LIBERTY NOT LAW: A STUDY OF TITHING IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Condensed and Abridged From Tithing in Holy Scriptures with Practical CommentsFather Basil Ross Aden (See: Stewardship Resource II)

TITHING: WHAT THOUGHTS COME TO MIND?

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“I PUT ALL I HAD IN THE PLATE…” (A RICH MAN)

“I DARE you to do it again!” (his priest)

“Some men are given [health and riches] for stewardship’s sake.”

SAINT BASIL ON WEALTH & STEWARDSHIP

WHAT DOES “TITHING” MEAN?

The meaning of a term is its… Use in its languageContext of use

The most ancient example of the tithe goes all the way back to Abraham and Melchizedek.

THE LEGISLATION OF TITHING Now all the tithe of

the land, whether seed of the land or fruit of the tree is the Lord’s: it is holy to the Lord…” Leviticus 37:34).

THE THREE TYPES OF TITHES

1st Tithe: (to the Levites, through them to the priests)

2nd Tithe (at the Temple) 3rd Tithe (for the poor)

A SAMPLE HISTORICAL CONTEXTIn the days of Hezekiah’s reform (c. 701 BC), the Passover was celebrated with such exuberance that the Feast was extended another week.

THE RESULT OF JUBILANT WORSHIP Hezekiah commanded

that the people contribute a portion [of their crops and herds] for the priests.

The response was amazing: “they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything” (2 Chronicles 31:5)

The High Priest

OVERFLOWING OFFERINGS

The offerings were so great that they piled up on the ground in heaps (2 Chronicles 31:7).

Hezekiah commanded that storehouses be built in the temple for the offerings and tithes and put the Levites in charge of them (2 Chronicles 31:11-12).

DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, DIFFERENT MEANINGS

A RESOLUTIONThe Stewardship Commission will

present a resolution at this Sobor that includes commitment to tithing as our

goal for proportionate giving.

ANOTHER CONTEXT: ST. IRENAEUS “We are still bound to offer to God the first-fruits of His Creation . . . The practice of giving (now includes) the qualities of motivation and the spirit of the action.”St. Irenaeus of Lyons

TYPES OF TITHESThree types of tithes in the Old Testament:1. Tithes to provide

supplies for the feasts of worship

2. Tithes to support the Levites (and priests) as ministers of the House of God

3. Tithes for the relief of the poorAdministration of the Tithes

TYPES ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

Three functions (uses) of tithe based on the three types:1. Worship and

Thanksgiving2. Support of

ministry3. Relief of the

poor Tobit Giving Alms

FUNCTIONS IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS

Use Old Testament

Deutero-CanonicalWritings

New Testament

Church Fathers

Worship & Thanksgiving x x x xSupport of Ministry x x x xRelief of the Poor x x x x

WHAT KIND OF SOWING?

“He that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

HANDKERCHIEF OFFERING

See “Tithing in Holy Scriptures with Practical Comments” (Resource II) for more ideas and insights into tithing.