KINGDOM ACADEMY

Course:

New Testament Doctrines

Assignment No:

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

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 Jesus Christ for the ultimate redemption of man, it provided a temporary way for man to 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 Jesus 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.

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 in righteousness, it also becomes dedicatory because it marks out the giver as obedient and thus holy and sanctified.