Tithing Beyond Church Giving in the Bible

While tithing is often associated with financial contributions to religious institutions, biblical texts and theological traditions reveal a broader understanding of "giving" that extends beyond monetary donations to the church ^[5]. The concept of giving encompasses various forms of generosity, including material aid to the needy, personal service, and even the offering of one's own life.

The Old Testament establishes tithing as the giving of a tenth of one's produce or cattle, which was considered a just return to God for His blessings ^[5]. These tithes were given to the Levites for their service and were also distributed to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow ^{[5, 11, 12, 13]}. This demonstrates an early understanding that giving, even in the form of tithes, had a social dimension beyond supporting religious functionaries. The Hebrew word "Jetheth" itself means "giving" ^[2], and "Nethinims" refers to those who are "given or offered" ^[4], indicating a foundational concept of offering and generosity.

In the New Testament, Jesus emphasizes that "there is a greater blessing in giving than in getting" ^[1]. This teaching, recorded in Acts 20:35, highlights the spiritual benefit of generosity. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, commends believers who gave "beyond their power" and were willing to do more than their ability allowed, indicating a spirit of sacrificial giving ^[14]. While Paul encourages the desire for spiritual gifts that build up the church, he ultimately points to love as "a way of life that is best of all" ^[8]. This suggests that the motivation and spirit behind giving are paramount.

Augustine, a significant figure in patristic thought, taught that almsgiving is a work of mercy that should begin with oneself. one tradition states, "To have mercy on thy soul is pleasing to God," suggesting that spiritual self-care and conversion are the "first alms" one gives ^[10]. He also noted that if the Pharisees had given alms, "all things would have been clean to them," implying a transformative power in generous acts ^[15]. Thomas Aquinas, a scholastic theologian, connected the right to receive tithes to the spiritual debt owed to ministers of the altar, arguing that "temporal things are due to those who sow spiritual things" ^[9]. This perspective grounds the financial aspect of tithing in the spiritual service provided by the clergy.

Beyond direct financial contributions, the Bible illustrates other forms of giving:

Giving to the poor and needy: Deuteronomy 26:12 explicitly mentions giving tithes to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow ^{[11, 12, 13]}. This highlights a social justice aspect of giving.
Giving of oneself in service: The concept of "giving" can extend to personal service and dedication. For instance, the Nethinims were individuals "given or offered" for service ^[4].
Giving of gifts and dowry: In Genesis 34:12, the concept of "gift" (YLT: "dowry and gift") is present in social transactions ^[3].
Giving thanks: Thanksgiving is presented as a form of offering to God, to Christ, and through Christ, in all circumstances ^[7]. This is a spiritual act of giving that does not involve material goods.
Giving in prayer: God is depicted as giving answers to prayer, and Christ also gives ^[6]. This implies a reciprocal relationship where prayer is a form of giving one's attention and devotion to God.

The broader biblical understanding of giving encompasses a range of actions motivated by love and directed towards God, the church, and those in need. It is not solely confined to a percentage of income given to a religious institution, but rather a holistic approach to generosity that reflects one's faith and commitment.

Sources

Acts “Acts 20:35 (BBE) — In all things I was an example to you of how, in your lives, you are to give help to the feeble, and keep in memory the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, There is a greater blessing in giving than in getting.”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jetheth — giving”
Genesis “Genesis 34:12 (YLT) — multiply on me exceedingly dowry and gift, and I give as ye say unto me, and give to me the young person for a wife.'”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Nethinims — given or offered”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Tithe — The tenth of anything -- 1Sa 8:15,17. Antiquity of the custom of giving to God's ministers -- Ge 14:20; Heb 7:6. Considered a just return to God for his blessings -- Ge 28:22. Under the law belonged to God -- Le 27:30. Consisted of a tenth Of all the produce of the land. -- Le 27:30. Of all cattle. -- Le 27:32. Of holy things dedicated. -- 2Ch 31:6. Given by God to the Levites for their services -- Nu 18:21,24; Ne 10:37. The tenth of, offered by the Levites as an heave offering to God -- Nu 18:26,27. The tenth of, given by the Levites to the priests as their ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Answers To — God gives -- Ps 99:6; 118:5; 138:3. Christ gives -- Joh 4:10,14; 14:14. Christ received -- Joh 11:42; Heb 5:7. Granted Through the grace of God. -- Isa 30:19. Sometimes immediately. -- Isa 65:24; Da 9:21,23; 10:12. Sometimes after delay. -- Lu 18:7. Sometimes differently from our desire. -- 2Co 12:8,9. Beyond expectation. -- Jer 33:3; Eph 3:20. Promised -- Isa 58:9; Jer 29:12; Mt 7:7. Promised especially in times of trouble -- Ps 50:15; 91:15. Received by those who Seek God. -- Ps 34:4. Seek God with all the heart. -- Jer 29:12,13. Wait upon God.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Thanksgiving — Christ set an example of -- Mt 11:25; 26:27; Joh 6:11; 11:41. The heavenly host engaged in -- Re 4:9; 7:11,12; 11:16,17. Commanded -- Ps 50:14; Php 4:6. Is a good thing -- Ps 92:1. Should be offered To God. -- Ps 50:14. To Christ. -- 1Ti 1:12. Through Christ. -- Ro 1:8; Col 3:17; Heb 13:15. In the name of Christ. -- Eph 5:20. In behalf of ministers. -- 2Co 1:11. In private worship. -- Da 6:10. In public worship. -- Ps 35:18. In everything. -- 1Th 5:18. Upon the completion of great undertakings. -- Ne 12:31,40. Before taking food. -- Joh 6:11; Ac 27:35.”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:31: 12:31 Believers are to earnestly desire the most helpful gifts, those that have the greatest potential to build up the church (see 14:12), while realizing that God is the one who distributes gifts as he chooses (12:11, 18, 28). Paul encourages the Corinthians to move beyond their desire for the gift of tongues (cp. 14:1-25, 27; see 12:10) because it has the least potential, of all the gifts, to build up the church. • But now let me show you: This statement transitions to Paul’s description of love in 13:1-13. Love is a way of life that is best of all.”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Tithes, Art. 3: Article: Whether tithes should be paid to the clergy? I answer that, Two things have to be considered with regard to tithes: namely, the right to receive tithes, and the things given in the name of tithes. The right to receive tithes is a spiritual thing, for it arises from the debt in virtue of which the ministers of the altar have a right to the expenses of their ministry, and temporal things are due to those who sow spiritual things. This debt concerns none but the clergy who have care of souls,”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 76.--TO GIVE ALMS ARIGHT, WE SHOULD BEGIN WITH OURSELVES, AND HAVE PITY UPON OUR OWN SOULS. (part 1): For the man who wishes to give aims as he ought, should begin with himself, and give to himself first. For almsgiving is a work of mercy; and most truly is it said, "To have mercy on thy soul is pleasing to God."(1) And for this end are we born again, that we should be pleasing to God, who is justly displeased with that which we brought with us when we were born. This is our first alms, which we give to ourselves when, through the mercy of a”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Temurah 68b.19:9: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement continues: And if one separates teruma from his produce to exempt the produce of others, so that the other’s produce will be permitted in consumption, the benefit of discretion is his. He is entitled to determine which priest receives the teruma . The Gemara explains: What is the reason for this? The verse states: “When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow” (Deuteronomy 26:1”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Temurah 68a.19:9: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement continues: And if one separates teruma from his produce to exempt the produce of others, so that the other’s produce will be permitted in consumption, the benefit of discretion is his. He is entitled to determine which priest receives the teruma . The Gemara explains: What is the reason for this? The verse states: “When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow” (Deuteronomy 26:1”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Temurah 10a.9: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement continues: And if one separates teruma from his produce to exempt the produce of others, so that the other’s produce will be permitted in consumption, the benefit of discretion is his. He is entitled to determine which priest receives the teruma . The Gemara explains: What is the reason for this? The verse states: “When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow” (Deuteronomy 26:12).”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 8:3: For to their power, I bear record,.... They gave according to their ability, to the utmost of it, which is the most that can be desired, or be given; for no man can give more than he has, nor is he required to do more than he is able: yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; not that they did or could do beyond their power; but they were "willing" beyond their power; their hearts were larger than their purses; they would gladly have done more than they had ability to do; and to this the apostle bears testimony to give it credit, which other”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, LUKE XI. 39, "NOW DO YE PHARISEES CLEANSE THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND THE PLATTER," ETC. (part 2): been washed by Christ's Baptism; they had not yet believed on Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, who walked among them, yet was not acknowledged by them. How then doth He say to them, "Give alms, and behold all things are clean unto you"? If the Pharisees had paid heed to Him, and given alms, at once according to His word "all things would have been clean to them;" what need then was there for them to believe on Him?”

Ask Your Own Question