For many Christians around the world, tithing is an issue that is surrounded by controversy. They don't know whether the Bible permits or requires it or not. Some look to the foundations of Christendom for support on this issue. Existing at the foundations of the faith are patriarchs such as Abraham. Those who examine his life will discover that Abraham did not tithe.
The misconception that Abraham paid tithes is rooted in an incident that takes place in the book of Genesis chapter fourteen. The incident entails a battle in which Abraham engaged after lot, his nephew was captured and taken away among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's captors were identified as the four kings.
The four Kings had taken more than Lot though. They had also taken other captives and the possessions of the people who were living in Sodom and Gomorrah. This means that Lot's possessions were also taken away since he was living among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The patriarch defeated the four kings. He had help in doing this though. Fighting alongside him were other men such as the three hundred and eighteen men from his household and his allies mentioned in chapter thirteen, Aner, Mamre and Eshcol. The Lord was with him in battle also, and this was the main reason for his victory. He did however, also have the help of other men.
The customs in those days was to divide the spoils of war after victory and it is in this context that Abraham's issuing of one tenth of the plunder to Melchizedek should be seen. It is impossible to argue that Melchizedek was there but was not in the battle. The fact that Melchidezek also happened to be a priest of God does not in itself make the act one of tithing. An even if he was not with the patriarch during battle, the act still does not qualify as tithing as it more resembles the customs of bestowing a gift after or before a blessing as is seen with Isaac and his sons. Later on the patriarch asks that the other allies be given their share of the spoils.
There is also the fact that tithes are calculated as a percentage of the giver's possessions. The spoils accessed by Abraham would hardly qualify as all his possessions. The patriarch refuses to acknowledge them as his and rejects the King of Sodom's offer for him to take over the spoils explaining that he has taken an oath to God promising not to take anything.
Tithing is also an organized, habitual act. The patriarch's action fails to live up to this requirement as it is an isolated event. Tithing by its very nature is supposed to be organized in terms of frequency which is why today's tithers pay monthly, weekly or bi-weekly. This was an, unplanned event that did not fit into the patriarch's routine activities.
Abraham's actions in Genesis chapter fourteen cannot be seen as tithing. He did not give from his possessions. He did not give habitually. He simply assigned to his colleagues the traditional shares in the spoils of war.
The misconception that Abraham paid tithes is rooted in an incident that takes place in the book of Genesis chapter fourteen. The incident entails a battle in which Abraham engaged after lot, his nephew was captured and taken away among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's captors were identified as the four kings.
The four Kings had taken more than Lot though. They had also taken other captives and the possessions of the people who were living in Sodom and Gomorrah. This means that Lot's possessions were also taken away since he was living among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The patriarch defeated the four kings. He had help in doing this though. Fighting alongside him were other men such as the three hundred and eighteen men from his household and his allies mentioned in chapter thirteen, Aner, Mamre and Eshcol. The Lord was with him in battle also, and this was the main reason for his victory. He did however, also have the help of other men.
The customs in those days was to divide the spoils of war after victory and it is in this context that Abraham's issuing of one tenth of the plunder to Melchizedek should be seen. It is impossible to argue that Melchizedek was there but was not in the battle. The fact that Melchidezek also happened to be a priest of God does not in itself make the act one of tithing. An even if he was not with the patriarch during battle, the act still does not qualify as tithing as it more resembles the customs of bestowing a gift after or before a blessing as is seen with Isaac and his sons. Later on the patriarch asks that the other allies be given their share of the spoils.
There is also the fact that tithes are calculated as a percentage of the giver's possessions. The spoils accessed by Abraham would hardly qualify as all his possessions. The patriarch refuses to acknowledge them as his and rejects the King of Sodom's offer for him to take over the spoils explaining that he has taken an oath to God promising not to take anything.
Tithing is also an organized, habitual act. The patriarch's action fails to live up to this requirement as it is an isolated event. Tithing by its very nature is supposed to be organized in terms of frequency which is why today's tithers pay monthly, weekly or bi-weekly. This was an, unplanned event that did not fit into the patriarch's routine activities.
Abraham's actions in Genesis chapter fourteen cannot be seen as tithing. He did not give from his possessions. He did not give habitually. He simply assigned to his colleagues the traditional shares in the spoils of war.
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