Download - Doctrine of Giving
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KINGDOM ACADEMY
Course: New Testament Doctrines
Assignment No: 1
Lecturer: David Irungu Waggema
Assignment topic: Giving
Date: 24th January 2013
Student No: S/KA1001/JG 12
Submitted under the New Testament Doctrines course in partial fulfilment of the
Diploma in Christian/Kingdom Ministries
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Question
Compare and contrast the three categories of giving in the Old Testament from the
avenues of giving in the New Testament with respect to their similarities, differences and
applications.
There are three types of giving illustrated in the Old Testament. These are:-
i. Giving in atonement for cleansing from and restitution of sins;
ii. Giving in consecration and for dedication or sanctification;
iii. Giving in thanksgiving in gratitude, appreciation and vow fulfilment.
These types of giving were instituted by God following the fall when He Himself made the very
first offering in response to the sin of Adam (Gen.4:3,4) as a way that allowed man back into
communion with God from his position of sin and imperfection. Whilst this was a precursor to the
sacrifice of J esus Christ for the ultimate redemption of man, it provided a temporary way for manto worship God in the interim. It is in this light that Old Testament giving, offerings, and sacrifices
must be seen they were avenues of worship for men of those times.
In the New Testament, following the redemption of man at Calvary, man entered into a new
relationship with God. His status changed from that of a servant of God to that of a son
(Rom.8:16,17) and a joint heir with Christ. As such, the need to continually make sacrifices for the
forgiveness of sins passed (Heb.10:10-12). However the requirement to show our love for God
and to worship Him with our lives continues and even increases. Thus have been
provided/evolved different avenues for giving that facilitate this requirement, namely:-a. Tithing giving a proportion of ones income/increase
b. Freewill offering as sign of friendship
c. Prophets offering in appreciation of the person and office
d. Righteous person ditto;
e. Parents offering ditto;
f. Needy/Welfare/Poor to liberate them from their destitution
The relationship between Old Testament giving and New Testament then becomes clear. The
sacrifice of J esus Christ for the redemption of man closed off the Old Testament and ushered in
the new, and as such is an example of all three categories of giving as instituted in the Old
Testament. His crucifixion was in atonement for the sins of man, it was a sign of Gods dedication
to man (and offered those who will believe an opportunity to be set apart from the world), and it
was given in friendship to man, as God was not obliged to do this.
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The other avenues of given in the New Testament can also be related to the Old Testament
categories of reasons for giving thus:-
I. Tithing this is both dedicatory because God takes pre-eminence in our lives; and friendship
because it is done in appreciation of who He is and what He has done.
II. Freewill offering whilst this is primarily a friendship or communal offering in nature, it also has
elements of dedicatory in that it sets apart the giver and is evidence that God has pre-eminence
in the life of the giver.
III. Prophets, parents and righteous persons these are essentially communal or friendship
offerings as they are about showing appreciation to the individuals in their capacities as
representatives of God. However they are also dedicatory in nature because they are a sign
that as believers we are walking in righteousness, we are set apart (sanctified) and that our
possessions are consecrated for the Lord and His people
IV. Needy/Welfare/Poor this is a communal type of giving because the emphasis is not on alms
or charity, but on helping the person regain their independence and dignity. Done inrighteousness, it also becomes dedicatory because it marks out the giver as obedient and thus
holy and sanctified.