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Does the New Testament Teach Tithing?

Hello Mike,

I have read several books of the bible and am starting on John today. I find His word so comforting.

What is your scriptural finding on tithes? I believe, and I have prayed for understanding, that tithing was under the old covenant and therefore does not apply to us today. Any information would be helpful. And thank you for your continued prayers. I greatly appreciate and value them.

K____

Hi K____,

You asked:

“What is your scriptural finding on tithes?”

The answer is that nowhere in the New Testament do we have one single example of a minister of God teaching tithing or passing a plate at a church service. This is what Christ told all of His followers:

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

The apostle Paul made it clear that he did receive support from some of the churches who freely gave him their support, but it was never, ever because he demanded it of them.

2Co 11:7  Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 
2Co 11:8  I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
2Co 11:9  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

When Paul says “I robbed other churches taking wages of them to do you service”, he is not insinuating that he demanded wages of them. What he is telling these ungrateful Corinthians is that other churches “freely [and] cheerfully” helped him in his ministry, and he gratefully “took wages of them to do [God’s] service” to the Corinthians. Never once do we have even one example of any of Christ’s apostles soliciting funds from any church for themselves or for the ministry they performed.

The Corinthians were “carnal… babes in Christ” and were not yet “cheerful givers”, while the Philippians were cheerfully insisting that they take part in Paul’s ministry to the Corinthians, and they “freely [and] cheerfully… communicated with [Paul] concerning giving” to him in support of his ministry.

Php 4:15  Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia [and went south to Corinth], no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 

The verse that you will see quoted in many churches in support of giving tithes and offerings to that particular church really have nothing to do with the apostles seeking money for themselves or for the support of their preaching of the gospel. The gospel was always preached and given freely by the apostles of Christ. They never once in scripture ever asked for financial support.

Here is that verse which is so twisted by those who either don’t know any better, or who simply do not care what is the Truth:

1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

“That there be no gatherings when I come…” The subject under discussion is an offering Paul was gathering from the Gentile churches to take up to the poor saints in Jerusalem who were enduring a very prolonged drought and who needed physical help from the Gentile churches. It had nothing to do with Paul’s personal needs for spreading the gospel, nor did it have anything to do with a building program or any other such thing.

I hope this helps you to see that tithing is not a New Testament doctrine, but rather this is the principle by which Christ works in His elect under the New Covenant which He now enjoys with those in whom He dwells:

2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike