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The Collection

Mark Dunagan
06/10/18 - Sunday Morning

The Collection

Recently Televangelist Jesse Duplantis made headlines by asking his followers to give 54 million dollars so that he could purchase the Falcon 7X, a private jet that nears the sound barrier and includes such amenities as noise-limiting acoustic technology, a bluetooth-enabled entertainment center and an optional in-flight shower. While many people might roll their eyes as such a request, sadly most will probably not pick up the Bible and ask the question, “What does the Bible say about how money collected on the first day of the week is to be used?”

1 Corinthians 16:1-3 

“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 each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters carrying your gift to Jerusalem”

“For the Saints”

This phrase is something that is repeatedly mentioned about this collection (Romans 15:25-27; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:1,12).

Poor non-Christians also existed in the first century, but we never find the church taking up a collection for the poor outside of Christ. Evidently, the Apostles did not look upon the church as a welfare agency for all who were in need. “Its benevolent charge was for those who had already become Christians. Benevolence was not used to win people to Christ. Instead, benevolence was used to relieve the sufferings of those who had already been won to Christ” (First Corinthians, Mike Willis, p. 596). 

While individual members could assist non-Christians (Galatians 6:10; James 1:27), resources pooled at the congregational level were only used for relieving the needs of other Christians (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 11:29-30; 1 Timothy 5:16; 9-10).

“As I Directed the Churches of Galatia”

This collection was not merely a collection practiced by the Corinthians. What Paul taught in one congregation he taught in other congregations as well (1 Corinthians 4:17).

“The First Day of Every Week”

“Kata has a distributive force, every first day” (Word Studies, Vincent, p. 288). We know that Christians were commanded to assemble (Hebrews 10:25). We know that they assembled on the first day of the Week (Acts 20:7), and we know that they partook of the Lord's Supper when they assembled (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:18ff). 

• Since Paul was trying to avoid the waste of time that would be involved if the money was not gathered when he came to town (16:2), we must infer that the members were to bring their set aside contribution every first day of the week to the assembly, where it was placed in a special fund, and not to be spent on other things.
• “The fact that Paul makes such a reference at all implies that there is some significance to their setting money aside on this day rather than, for example, ‘once a week’. This is verified further by the note in Acts 20:7, which implies most strongly that Paul and the others waited in Troas until the ‘first day of the week’ precisely because that is when the Christians gathered for the breaking of bread” (First Corinthians, Gordon Fee, pp. 813-814).

“Each One of You”

Every Christian had an obligation to give something, and God intended that every Christian participate. Compare with singing (Colossians 3:16), the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:26); public prayers (1 Corinthians 14:16); and preaching (14:26, 29-31). 

“Lay by him”:

“Personally set aside” (Ber). Some are under the impression that lay by him demands the interpretation of “lay by him at home”. Yet consider the following points: Such laying up at home would defeat the purpose of this instruction. Paul was giving instructions that would prevent a mass gathering when he arrived (16:2).

“As He May Prosper”:

“In proportion to his gains” (NEB). “According to his financial ability” (Nor). *

• There is no hint of tithing seeing that the Law of Moses had been removed (1 Corinthians 7:19; 2 Corinthians 3:6ff). 
• Nothing is said here about church leaders investigating the personal incomes of its members and then legislating how much each individual or family must give.
• God does not expect us to give everything we own to the church. Supporting our families (1 Timothy 5:8); paying our honest debts (Romans 13:8); taking care of relatives (1 Timothy 5:16); and paying our taxes (Romans 13:7) are important matters as well.

“Your Gift to Jerusalem”:

“Some have argued that this passage only authorizes a collection for relieving the needs of the poor among the saints and not for general purposes (such as for buying and maintaining a building, supporting a preacher, and so on). 

“This passage has never been used to show all of the scriptural usages of the first-day-of-the-week collection. Instead, it has been used, and properly so, as the only passage in the Bible to tell how churches raised their funds in the New Testament. 

• Other passages imply a common treasury (2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:14-16; 1 Timothy 5:9,16). 
• We can know how the money in those treasuries was raised only from this passage. 
• We must consult other New Testament passages to understand all of the things for which the collection can be Scripturally spent” (Willis, pp. 596-597).

The Use of Collected Funds

In the New Testament we find that funds collected at the congregational level were used to:

• Support the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14; Philippians 4:16).
• Relieve various physical needs of the members (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32).
• Edify the members, provide what is necessary for teaching and worship (Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 5:17ff).

Absent from the New Testament

• Congregations making money in business enterprises, charging members and non-members for various materials or classes. Engaging in various fund-raising endeavors.
• Congregations spending funds on providing recreational activities for its members, running or supporting educational institutions, providing clinics, hospitals or professional counseling services.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.com
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net