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CHARITY TITHE IN DEUTERONOMY AS A MECHANISM FOR FUNDING POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES IN THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF OGBOMOSO, NIGERIA BY JOB OLUREMI OKUNOYE B.A. (Hons) Rel. Studies, M.A. Rel. Studies (Ibadan) Matric No. 124146 A Thesis in the Department of Religious Studies, Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY of the UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY JULY, 2014 CERTIFICATION I certify that this work was carried out by Job Oluremi Okunoye in the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan _________________________________ Supervisor Dr. A.O. Dada, B.A. (Hons), M.A., Ph.D. (Ibadan) Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the glory of God and my late mother, Late (Mrs) Comfort Adika Olapade-Okunoye, who alone took care of me from my childhood to adulthood, my gem of inestimable value, Comfort Adekemi; my children, Precious, Philip and Mercy. UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! “He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour...” Indeed, this is my story and song, and I will ever remain grateful to God Almighty. In fact, I am what I am by His grace. Thus, to Him alone be glory, honour, power and majesty. He has been faithful to me, my family, and the ministry He committed to my hands. He has made help and support available to me that have made this work easier. I travelled day and night and he had kept me from all manners of dangers and accidents. And for several other blessings he has lavished on me, I remain eternally grateful to Him. I shall ever remain grateful to my supervisor in person of Associate Professor Adekunle O. Dada, an untiring erudite scholar, a caring father and a man of God who despises playing ostrich, and being economical with the truth. His contribution has been immense in these years that I have been under his tutelage despite his very tight schedule, may your coast be enlarged in Jesus name. I am also indebted to a humble, erudite scholar and father, the Head of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, Rev. Prof. Deji Isaac Ayegboyin. May the Lord bless, increase and energise you. Similarly, the contributions of the immediate past Head of Department in person of Dr Jacob Kehinde Ayantayo towards the completion of this programme cannot be forgotten. May your children continue to be in favour with God and men. I would not have got to this level or achieved this feet without the efforts of other eminent scholars in the Department including Dr. H. Labeodan, Dr. O. O. Obijole, Dr. G.N. Toryough, Dr. O. O. Familusi, Dr. S. M. Mepayida, Dr. Samson Fatokun, Dr. J.S. Adekoya, Dr. A.O. Adebo, Mr. S.K. Olajide, Mrs. Toyin Gbadamosi, Rev. O. O. Berekiah, Pastor Tosin Okanlawon, Dr. H. Sekwapo, Mr. Tolu Babs Mala, Mr. O. P. Oke, and many others, too numerous to name one by one. The contribution of non teaching staff of this department must also be placedUNIVERSITY on record, for their services OF to God IBADAN and humanity. I sincerelyLIBRARY appreciate Mrs. O.A. Oladipupo, Mrs. A. Ojo and Mr. G. Adetoyinbo. The list of my benefactors is not complete without placing on record the scholarly contributions of Dr. S.A. Odebunmi, the sub-Dean (Postgraduate), Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan. He always goes beyond the stipulated working hours to iv assist students. For your sacrificial love, may the Lord bless your posterity in Jesus name. My sincere appreciation goes to the retired Bishop of Ogbomoso Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Matthew Osunade, who granted me the permission to start this programme some years back. The moral, and a token of financial assistance received from the Most Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Akinfenwa would not go unnoticed. The Lord shall multiply his blessing upon you and all yours in Jesus name. Also, the encouragement and motivation received from my Bishop and wife, the Rt. Rev. and Mrs. Oluranti Odubogun is duly acknowledged and appreciated, The Lord shall uphold you and all yours in Jesus name. Many thanks to the following individuals and families who have been sources of encouragement and have contributed in no small way to the completion of this course: Late Dr. (Mrs) Bola Osunade, Ven. and Mrs Thomas Osunniyi, Ven. and Prof. (Mrs) Collins Babalola, Ven. and Mrs Banji Falowo, Ven. and Mrs Cornelious Osunpidan, Ven. and Mrs. Soji Ogunyinka, Ven. and Mrs Samson Awoyode, Ven. Dr. Tope Jegede, Ven. and Mrs Dare Oguntomiluyi, Rev. and Mrs. S. A. Adediran, Rev. and Mrs. Christopher Adewuyi, Rev and Mrs. E. A. Adeniji, Rev. and Mrs. N.A. Adegoke, and many others. I appreciate the following families and individuals that had supported in no small way Dr. and Mrs G.O. Owolabi, Dr and Mrs J.O. Faniran, Dr A.A. Odetola (USA), Rev. Canon and Mrs Kayode Popoola, Rev. M.A. Akanmu, Prof. and Mrs. Agunbiade, Pastor Aremu, Mrs Stella Oke (Ogbomoso), Mr and Mrs. Femi Alabi, Mr M.A. Agboola, Dr. and Mrs Samuel Eyitayo, Evang. Niyi Adebayo, Dr. and Mrs Goke Adebayo, Dr. Wale Adelowo, Bro. Seun Afolayan, Evang. Kehinde Oyerinde, and the entire clergy and clergy wives in the Dioceses of Ife and Ogbomoso. May the good Lord enrich you mightily in Jesus name. Worthy of recognition are the roles played by the following in facilitating the completion of this thesis through reading, analysing and editing Prof. Wale Adegbite, Dr.UNIVERSITY Toyin Jegede, Dr. Ayo Osisanwo, OF Dr. IBADAN Kehinde Simon andLIBRARY Mr. Wole Adetogun. May you continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom in Jesus name. I sincerely appreciate mummy Comfort who typed this work when it was raw. May the good Lord bless you richly in Jesus name. Moreover, I need to appreciate the entire staff of the J. C. Pool Library of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, and Kenneth Dike Library, v University of Ibadan, Ibadan, for their accommodation and efforts in making resources available for me each time I was there. Furthermore, how can I forget the roles played by Rev. and Mrs, O.O. Olubodun, Rev. Canon and Mrs. Olusegun Faleye, Pastor Abiola Olaniyi. You are indeed brothers and friends in need. Your labour shall not be in vain in Jesus name. Many thanks to Rev. Dr. E.K. Akano, Pastor Okediji, Dr. Julius Okanlawon, Rev. and Mrs Olusegun Ige, and Rev. Oludele, A. O. May we never miss our rewards in Jesus name. I want to thank my siblings and their spouses: Mr. Zacheous Adekola, Mrs Aweke Olayiwola, Mrs Funmilayo Olojede, Deborah Oyelekan, Solomon Olufayo, Abraham Olusanjo for their unflinching support physically, spiritually and otherwise. May the Lord enrich you all in Jesus name. I cannot forget the cooperation of All Souls Anglican Church, Ogbomoso, the Church I was serving as a Pastor when I started this program some years back, and also St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife, where I am now, for the opportunity and encouragement we received. May the Lord bless you all in Jesus name. I am equally grateful to the management, academic and non- academic staff of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED), Oyo, Oyo and Lanlate Campuses where I am lecturing. Many thanks to the Deputy Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Mr. O. F. Olatayo, the H.O.D. Christian Religious Studies, Rev. M.I. Oyatowo, my fellow lecturers in the department, Rev. J.A. Owolabi and Mrs. Tosin Ojelabi; and my students in CRS department for their cooperation and support. You shall all fulfil your destinies in life in Jesus name. Also worthy of my appreciation are Mrs. Adekoya-Olapade, A.O., Dr. Adebayo, Mr. Michael Ajadi, Mr. Gabriel Adeleke, Mr. Lawrence Adeyanju and Mr. Seun Adeagbo. We shall all go higher in Jesus name. And lastly, I want to thank my wife, Adekemi and my children Precious, Philip and Mercy who endured my frequent travelling and absence from home while the programUNIVERSITYme was on. The Lord shall OF lift upIBADAN your heads above LIBRARY all odds in life in Jesus name. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE i CERTIFICATION ii DEDICATION iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv TABLE OF CONTENTS vii ABBREVIATIONS xii LIST OF TABLES xiii ABSTRACT xiv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background to the study 1 1.2 Statement of the problem 3 1.3 Purpose of the study 6 1.4 Scope of the study 6 1.5 The significance of the study 7 1.6 Research method 8 1.7 Theoretical framework 10 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE 12 2.1 Charity tithe 12 2.2 Tithing in biblical discourse 14 2.2.1UNIVERSITY The origin of tithes in the OF ancient nearIBADAN East LIBRARY 14 2.2.2 Tithing in the Old Testament 17 2.2.3 The tithe-giving of Abraham and Jacob 18 2.2.4 Tithe giving during the period of the Law 19 2.2.4.1 Tithing in the Deuteronomic Code 19 vii 2.2.4.2 Tithing in the Priestly Code 21 2.2.5 Tithing in prophetic literature 22 2.2.6 Types of tithe in Old Testament 23 2.2.6.1 Levitical tithe 23 2.2.6.2 Festival tithe 23 2.2.6.3 Poor tithe 24 2.2.7 Tithing in New Testament era and the Contemporary Church 25 2.2.7.1 Jesus and the issue tithing 25 2.2.7.2 Apostle Paul and the issue of tithing 27 2.2.8 The teaching of the Early Church on tithe-giving 29 2.2.9 Tithe-giving in the Medieval Church 31 2.2.10 Tithing in the Contemporary Church 32 2.3 Poverty and the religion of Israel 34 2.4 Biblical basis for concern for the poor 36 2.4.1 The Old Testament perspective 36 2.4.1.1 The gleaning principle 37 2.4.1.2 The giving principle 37 2.4.1.3 The tithing principle 37 2.4.1.4 Interest free loan to the poor Israelites 37 2.4.1.5 The year of Jubilee 38 2.4.1.6 The Sabbatical Law 38 2.4.2 The New Testament perspective 39 2.5UNIVERSITY Responses of the church toOF poverty IBADAN alleviation in LIBRARY Nigeria 40 viii CHAPTER THREE: EXEGETICAL ANALYSIS OF DEUTERONOMY 14:28-29; 26:12-15 47 3.1 Introduction to the Book of Deuteronomy 47 3.1.1 The authorship 50 3.1.2 The date of writing the book of Deuteronomy 55 3.1.3 The tone of Deuteronomy 57 3.1.4 Place of writing 58 3.1.5 Purpose of writing and audience 58 3.2 Socio- cultural context of Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12-15 59 3.3 Lexical analysis of Deut.

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