Biblical Basis for Freely Received Freely Give
The biblical principle "freely you received, so freely give" originates from Jesus' instructions to his disciples in Matthew 10:8 [2]. In this passage, Jesus commissions them to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons, emphasizing that the divine power and authority they have been given are not earned but are a gratuitous gift, and therefore should be extended to others without charge or expectation of payment [2].
This concept of a "free gift" or "grace" is deeply rooted in biblical thought. In the Old Testament, "free-will offerings" (Exodus 35:29) were spontaneous gifts, voluntary sacrifices given without being compelled by a vow or as expiation for an offense [1]. The prophet Amos mentions "free will offerings" as something the Israelites proclaimed and boasted about, though the Lord Yahweh found their motivations displeasing [4]. Jacob, when meeting Esau, urged him to accept a gift, stating, "God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough" [3]. The Hebrew language itself possessed numerous expressions for the idea of a "gift," highlighting its significance in Eastern social life, where refusal of a present was considered a high indignity [5, 8].
The New Testament further develops the idea of God's gifts as being "without repentance" (Romans 11:29), meaning they are irrevocable [6]. All blessings are considered gifts from God, dispensed according to His will and given freely and abundantly [7]. Christ himself is presented as the chief gift of God, through whom other spiritual gifts like the Holy Spirit, grace, wisdom, repentance, faith, and righteousness are received [7].
Early Christian theologians, such as Augustine, emphasized the gratuitous nature of God's grace. He argued that grace is "bestowed gratuitously" because humanity is not worthy of anything but punishment, and Christ came to forgive sins, not to punish them [10]. Augustine further contended that grace is "not rendered for any merits, but is given gratis," which is why it is called grace [14]. He challenged the notion that grace could be a payment for a debt or a recompense for merit, citing the apostle Paul's teaching that salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast" [15, 16]. John Calvin, one theologian, similarly argued that "grace and reward are incompatible," asserting that eternal life is not given in return for good works, but is a gratuitous promise [9, 13]. The Baptist commentator John Gill, in his exposition of Exodus, noted that offerings were to be taken from "every man that giveth it willingly, with his heart," emphasizing the cheerful and voluntary nature of giving as to the Lord [11, 17]. He also interpreted Paul's "unspeakable gift" in 2 Corinthians 9:15 as referring to God's goodness, the grace bestowed on believers, or even Christ himself [12].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Free-will offering — A spontaneous gift (Ex. 35:29), a voluntary sacrifice (Lev. 22:23; Ezra 3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a vow, or in expiation of some offence.”
- Matthew “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. -- Matthew 10:8”
- Genesis “Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it. -- Genesis 33:11”
- Amos “offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim free will offerings and brag about them: for this pleases you, you children of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh. -- Amos 4:5”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Presents — [[990]Gift]”
- Romans “Romans 11:29 (LITV) — For the free gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gifts of God, The — All blessings are -- Jas 1:17; 2Pe 1:3. Are dispensed according to his will -- Ec 2:26; Da 2:21; Ro 12:6; 1Co 7:7. Are free and abundant -- Nu 14:8; Ro 8:32. Spiritual Christ the chief of. -- Isa 42:6; 55:4; Joh 3:16; 4:10; 6:32,33. Are through Christ. -- Ps 68:18; Eph 4:7,8; Joh 6:27. The Holy Spirit. -- Lu 11:13; Ac 8:20. Grace. -- Ps 84:11; Jas 4:6. Wisdom. -- Pr 2:6; Jas 1:5. Repentance. -- Ac 11:18. Faith. -- Eph 2:8; Php 1:29. Righteousness. -- Ro 5:16,17. Strength and power. -- Ps 68:35. A new heart. -- Eze 11:19. Peace. -- Ps 29:11. Rest. ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gift — The giving and receiving of presents has in all ages been not only a more frequent but also a more formal and significant proceeding in the East than among ourselves. We cannot adduce a more remarkable proof of the important part which presents play in the social life of the East than the fact that the Hebrew language possesses no less than fifteen different expressions for the one idea. The mode of presentation was with as much parade as possible. The refusal of a present was regarded us a high indignity. No less an insult was it not to bring a present when th”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 26.17: be deemed a reward. For we know that grace and reward are incompatible. Now, however, since the benediction which is promised in the seed, contains the hope of salvation, it may seem to follow that eternal life is given in return for good works. And the Papists boldly seize upon this, and similar passages, in order to prove that works are deserving of all the good things which God confers upon us. But I most readily retort this subtle argument upon those who bring it. For if that promise was before gratuitous, which is now ascrib”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — TRACTATE III. (part 7): one flatter himself, but let him return into his own conscience, seek out the secret places of his own thoughts, recall the series of his deeds; let him not consider what he is if now he is something, but what he was that he might be something: he will find that he was not worthy of anything save punishment. If, then, thou wast worthy of punishment, and He came not to punish sins, but to forgive sins, grace was given to thee, and not reward rendered. Wherefore is it called grace? Because it is bestowed gratuitously. For thou d”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 25:2: Speak unto the children of Israel,.... That is, when he should go down from the mountain to the camp: that they bring me an offering; the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call it a "separation": something separated from their substance, and devoted to the service of God, and for the use of the sanctuary afterwards to be built: of every man that giveth it willingly, with his heart, ye shall take my offering; or take what was offered to him, be it more or less, and of whatsoever person, high and low, rich and poor, so be it it is freely given from the heart; not grud”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:15: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Meaning either the goodness of God, both to the giver and receiver; for that the one gave so liberally, and the other received so largely, was from the grace of God, who so powerfully inclines the hearts of his children to do good, and offer so willingly of what he has given them, and who so wonderfully provides for the supply of the poor and needy; or else that exceeding grace of God which was so eminently, largely, and freely bestowed on the Corinthians in their effectual calling; or, as some think, Christ himself,”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 73: a seed in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed; the propagation of a seed that for number should equal the stars of heaven, and the sand of the sea, &c. Many years after he prepares, in obedience to a divine message, to sacrifice his son. Having done this act of obedience, he receives the promise, “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 4 [IV.]--FREE GRACE.: This grace, however, of Christ, without which neither infants nor adults can be saved, is not rendered for any merits, but is given gratis, on account of which it is also called grace. "Being justified," says the apostle, "freely through His blood."(13) Whence they, who are not liberated through grace, either because they are not yet able to hear, or because they are unwilling to obey; or again because they did not receive, at the time when they were unable on account of youth to hear, that bath of regeneration, which they mi”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 24.--PELAGIUS PLACES FREE WILL AT THE BASIS OF ALL TURNING TO GOD FOR GRACE. (part 2): of such antecedent merits we so secure His grace, that He turns our heart which way soever He pleases. Well, now, how is that grace which is not gratuitously conferred? How can it be grace, if it is given in payment of a debt? How can that be true which the apostle says, "It is not of yourselves, but it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast;"[5] and again, "If it is of grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace:''6”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 34.--PELAGIUS SAYS THAT GRACE IS GIVEN ACCORDING TO MEN'S MERITS. THE BEGINNING, HOWEVER, OF MERIT IS FAITH; AND THIS IS A GRATUITOUS GIFT, NOT A RECOMPENSE FOR OUR MERITS. (part 2): [2] But if it is contended that faith is so bestowed as to be a recompense for merit, not a free gift, what then becomes of another saying of the apostle: "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake"?[3] Each is by the apostle's testimony made a gift,--both that he believes in Christ, and that each suffers”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 35:28: The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord,.... What they did, whether more or less, they did it cheerfully and willingly, as to the Lord, for his service and glory: every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses: See Gill on Exo 35:21 and as there were work and service of God's appointment to be done in the legal tabernacle, so there are in the Gospel church; such as prayer, praise, preaching, and hearing the word, and the administration of ordina”