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THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH 4.1. Sharing with the Saints in Need 2 Cor. 8:13-15: "For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an EQUALITY, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack - that there may be equality. As it is written: 'He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack'". In 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 apostle Paul is talking about sharing among the Christians: if one group of them is in need, the others who are better off should help them out. He is referring to a particular point in time when a famine came over the land of Judea, as prophesied by the prophet Agabus (Ref. Acts 11:28), so the people from Achaia and Macedonia collected their donations and sent them to Jerusalem church for the distribution among the saints who were affected by the famine. These chapters are very often used as an example of giving to the church for the "building of the kingdom". Nothing further from the truth! 2 Cor. 9:9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given TO THE POOR; His righteousness endures forever." 2 Cor. 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the NEEDS OF THE SAINTS, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God. It is in connection with this GIVING TO THOSE IN NEED that Paul wrote: 2 Cor. 9:6-7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 4.2. Support of Those in the Ministry It is in 1 Corinthians, chapter 9, where apostle Paul argues the case that those who are called to preach the gospel ought to live by the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. He was probably referring to the words of Jesus when He was sending His disciples out to preach the Kingdom: He commanded them not to take any money with them, and to rely for their provision on those to whom they were sent to preach. Luke 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages... Apostle Paul refers to the Old Testament in order to support his argument that those who sow spiritual things should reap the material things (v.11) but he never mentions tithing. Why is there no clear teaching in the New Testament on tithing? There are at least two possible answers to this question: a) Tithing does not apply to the NT church. This may or may not be the correct answer - I'll leave it at that.
The Truth About Tithing, Tenth Edition	Page 8 of 16