Collection for the Saints

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,704
6,892
113
#1
1 Corinthians, Chapter 16: (KJV)

1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2Upon 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.

3And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

4And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.


Complete Jewish Bible:

1 Now, in regard to the collection being made for God's people: you are to do the same as I directed the congregations in Galatia to do.
2 Every week, on Motza'ei-Shabbat, each of you should set some money aside, according to his resources, and save it up; so that when I come I won't have to do fundraising.
3 And when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the people you have approved, and I will send them to carry your gift to Yerushalayim.

4 If it seems appropriate that I go too, they will go along with me.

NIV:

16 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

So, ok. I guess this is not speaking about tithing, huh? .......sigh..... All lovers of money do as they wish, cause' they got free will, but as for me and my house, we will obey Scripture.

 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
16,557
497
83
#2
1 Corinthians, Chapter 16: (KJV)

1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2Upon 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.

3And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

4And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

Complete Jewish Bible:

1 Now, in regard to the collection being made for God's people: you are to do the same as I directed the congregations in Galatia to do.
2 Every week, on Motza'ei-Shabbat, each of you should set some money aside, according to his resources, and save it up; so that when I come I won't have to do fundraising.
3 And when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the people you have approved, and I will send them to carry your gift to Yerushalayim.

4 If it seems appropriate that I go too, they will go along with me.

NIV:

16 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

So, ok. I guess this is not speaking about tithing, huh? .......sigh..... All lovers of money do as they wish, cause' they got free will, but as for me and my house, we will obey Scripture.
Do your deeds privately the good deeds, expose your evil deeds, do not tell your left hand what your right hand did or does. God Father who knows all secrets will openly reward thee
Do not sit in Moses' seat and gain all those rewards from the people, for truly it might come to pass that be the only reward one might ever get.
Thanks Father, Abba Father, thank you for Son first, seeing those tongs of your Holy fire, touch my unclean lips, wow!
Isaiah 6:1-7
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,319
3,619
113
#3
Nothing said about tithing or 10%; that's what this passage of scripture doesn't say.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,178
5,727
113
#5
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:17-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I think to look back over scriptire we find that tithes we’re much about the poor and needy and hungry and Gods house having the capability of feeding them along with the priests

the new testement is the reality of those ot principles we as Christian’s are commanded to care for the poor with our extra and to look past just our o ferrets and look to how we can use what we have to also help others in need

tithing was a pattern for giving generously without grievance the nt is the reality of that principle manifest in the body of Christ
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,835
4,321
113
mywebsite.us
#6
This was a collection as a gift for the saints in Jerusalem, not a tithe.
And - [only] a one-time collection at that...

(not a "command" to take a collection on the first day of every week in every church throughout all time)
 
Feb 21, 2016
848
196
43
#7
Why didn't the tithes go towards the temples,and instead Paul came and picked them up as he came into the city?The same reason why the Levite's got 10%.
Because they were the true Church.All tithes should go to the remnant as it always been.Not to a den of thieves.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,328
6,649
113
62
#8
Israel was a theocracy. The tithe was only a part of the money that was raised of the people.
1. Tithes that went to the Levites for their care. Levites owned no land and were unable to provide for themselves...Leviticus 27:30-33.
2. Tithes that went to pay for all that was required for festivals and religious ceremonies...Deuteronomy 14:22-27.
3. Tithes every third year to provide a welfare state for those in need...Deuteronomy 14:28-29.
All together, this came to a little under 25% of their increase.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,704
6,892
113
#9
I just love how people are so enamored with their money that they will find any excuse to give to the Church. :)

As for 10%, I did not mention it either because we should give what we can. That may be less, or much more than 10%.

Y'all hold on to your earthly wealth. Lemme know how that works out on the day of accountability at the Judgement Seat.

BTW, IT ALSO DOES NOT SAY it was just to be that time either. Paul received monetary support for his Ministry as well.
 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
12,329
6,696
113
#10
I just love how people are so enamored with their money that they will find any excuse to give to the Church. :)

As for 10%, I did not mention it either because we should give what we can. That may be less, or much more than 10%.

Y'all hold on to your earthly wealth. Lemme know how that works out on the day of accountability at the Judgement Seat.

BTW, IT ALSO DOES NOT SAY it was just to be that time either. Paul received monetary support for his Ministry as well.
if you do believe in the church you attend, Christian organizations , etc... to give $$ to them, well, you might to self examine.

and before anyone asks, i give to my church, and multiple Christian charities...
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,491
13,799
113
#11
Tithing is not taught in the New Testament… bur giving is. Tithing was mandatory; giving is voluntary.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,319
3,619
113
#12
I just love how people are so enamored with their money that they will find any excuse to give to the Church. :)

As for 10%, I did not mention it either because we should give what we can. That may be less, or much more than 10%.

Y'all hold on to your earthly wealth. Lemme know how that works out on the day of accountability at the Judgement Seat.

BTW, IT ALSO DOES NOT SAY it was just to be that time either. Paul received monetary support for his Ministry as well.
A tithe is 10%. Are you saying a tithe can be more or less than 10%? You did mention tithing:

So, ok. I guess this is not speaking about tithing, huh?
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,044
8,375
113
#13
if you do believe in the church you attend, Christian organizations , etc... to give $$ to them, well, you might to self examine.

and before anyone asks, i give to my church, and multiple Christian charities...
I tend to eliminate middlemen and give charitable gifts DIRECTLY to people and families in need.
Which I have first carefully vetted.

And I am very very picky about which Church orgs that we support.
A LOT of scamming and hustling going on out there.

I was very generous to a very famous Church. Then received a weird disturbing "collection letter" after years of support with bold screaming type literally DEMANDING that I contribute.......even more!

After that I cut them off for good. I realized that there were wolves among the sheep.
Sad indeed but a learning experience.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,491
13,799
113
#14
I tend to eliminate middlemen and give charitable gifts DIRECTLY to people and families in need.
Which I have first carefully vetted.

And I am very very picky about which Church orgs that we support.
A LOT of scamming and hustling going on out there.

I was very generous to a very famous Church. Then received a weird disturbing "collection letter" after years of support with bold screaming type literally DEMANDING that I contribute.......even more!

After that I cut them off for good. I realized that there were wolves among the sheep.
Sad indeed but a learning experience.
I had a similar though less disturbing experience with a ministry I supported several decades back. I was slowly increasing my support, and the "request" slips they sent showed ever-increasing amounts, always beyond what I was then giving. I realized that no amount of money was sufficient to satisfy them, and stopped supporting that ministry.
 

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
628
220
43
#15
And - [only] a one-time collection at that...

(not a "command" to take a collection on the first day of every week in every church throughout all time)
When God gave the command to the Jews to “remember the seventh day to keep it holy”, He did not specify any particular seventh day. Yet, in all of the Bible there is not a case where any Jew ever asked God “which one?” Nor did any of them think this was a command to keep just “one” seventh day. They understood that it was NOT a one-time occurrence. what they knew was that EVERY WEEK has a SEVENTH DAY. So, they understood that when a seventh day rolled around—they were to “KEEP” it.

Now, fast forward to the New Testament. God again tells His people, in His churches through out the land —for all of His people—“ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK,…….EVERY WEEK has a first day, just like EVERY WEEK has a seventh day. Just like God did not feel it necessary to tell the Jews to keep the seventh day of EVERY WEEK, He did not feel it necessary to tell us to “lay something aside” on the first day of EVERY WEEK. I think He thought we would have enough common sense to figure that one out. Satan is at work here.
 

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
628
220
43
#16
I’ve been reading the different posts on this site and so far I don’t think anyone has addressed the issue of the difference between the Old Jewish law of Moses and the. New Law of Faith brought in by Jesus. You can read about the “contrast “ and differences between these two laws in the book of Galations. (And also Hebrews) Tithing was a practice and commandment under the Old Testament law. That law was ONLY FOR JEWS (and proselytes to Judaism). THE COMMAND TO TITHE WAS NEVER A LAW FOR THE GENTILES. YOU DONT READ OF GENTILES tithing in the Old Testament. So that law was never for Me or any gentiles who may be on this site. You and I were NEVER commanded to tithe. Tithing is NOT in the new law that Jesus brought in the New Testament. What is in the Law of Christ is 1 Cor. 16:1-2. “Giving as you have been prospered” has REPLACED that old law of tithing. Whereas the old law to tithe was only for the Jews—the New law of Christ is for EVERYONE—Jew and gentile alike. That was the reason Christ came to earth—to save EVERYONE; not just the Jews. He said he would make “one flock” John 10:16. Even the Jews are not required to tithe any more because Christ has “nailed” those “ordinances“ to His cross. Colossians 2:14. To understand Col. 2:14 read Hebrews 9:16-17.

16-“For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
17-“For a testament is in force AFTER men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.”

15- “ For this reason, He is the Mediator of the NEW covenant by means of death…”

The NEW law of Christ came into effect when He died on the cross. 50 days later on the day of Pentecost, Peter, who Jesus gave the “keys” to the kingdom, preached the first gospel sermon, baptizing 3000 Jews in the name of Jesus for the remission of their sins(Acts 2:38) and “opening the door” to the kingdom of Christ. Verse 47 says “and the Lord added to the CHURCH those who were being saved.” This is the first time the church is spoken of as being in existence.

This is why in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you see Jesus and the Jews keeping the old law of Moses. Jesus was born a Jew, born under the law of Moses. He kept that law perfectly. As long as He lived. His new law of faith only was in force after He died. Hebrews 9:16-17). That’s why tithing is not commanded under the law of faith.
Christian’s are the “new” people of God. And that includes Jews who believe in and obey Christ. Romans 2:28-29.

I Corinthians 16:1-2 was a CHURCH practice in the church of Christ. They used money from this “treasury” to also help other situations where there was a need. Like in Acts 6:1 and 1 Tim 5:16. It was a continuing treasury—not a one tine act.
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,835
4,321
113
mywebsite.us
#17
I never said anything about the concept and idea being made a pattern and turned into a routine practice.

What I said was that - in the context of the passage - it was [only] a one-time thing.

Read it more carefully - it is very plain in the 'grammar of the language' of the passage.

Did Paul "make rounds" every week or appoint someone to "bring your liberality unto Jerusalem" every week?

Were multiple churches being required to give to the saints at Jerusalem every week as a routine practice?

No.

It was a one-time collection - a "gift" - from multiple churches - to be given to the saints at Jerusalem.

I am only saying that - in that particular passage - in that particular description - it was a one-time thing.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,044
8,375
113
#18
I never said anything about the concept and idea being made a pattern and turned into a routine practice.

What I said was that - in the context of the passage - it was [only] a one-time thing.

Read it more carefully - it is very plain in the 'grammar of the language' of the passage.

Did Paul "make rounds" every week or appoint someone to "bring your liberality unto Jerusalem" every week?

Were multiple churches being required to give to the saints at Jerusalem every week as a routine practice?

No.

It was a one-time collection - a "gift" - from multiple churches - to be given to the saints at Jerusalem.

I am only saying that - in that particular passage - in that particular description - it was a one-time thing.
Most of it was LEVITES LIQUDATING the land assets they owned UNLAWULLY.
It was an act of repentance and law-keeping.

The vast majority of people just do not get it.

Furthermore, Ananias and Sapphira were SPIES sent from the Jewish leaders to ENTRAP Peter in a kickback scheme.
It was all a set-up. It had NOTHING to do with tithing or repentance. It was a scheme to put Peter in the slammer, with TWO FALSE WITNESSES and marked money.
 

Bruce_Leiter

Active member
Feb 17, 2023
427
192
43
#19
Tithing is not taught in the New Testament… bur giving is. Tithing was mandatory; giving is voluntary.
Take a look at Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees' giving but his approval of their tithing:

Mat_23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Luk_11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others (ESV).

Jesus clearly says that they should tithe but stop avoiding the weightier matters of the law. So should we. Read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 about our need to give generously and eagerly.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,044
8,375
113
#20
Take a look at Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees' giving but his approval of their tithing:

Mat_23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Luk_11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others (ESV).

Jesus clearly says that they should tithe but stop avoiding the weightier matters of the law. So should we. Read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 about our need to give generously and eagerly.
Just to let you know, Jesus is definitely NOT commending these Pharisees for this ridiculous tithing of mint and rue.
He is chiding them for being idiots and hypocrites.

They were so (wrongly) obsessed with tithing that they would divide up seeds and sprigs. There is nothing in their law
that demands such bizarre behavior. But there is PLENTY in the law that demands justice and mercy.