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Biblical Ethics of Using Faith in Sales

The biblical understanding of "faith" generally refers to a persuasion of the mind that a statement is true, implying trust and often involving knowledge and assent [7]. This concept of faith, while primarily spiritual, intersects with commercial activities in various biblical and theological traditions. The act of selling, or "mecherath" and "michri" in Hebrew, is a common biblical concept [1, 2, 8]. However, the ethics surrounding the use of faith in sales, particularly when spiritual matters are involved, are subject to specific guidelines and prohibitions.

One significant ethical concern in biblical traditions is the commodification of spiritual things. The Apostle Paul, for instance, explicitly states, "For we do not, as the many, make a trade of the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, before God, we speak in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:17 Darby) [6]. This verse highlights a distinction between sincere proclamation of God's word and treating it as a commodity for profit. John Calvin, commenting on similar concerns, warned against those who "misrepresent the word of God" and turn religion into a "public fair," where "Sacraments are exposed to sale, and everything else belonging to our religion has a fixed price" [14]. He further argued that such actions "ruin souls" and "mock at the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ" [14]. This perspective underscores a strong condemnation of simony, which is the buying or selling of spiritual things.

Thomas Aquinas, a prominent scholastic theologian, addressed the issue of simony in his Summa Theologica. He defined simony as "an intentional will to buy or sell something spiritual or connected with a spiritual thing" [12]. Aquinas argued that spiritual things are "undue matter for buying and selling" for three reasons: first, because they cannot be appraised at any earthly price; second, because they are gifts of God, which should be given freely; and third, because they pertain to God's power, which cannot be transferred by human transaction [12]. This theological framework establishes a clear ethical boundary against profiting from spiritual gifts or offices.

Beyond the direct sale of spiritual items, biblical ethics also address general principles of honesty and fairness in commercial transactions. Aquinas, in his discussion of cheating in buying and selling, stated that "it is altogether sinful to have recourse to deceit in order to sell a thing for more than its just price" [13]. He cited Cicero's view that "Contracts should be entirely free from double-dealing: the seller must not impose upon the bidder, nor the buyer upon one that bids against him" [13]. This principle emphasizes the importance of integrity and truthfulness in all sales, preventing exploitation or manipulation.

Jewish rabbinic tradition also provides detailed ethical guidelines concerning sales, particularly regarding items with varying degrees of sanctity. The Mishnah and Babylonian Talmud discuss rules for using the proceeds from the sale of sacred objects. For example, if residents of a town sell a town square that was used for public prayer, they must use the proceeds to purchase something of a greater degree of sanctity, such as a synagogue. If they sell a synagogue, they may purchase an ark for sacred scrolls, and so on, moving up the scale of sanctity [10]. Conversely, the proceeds of a sale of a sacred item may not be used to purchase an item of a lesser degree of sanctity [15, 16, 17]. This demonstrates a careful ethical framework for handling transactions involving items that hold religious significance, ensuring that their sacred value is respected and not diminished through commercial exchange.

The Babylonian Talmud also addresses the practice of "conducting business on faith," which refers to selling merchandise without a fixed price, relying on the buyer's honesty or a general understanding. In such cases, the Sages taught that if one sells merchandise purchased in bulk, they "may not calculate the price of the merchandise of inferior quality on faith and the price of the merchandise of superior quality at their market value." Instead, the seller has two options: either both inferior and superior merchandise must be calculated on faith, or both must be priced at market value [11]. This rule aims to prevent sellers from exploiting the "faith" arrangement to their advantage by selectively applying pricing methods.

The concept of "faith" itself is often linked to good deeds and righteous conduct in the New Testament. Titus 3:8 encourages believers to "take care to devote themselves to good deeds," emphasizing that "These things are excellent and profitable for the people" [4]. This suggests that faith should lead to ethical behavior that benefits others, rather than being used for personal gain through deceptive or exploitative sales practices. Christian conduct is characterized by believing God, fearing God, loving God, following God, and obeying God, as well as living soberly, righteously, and godly [9]. These principles extend to commercial interactions, implying that business should be conducted in a manner consistent with one's faith.

While the Bible does not prohibit selling or commercial activity (e.g., Acts 4:37 describes Barnabas selling a field and bringing the money to the apostles [3]), it places strong ethical constraints on how such activities are conducted, especially when faith or spiritual matters are involved. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of a time when "the seller shall not return to that which is sold," indicating a finality and perhaps a judgment on commercial dealings [5]. John Gill, in his commentary on Proverbs, describes the believer as a "spiritual merchant" where "faith is a trading with and for Christ, and for spiritual and heavenly things by him" [18]. This metaphorical use of commercial language for spiritual pursuits highlights the distinction between earthly commerce and the invaluable nature of spiritual realities. Gill also notes that the virtuous woman "maketh fine linen, and selleth it," indicating that honest and productive commercial activity is not inherently at odds with righteous living [19].

Sources

  1. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Mecherath — selling; knowledge”
  2. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Michri — selling”
  3. Acts “having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. -- Acts 4:37”
  4. Titus “Titus 3:8 (BSB) — This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.”
  5. Ezekiel “For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they be yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude of it, none shall return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life. -- Ezekiel 7:13”
  6. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 2:17 (Darby) — For we do not, as the many, make a trade of the word ofGod; but as of sincerity, but as ofGod, beforeGod, we speak in Christ.”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Faith — Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests. Faith is the result of teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act ”
  8. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Machir — selling; knowing”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  10. Mishnah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishnah, Mishnah Megillah 3:1: Residents of a town who sold the town square, which was at times used for public prayer and therefore attained a certain degree of sanctity, may use the proceeds of the sale only to purchase something of a greater degree of sanctity. They may therefore purchase a synagogue with the proceeds of the sale. If they sold a synagogue, they may purchase an ark in which to house sacred scrolls. If they sold an ark, they may purchase wrapping cloths for the sacred scrolls. If they sold wrapping cloths, they may purchase scrolls of the Prophets and the Writings. If they so”
  11. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bava Metzia 51b.8: Apropos the mention of one who conducts business on faith, the Gemara cites a baraita that teaches several halakhot concerning such an arrangement. The Sages taught: When selling merchandise that one purchased in bulk, one who conducts business on faith may not calculate the price of the merchandise of inferior quality on faith and the price of the merchandise of superior quality at their market value. Rather, he has two options: Either the price of both this merchandise and that merchandise must be calculated on faith, or the price of both this merchandis”
  12. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), On Simony, Art. 1: Article: Whether simony is an intentional will to buy or sell something spiritual or connected with a spiritual thing? I answer that, As stated above (FS, Question [18], Article [2]) an act is evil generically when it bears on undue matter. Now a spiritual thing is undue matter for buying and selling for three reasons. First, because a spiritual thing cannot be appraised at any earthly price, even as it is said concerning wisdom (Prov. 3:15), "she is more precious than all riches, and all things th”
  13. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Cheating, Which is Committed in Buying and Selling, Art. 1: Article: Whether it is lawful to sell a thing for more than its worth? I answer that, It is altogether sinful to have recourse to deceit in order to sell a thing for more than its just price, because this is to deceive one's neighbor so as to injure him. Hence Tully says (De Offic. iii, 15): "Contracts should be entirely free from double-dealing: the seller must not impose upon the bidder, nor the buyer upon one that bids against him." But, apart from fra”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 26.5: to set aside the price which was paid for our redemption, it is certain that they ruin souls, and also mock at the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we hear all this, ought we not to hold such teachers in abhorrence? Besides, experience shews us that we have good reason for attending to this warning of the Apostle Paul. For to what a pitch has religion arrived! Has it not been made like a public fair? What has it become in Popery? The Sacraments are exposed to sale, and everything else belonging to our religion has a fixed pr”
  15. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 64a.51:2: However, the proceeds of a sale of a sacred item may not be used to purchase an item of a lesser degree of sanctity. Therefore, if they sold a Torah scroll, they may not use the proceeds to purchase scrolls of the Prophets and the Writings. If they sold scrolls of the Prophets and Writings, they may not purchase wrapping cloths. If they sold wrapping cloths, they may not purchase an ark. If they sold an ark, they may not purchase a synagogue. If they sold a synagogue, they may not purchase a town square.”
  16. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 64b.51:2: However, the proceeds of a sale of a sacred item may not be used to purchase an item of a lesser degree of sanctity. Therefore, if they sold a Torah scroll, they may not use the proceeds to purchase scrolls of the Prophets and the Writings. If they sold scrolls of the Prophets and Writings, they may not purchase wrapping cloths. If they sold wrapping cloths, they may not purchase an ark. If they sold an ark, they may not purchase a synagogue. If they sold a synagogue, they may not purchase a town square.”
  17. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 26a.2: However, the proceeds of a sale of a sacred item may not be used to purchase an item of a lesser degree of sanctity. Therefore, if they sold a Torah scroll, they may not use the proceeds to purchase scrolls of the Prophets and the Writings. If they sold scrolls of the Prophets and Writings, they may not purchase wrapping cloths. If they sold wrapping cloths, they may not purchase an ark. If they sold an ark, they may not purchase a synagogue. If they sold a synagogue, they may not purchase a town square.”
  18. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 3:14: For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver,.... The believer is a spiritual merchant; faith is a trading with and for Christ, and for spiritual and heavenly things by him; and because there is a parting with something for Christ, as a man's sinful lusts and pleasures, his own righteousness, his friends and relations, when set in opposition to or competition with him, and even life itself, when called for; and because he runs a risk of suffering reproach, afflictions, and death itself; therefore this concern with him, and enjoyment of him, is ”
  19. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 31:24: She maketh fine linen, and selleth it,.... She not only seeks wool and flax, and spins it, but makes it up into fine linen, which she disposes of to advantage to herself and family. Kimchi says (y), the word signifies coverings for the night, as well as day he seems to design linen sheets: the Arabic version adds, and "sells it to the inhabitants of Bosra." This, in the mystic sense, may signify either the good works the church does, and which she proposes as a pattern and example to her members; or divine instruction, as others, the preaching of the Gospel, and th”
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