Some questions were raised in another thread regarding what we commonly call the "church treasury". Since we know the Bible authorizes first day of the week giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) and since we have examples of money being given (Acts 4:32-35 / Acts 5:1-2 / just a few examples to get us started) where is this money to be kept, who is to oversee it, and what name or designation should it be given?

Kindly,
Don

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Don Gelles,
Preacher, Church of Christ in Hyde Park
Austin, Texas
www.hydeparkcoc.org

Great topic. I'll be contemplating this today and will post later.

In just a week of serious visits to this forum, you guys have challenged me more than I have been in quite some time. Perhaps the Lord knew I needed you ....

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Butch Adams
Blue Ridge, VA
http://daleridgechurchofchrist.net
http://mydailypause.org

I try to avoid the double post ... but since no one has followed up yet, I'll throw these thoughts out there to start the journey:

• We should Give Purposefully 2 Corinthians 9:7
  It shows God’s worth. 2 Sam. 24:24; Mal. 1:6-8
  It shows our trust in God. Deut. 8:11-18; Luke 12:18-19; 2:2-4; Mark 10:24
• We should adjust our giving when we have increases in prosperity. 1 Corinthians 16:2; Leviticus 5:7
• We should give our contribution every week. 1 Corinthians 16:2
• Make giving our financial priority Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-37; Proverbs 3:9

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Butch Adams
Blue Ridge, VA
http://daleridgechurchofchrist.net
http://mydailypause.org

The collection of money by the Jews in the Synagogue was called a "treasury". Mark 12:41.
Jesus' disciples has a "money box" that was kept by Judas. John 12:4-6

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--Laura

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV)

Right


1 Corinthians 16, 1-2 tells us exactly when they assembled and the frequency of their meetings. The New American Standard Bible renders this passage thus: "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come". So also does the NIV, TEV, RSV, NRSV and the NASU in like fashion render this passage as being the first day of every week. In the Greek the words for every first day are "kata mian sabbatou". Noticing the word "kata" is translated "every" in Acts 14:23 ("every church"), and again "every" in Titus 1:5 ("every city"). "Kata" means the same thing in connection with the first day of the week in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Taking notice of verse 1 in particular we see that the churches of Galatia were likewise instructed so we know this is universally applicable to the whole church in general.

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"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." 1 John 3:18-19

The church of Christ at Granby

Devil's advocate here:

I've had people respond to this and say the context of this giving was for the church in Jerusalem and not necessarily a commandment for ongoing giving.

Food for thought: How do we respond?

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Butch Adams
Blue Ridge, VA
http://daleridgechurchofchrist.net
http://mydailypause.org

I have a lesson on this somewhere so I'll try to find it to refresh my memory on the different arguments.

Butch, I've heard the same statement but I like to classify it as an example on what we are to do and not necessarily a "one direction" commandment.

Let me do a little more study on this topic again. We had a circumstance in another congregation several years ago about using church funds for orphan's homes and a group tried to "take over" the congregation. We did not have elders at the time and this was quiet a serious topic for a small church congregation to deal with.

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For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim 2:5 (U-NASB)

Butch,

Here's how I would approach this argument...

It is true that the contribution under consideration was given for the needy saints in Jerusalem. The question is what does the passage authorize and command Christians to do. Either it authorizes us to take up a collection for needy saints in Jerusalem on each first day of the week until Paul comes and no more (as a direct command) OR it provides authorization for taking up collections to support any work of the church (from approved example) and gives a direct command on how and when the collection is to be taken. If it is the former, then we have no authorization to ever take up any collection (Paul has already come, and he certainly wasn't coming to us anyway!), and certainly not for any purpose other than helping needy saints in Jerusalem. Hence, we have no means to pay for the work of the church, to include a building, preacher, etc... If it is the latter, then there is command on how and when to take the collection, and that is on each first day of the week. There is no in between.

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--Laura

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV)

1 Corinthians 16:2 tells us exactly when the saints gathered to give of their means. This is verse is by no means the only verse in the NT that speaks of giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7
Acts 20:35
Romans 12:8

God's will on a subject is to be understood in light of all He had to say about it.

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"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." 1 John 3:18-19

The church of Christ at Granby

Wow ... I'm just going to copy and paste this excellent explaination over the one I was going to use as it is about as concise as I have ever seen it explained.

...b

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Butch Adams
Blue Ridge, VA
http://daleridgechurchofchrist.net
http://mydailypause.org

I would agree with Butch that this is a good answer to the question about first day of the week giving.

We see in the scripture that the collecting of funds into a "common collection" or "treasury", "account", whatever the name one wants to use to designate these funds.. was a common occurrence.
Jesus and his apostles collected funds:John 12:6, John 13:29
The Jerusalem congregation collected funds: Acts 4:36-37
The Lord's Church in Antioch collected funds: Acts 11:26-30
The church at Philippi collected funds: Philippians 4:15-16

As David [Laura as well] has pointed out we have BCV in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 to show that we are to assemble on the Lord's Day and we are to give of our means for the support of the local work as well as for the needs of others.

That collecting funds is authorized is supported by ample BCV. What we choose to call this collection is a matter of liberty. It can be the: "the collection" a 'treasury" a "church account" however we choose to designate the funds in "name" is up to each congregation. I always refer to it this way, "Your contribution is added to the collection and placed in an account overseen by the eldership for the caring out of the Lord's work". But that's just me.

Kindly,
Don

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Don Gelles,
Preacher, Church of Christ in Hyde Park
Austin, Texas
www.hydeparkcoc.org

Good answer, brother. All we have at DeLeon is a checking account at the bank that the elders may write checks for whatever reason to carry out the Lord's work. This may be for benevolence, building repairs, utility bills, etc., etc. I believe too much time is taken to try and "read between the lines" to be sure of procedures. The eldership will make the decisions that best reflect what needs to be done. IMHO

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For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim 2:5 (U-NASB)

Yes I would agree as well. I have seen lots of elders do what Deacons should be doing and preachers doing what elders should be doing. I have also encountered a few treasures that thought the money was theirs to give or keep. Getting funds from them required a song and dance routine!

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Don Gelles,
Preacher, Church of Christ in Hyde Park
Austin, Texas
www.hydeparkcoc.org

A big hearty AMEN!

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--Laura

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV)