe given to Levites3. Tithe given to Levites


4. Tithe collected outside by Levites4. Tithe collected outside by Levites—a priest was to accompany the —a priest was to accompany the LeviteLevite

5. Levites brought tithe to “House of 5. Levites brought tithe to “House of our God” (v39a)our God” (v39a)

6. Men selected to oversee 6. Men selected to oversee storeroomsstorerooms

Principles Transferred to the Principles Transferred to the ChurchChurch

1. 1. The collection and distribution of tithe The collection and distribution of tithe was was centralized—there was a “storehouse”centralized—there was a “storehouse”

2. 2. Specific individuals were chosen to Specific individuals were chosen to collect and collect and distribute the tithedistribute the tithe

Principles Transferred to the Principles Transferred to the ChurchChurch

3. 3. The tithe was given to individuals The tithe was given to individuals selected selected by Godby God

4. 4. The centralized system allowed for The centralized system allowed for outpost outpost centers for collection and centers for collection and distribution of tithedistribution of tithe

Is there any evidence in Is there any evidence in the New Testament, or in the New Testament, or in

the the early church, that early church, that

Christians practiced Christians practiced

tithingtithing????

Tithing in the Early ChurchTithing in the Early Church The Silence of the New TestamentThe Silence of the New Testament

There is no explicit evidence of tithing There is no explicit evidence of tithing in the apostolic churchin the apostolic church

We must be careful on how to We must be careful on how to interpret that lack of evidenceinterpret that lack of evidence

Any conclusion reached would be Any conclusion reached would be based on the silence of the New based on the silence of the New TestamentTestament

The Silence of the New TestamentThe Silence of the New Testament—2—2

““When taken in conjunction with the When taken in conjunction with the attitude of Jesus toward tithing, and attitude of Jesus toward tithing, and Paul’s comments, it could be Paul’s comments, it could be interpreted in terms of support for interpreted in terms of support for tithing rather than rejection of it …”tithing rather than rejection of it …”

““One thing is clear, namely, Jesus did One thing is clear, namely, Jesus did not reject tithing, but encouraged it.” not reject tithing, but encouraged it.” p. 21p. 21

Tithing in the Post-Apostolic Tithing in the Post-Apostolic ChurchChurch

The post-apostolic fathers wrote very The post-apostolic fathers wrote very little about tithing during first three little about tithing during first three centuries of Christian eracenturies of Christian era

Tendency to believe tithing was Tendency to believe tithing was superseded by teachings of Jesussuperseded by teachings of Jesus

Some argued—Christians do not give Some argued—Christians do not give tithe because it is an amount too tithe because it is an amount too small to give to the Lordsmall to give to the Lord


Irenaeus (fl.c.175-195) wrote:Irenaeus (fl.c.175-195) wrote:

““They [the Jews] had indeed the They [the Jews] had indeed the tithes of their goods consecrated to tithes of their goods consecrated to Him, but those who have received Him, but those who have received liberty set aside all their liberty set aside all their possessions for the Lord’s possessions for the Lord’s purposes, bestowing joyfully and purposes, bestowing joyfully and freely…”freely…”


Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (c.210-Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (c.210-258), complained:258), complained:

……But now we do not even give a tenth of But now we do not even give a tenth of our patrimony, and, although the Lord our patrimony, and, although the Lord orders us to sell, we rather buy and orders us to sell, we rather buy and increase.”increase.”

The Levitical practice of receiving a tenth of The Levitical practice of receiving a tenth of the fruits of the soil from the people “is now the fruits of the soil from the people “is now maintained in respect of the clergy….”maintained in respect of the clergy….”


Tithing was promoted much more in Tithing was promoted much more in the early 4th centurythe early 4th century

Some devoted Christians were tithing Some devoted Christians were tithing to the churchto the church


““How shameful it is that what was taken How shameful it is that what was taken for granted among the Jews has now for granted among the Jews has now become an amazing thing among become an amazing thing among Christians. And if non-payment of tithe Christians. And if non-payment of tithe puts a man in jeopardy with God, then puts a man in jeopardy with God, then consider how many are in such danger consider how many are in such danger today.”today.”

John Chrysostom–Bishop of Antioch (c.344-John Chrysostom–Bishop of Antioch (c.344-407)407)


Tithing appears to be a regular practice Tithing appears to be a regular practice in the Eastern church in the late 4th in the Eastern church in the late 4th centurycentury

Augustine (c.354-430) represented a Augustine (c.354-430) represented a Christian tradition in which tithing was Christian tradition in which tithing was acceptable for Christians as a minimal acceptable for Christians as a minimal stand for givingstand for giving

ConclusionConclusion

The biblical evidence indicates—The biblical evidence indicates—

The practice of tithing was not limited to a The practice of tithing was not limited to a particular historical period or to a specific groupparticular historical period or to a specific group

The theology of tithing and its impact on the lives The theology of tithing and its impact on the lives of believers and their relationship and of believers and their relationship and dependence on God transcends time and culturedependence on God transcends time and culture

The NT does not reject tithing and, perhaps more The NT does not reject tithing and, perhaps more specifically, Jesus himself puts His stamp of specifically, Jesus himself puts His stamp of approval on itapproval on it

tithing in the new testament by claire l. eva a summary of the book by angel rodriguez biblical...

Documents

summary tithing tithing

tithe slide

tithing theology

purpose of tithing

tithing ot distinction

gospel slide

maryland slide

ordained slide