Tithing, Giving and the New Testament: Table of Contents

Tithing, giving and New Testament: Conclusion

Now from all the above let’s make a not so long conclusion.

From our study it has become clear that there is no tithe in our times, in the New Testament era. The tithe, together with the other ordinances and handwritings of the law, has become obsolete, through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is valid in the New Testament is free will offerings which were given for the following purposes:

i) to support the poor saints. This is the most common form of offering and the one about which the New Testament speaks most.

ii) free will gifts to missionaries and apostles i.e. sent ones (that’s what the word “apostles” mean) that went around spreading the Word of God.

iii) free will, voluntary gifts (not salaries) to elders i.e. to the more mature in the faith (“elder”) brothers that were acting as shepherds, overseeing the flock of God in the local church.

iv) support of widows that trusted in God and in addition were old in age, commendable for their works and had nobody else from their family to take care of them.

The gifts were free will gifts “as one may prosper” i.e. in accordance to what he had. They were to be given as “one purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Though I believe every part of the Scripture is equally important I do believe that there are parts that are emphasized more than others because of the space that is given to them. If I’m speaking to you and 90 % of what I’m saying is about A and 10% is about B, I obviously put more emphasis on A than on B. And on the matter of giving, 90 % is about giving to the poor saints (including widows) while there are 2 verses about giving to elders, another few verses about giving to church planters (missionaries, apostles, sent ones). All are important but the scriptural weight is, in my opinion, in supporting the poor saints. I hope that we will make good use of the info of this book, supporting with our free will offerings the purposes of the Kingdom of God.

Tassos Kioulachoglou