Tithing in the New Testament Age: Is It Biblical?: A Biblical and Historical Analysis of Tithing Today

© 2015 Andrew Robbins. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  01/25/2022

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5672-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5703-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015917352

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Scripture quotations are taken from the following English versions of the Holy Bible:

New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,

Inc.®. New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007. Tyndale House

Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. The ESV® Bible (English Standard

Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good

News Publishers. New American Standard (NAS) Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962,

1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation,

La Habra, Calif. King James Bible (KJV), text courtesy of BibleProtector.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the

Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©

1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by

permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy

Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol

Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Website

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from

the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, Copyright

©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News

Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from

the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960,

1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by

The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible,

King James Version (Authorized Version). First published

in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible,

Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank, first of all, my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ,

for saving my soul and rescuing me from a self-destructive

lifestyle. Your redeeming work, Master, is wonderful to behold.

Thanks also to my wife and best friend, Donna, who is the

supportive undergirding of our household and ministry. You are

a manifestation of God’s grace in my life. I’m so grateful for you!

Thank you to my children, Hannah, Luke, and Drew, who

make it easy to parent and to minister. I thank God that

you are responsive to both the guidance of your parents

and to the guidance of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

Each of you is a wonderful gift to me. I love you!

Many thanks to Dr. Jerry King and your work of mentorship

in my life. I’m thankful to God for your example, your

knowledge, and your desire to sow into the lives of

younger ministers. May God bless you back 1,000-fold!

Lastly, I wish to thank Dr. Jerry King and Pastor Tracy

McIntyre for their insights and contributions to this book.

Table of Contents

Introduction

• Thesis

• Methodology

• A Personal Note

Chapter 1     The Principle of Partnership

• Understanding How God’s Kingdom Works

• What it Means to Seek God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness

Chapter 2     Pre-Law Tithing and the Principle of Precedence

• A Brief Overview of Both Positions on Tithing

• Cain and Abel

• Abraham and the Tithe

• Melchizedek as a Type and Shadow of Jesus

• Jacob and the Tithe

Chapter 3     Understanding the Law’s Application for Today’s Believer

• The Mosaic Law and the Levitical Law

• The Role of the Law Today

• The Consequences of Removing the Law in Evangelism

• Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law

Chapter 4     Redeemed from the Curse of the Law

• Malachi: Robbing God

• Will God Curse People for Failing to Tithe?

• God’s Creation vs. Man’s Labor

• True Tithing

Chapter 5     Tithing Then and Now

• Levites and Pastors

• Tithing Didn’t Work

Chapter 6     Tithes vs. Alms; Gross vs. Net

• Tithing vs. Alms

• Does all of Your Money Belong to God?

• Gross vs. Net

Chapter 7     More on Why the Tithe Goes Primarily to the Local Church

• Can the Tithe Go to the Poor and Ministries other Than the Church?

• God’s Kingdom Needs Money to Function Optimally

• Tithing in the First Century Church

• Should Tithing Be Demanded or Imposed?

• Supporting Your Pastor

Chapter 8     Breaking Free from the Spirit of Mammon

• The god of Mammon

• The Corinthian Church

• The Spirit of Generosity

Chapter 9     What the New Testament Teaches about Generosity

• The Smartest Thing You can do with Your Money

• Generosity has a Purifying Effect

Chapter 10   The Eternal Nature of God and His Principles

• God is Changeless

• Bringing that which is in the Past into the Present

• How Spiritual Hierarchy in the Church relates to Tithing

Chapter 11   Tithing and the Covenant

• The Covenant of Blessing

• The Provisions of the Covenant

• The Conditions of the Covenant

Chapter 12   My Testimony and Concluding Thoughts

• Who is Your Supreme Authority?

Introduction

As Christians grapple with trying to understand the breathtaking grace of God, it is understandable that certain questions come up from time to time regarding areas that appear to be associated with Old Testament Law. Tithing is one of those areas.

Tithing is the practice of contributing ten percent of one’s income to one’s local church as an expression of thanksgiving to God and to support the work of His Kingdom in the earth. Tithing has been the subject of ongoing debate for as long as I’ve been a Christian (23 years at the time of this writing), and I’m certain the deliberation was going on long before that. The topic of tithing can be a sensitive one because of the perception by some that it is associated with legalism (performing duties as a way to earn God’s favor). I agree that legalism is a very real possibility. But legalism is possible in any area, not just tithing. The deeper matter, I believe, is a heart issue that needs to be fully addressed and understood.

Many studious books and papers have been offered on this subject, both arguing for and against New Testament tithing. However, I have not seen a pro-tithing book or document that answers the anti-tithing critics directly. Some of the anti-tithing materials I have read take on current pro-tithing teachings point-by-point. I am compelled to provide a counter point-by-point defense of tithing as best I know how and attempt to help the reader draw your own conclusions.

Thesis

In cutting right to the heart of the matter, my thesis statement for this writing is this:

Giving to God regularly out of the increase of our substance as an expression of worship and thanksgiving for His provision is a concept that pre-dates the Mosaic Law by approximately 2,500 years. Thus, the concept of tithing – offering God ten percent of our regular earnings – is a practice that is timeless, just like thou shalt have no other gods before me, and thou shalt not murder are timeless principles. While certain practices pertaining to the Levitical Law have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and, therefore, are no longer relevant or applicable, tithing does not fall into this category because 1) it pre-dates the Law, and 2) it was written on men’s hearts as evidenced in the book of Genesis.

In short, this pastor believes and practices tithing, but not as a way to appease God or to curry His favor, because God’s appeasement was accomplished on the cross through Jesus Christ for those who believe and receive that gift of grace. Rather, tithing is an expression of love, devotion and thanksgiving to God, and it reflects a love for His Church and His Kingdom work here on the earth.

Let it also be known from the outset that if the modern day Body of Christ truly practiced the lifestyle of giving and generosity modeled for us in the New Testament, there would never be any questions regarding tithing, because the New Testament model of generosity far exceeds a tithe.

Methodology

My methodology throughout this discourse will be to address several con arguments head-on. On the surface, many of the arguments against tithing seem reasonable and sound. However, I believe that there is another side to consider, one that is firmly grounded in the Scriptures.

I will refer to several different English translations of the Bible that I feel best reflect the intent of the original Hebrew and Greek writers of the Old and New Testaments in specific instances while also referring directly to the ancient languages. I will be clear from the start that I do not accept any single English rendering of the Scriptures as authoritative. I have my favorite English versions, but the only truly authoritative versions of the Scriptures are the original Hebrew and Greek texts in which they were first written and inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. Every English translation of the Bible, including the King James Version, does a disservice to the Scriptures in their original form.

Note that we will discuss the subject of tithing according to the eras of time in question: The pre-Law era, the era of the Mosaic and Levitical Law, and the New Covenant age.

I will also attempt to address this delicate subject with due respect for those who adhere to an anti-tithing philosophy. We on both sides of the question of tithing know in part and see as if through a darkened glass (1 Corinthians 13:12), and we are all in a continual growth and learning process. I believe unity among the brethren should be our highest aim. Having said that, I will probably not be able to avoid appearing dogmatic simply because I will present my thoughts throughout this discussion with strong conviction and will attempt to show how some conclusions on the subject of tithing cannot be supported in God’s Word. This alone may cause some readers to regard my approach as contentious, but I suppose that is inevitable when trying to sort out the details on a subject on which not everyone agrees. Even so, those who would take the time to read a book like this would likely agree with me on the central theme of our faith, that we were all hopelessly lost in our sins, but through the substitutionary sacrifice of our Scapegoat, Jesus Christ, the spotless, sinless Son of God, mankind has been offered the free gift of salvation by faith alone, not of works lest any man should boast. We boast only in our Savior, Jesus. May His Holy Name be praised forever! May this common ground guide us and keep us united throughout our study.

A Personal Note

Some believers have strong and even volatile emotions on the topic of tithing. I realize that some people take offense at the suggestion that God’s people should tithe due to having been under the leadership of harsh and dictatorial pastors that may have used teachings on tithing as a way to exert control over their congregations and even to fatten their own standard of living. Hurtful experiences in legalistic churches that load people down with bondages would understandably provoke strong reactions to any future presentations on the subject of tithing. While I am sympathetic with people who have had these kinds of experiences since the church I pastor seems to have become a haven of healing for several individuals who have been wounded and spiritually abused in their past churches, I must hasten to point out that having negative church experiences does not necessarily mean that everything taught in those churches was wrong. As in every church or religion that teaches wrong doctrine, there is usually a lot of truth mixed in with the error. Otherwise people would immediately recognize the error. If the reader happens to be one of these dear ones wronged by the very leaders who were supposed to be looking out for your spiritual welfare, allow me to say how sorry I am that you were treated that way. Should you decide to keep reading I hope you will keep an open mind and teachable heart as we embark upon a subject that may resurrect unpleasant memories. The fact that you are reading a book like this at all is a pretty good indication that you likely do have an open mind and teachable spirit.

Perhaps it is these kinds of spiritual abuses and negative experiences with previous church leaders that have caused some anti-tithing teachers to address this subject in a very disdainful way. There are some fairly respectful articles I have read and sermons I have heard that oppose the concept of New Testament tithing, and there are some terribly disrespectful ones. One article I read against tithing makes the blanket accusation that tens of thousands of preachers, evangelists, and pastors who teach on tithing are fleecing the flock for their own sordid gain.

Again, I want to be sensitive to the hurts that some people have experienced at the hands of misguided and/or self-serving leaders. And I have no personal ax to grind against anyone who teaches against tithing. But I would be remiss to not address the unfair nature of these accusations.

I am quite certain there are indeed ministers who teach on tithing in order to line their own pockets. Some of them are on TV. But I’m equally certain that these represent a small minority. The Apostle Paul wrote that there were people even in his day who used the gospel as a means for financial gain (see 1 Timothy 6:5). Our time is no different. There have always been wolves in sheep’s clothing, and that will be the case until Jesus returns to set all things in order.

However, I must take respectful yet vigorous exception to the blanket accusation that indicts all ministers who teach on tithing as being dishonest and greedy. I know ministers who teach on tithing but who have subsisted on paltry salaries and who put back much of their own money into the churches they pastor. Many pastors have worked two jobs for years – one in the ministry and one in an outside job in the professional marketplace in order to provide a decent living for their families because they could not make ends meet with the tiny salaries they draw from ministry. I am one of those pastors. At the time of this writing I have for the last five years worked a fulltime job while my wife and I also try to keep up with the demanding schedule of fulltime ministry, all the while homeschooling three children. Furthermore, my wife and I also happen to be and have always been among the biggest financial