In my tradition (Churches of Christ--Restoration Movement), 1 Corinthians 16:2 is often used as a command for weekly congregational giving: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made" (TNIV). More typically, the one presiding over the collection says something like, "We have a command to give back to the Lord each week," or, more traditionally, "We have a command to lay by in store" (see 1 Cor. 16:2 in the KJV).
But is it a command for us? My answer is "No," for several reasons.
1. This section in 1 Corinthians (16:1-4) is clearly about a specific situation in the first century. A collection was being taken up by the churches for believers in Jerusalem who were suffering from a famine.
2. Therefore, the collection was not to benefit that local church, which is what we take up a weekly collection for today.
3. The "weekly" stipulation was commanded by Paul so that all the money would be present and accounted for when he stopped by to pick it up to be sent on.
4. The collection was what we would call today a "special collection," something we do from time-to-time to help in special circumstances.
For these reasons, the "command" is not normative or binding for us today. Of course, for some, this will immediately raise a red flag: Are we to give at all?
What are your thoughts?
But is it a command for us? My answer is "No," for several reasons.
1. This section in 1 Corinthians (16:1-4) is clearly about a specific situation in the first century. A collection was being taken up by the churches for believers in Jerusalem who were suffering from a famine.
2. Therefore, the collection was not to benefit that local church, which is what we take up a weekly collection for today.
3. The "weekly" stipulation was commanded by Paul so that all the money would be present and accounted for when he stopped by to pick it up to be sent on.
4. The collection was what we would call today a "special collection," something we do from time-to-time to help in special circumstances.
For these reasons, the "command" is not normative or binding for us today. Of course, for some, this will immediately raise a red flag: Are we to give at all?
What are your thoughts?
