Wealth & Income— The Biblical Truth About Tithes and Offerings Transcript Book By Fred R. Coulter 2014 Fred R. Coulter Christian Biblical Church of God P. O. Box 1442 Hollister, California 95024-1442 All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems. Contents Booklet PAGE Urban Economics of Jesus’ Time ------------------------------------------------------- 1 – 13 Economics and Tithing in the New Testament --------------------------------------- 14 – 25 Paul, Corinthians and Tithing ----------------------------------------------------------- 26 – 35 God Gives You Power to Get Wealth -------------------------------------------------- 37 – 49 Tithing Principles in the Bible I --------------------------------------------------------- 50 – 59 Tithing Principles in the Bible II -------------------------------------------------------- 60– 70 Tithing Principles in the Bible III ------------------------------------------------------- 71 – 59 Wealth and Debt—God’s Way vs Man’s Way --------------------------------------- 83 – 94 Compact Disc [When included] Tracks 1 & 2 Urban Economics of Jesus’ Time Tracks 3 & 4 Economics and Tithing in the New Testament Tracks 5 & 6 Paul, Corinthians and Tithing Tracks 7 & 8 God Gives You Power to Get Wealth Tracks 9 & 10 Tithing Principles in the Bible I Tracks 11 & 12 Tithing Principles in the Bible II Tracks 13 & 14 Tithing Principles in the Bible III Tracks 15 & 16 Wealth and Debt—God’s Way vs. Mans Way Wealth & Income— The Biblical Truth About Tithes and Offerings Foreword The biblical truth concerning wealth income and tithes and offerings to God, is presented in this transcript book in a series of eight sermons covering this subject from God’s word in the Old and New Testaments. Through the years many churches and denominations have not understood this biblical truth. As a result, many churches merchandise their followers, by constantly begging for money, and extra offerings for special projects. This is especially true in the age in which we are living. So everyone needs to know the true biblical teachings in order that they can obey God in every aspect of their lives in an attitude of love and service. God is the One Who has created everything, and every human being does not have anything that he or she did not receive from God. In worshiping God in spirit and in truth, we need to recognize this fundamental truth. Since God is Creator of everything that there is, He requires that we acknowledge truth in our worship of Him. God the Father and Jesus Christ, desire our loving obedience in everything that They ask of us, which is also fully demonstrated by our giving of tithes and offerings from the heart. This book covers the basic biblical truth concerning what Jesus said, “Render then the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God” (Matt. 22:21). Please note: the sermons collated into this book were selected from sermons that were given over several years. As a result, though each lesson is different, a number of basic scriptures are repeated. However, they are approached in each case from a little different perspective. We all know that the best way to learn is through repetition. This is why God has blessed us with His Sabbath and Holy Days every year. We sincerely hope that this transcript book and recorded sermons will help you understand the biblical teachings of wealth, income and tithes and offerings in the Bible. A special thanks goes to Bonnie Orswell, Laila Patterson and Nancy Spaller for producing the transcripts. Tithing Series #1 Urban Economics of Jesus’ Time Urban Economics of Jesus’ Time Fred R. Coulter We’re going to have a new look at the time savior of the city too, not just the rural and life of Jesus Christ from an economic point of redeemer. view, and also from an urban point of view. There’s The city not only edged dramatically into an interesting book, which is really fantastic, called Jesus’ life and ministry, but subsequently Jesus and the Forgotten City—New Light on became central to the future expansion of Sepphoris and the Urban World of Jesus by Richard Christianity. It was from such A. Batey. I’m going to give some quotes out of here. metropolitans as Antioch, Alexandria, Why this is so significant is because this city was Ephesus, Athens, Corinth and Rome that only four miles from Nazareth where Jesus grew up. the faith was carried into the countryside, This city, as we will see, was a major city. where the rural sorts—the pagani (whence In fact, it was the capital city of Herod Antipas, so it the term “pagan”)—were the last to had a major impact on everything. We’re going to convert. Thus, Christianity, which began in learn some things concerning finances, economy, hamlets like Bethlehem and Nazareth in the some of the parables that Jesus gave and how they person of Jesus, finally came full circle relate to the things and even to the city of Sepphoris. through the mediation of urban culture. The city of Sepphoris has been all covered No armchair authority, Dr. Batey is an over and they have a major archeological dig there; archeologist who has dug at Sepphoris for they have been digging for well over ten years. The years, a New Testament scholar who can things that they have discovered are just absolutely wield the pen as a well as a spade. His amazing. extensive use of the present tense at crucial points in this book is purely intentional: the from the Foreword: Jesus and the device brings the drama and color of the Forgotten City times quivering to life, whether describing Dr. Batey shows how the Sepphoris dig the Battle of Actium that delivered the also sheds new light on the kind of Roman Empire to Augustus or the carpentry Jesus and His foster-father agonizing solemnities of the crucifixion at Joseph pursued in Nazareth; on Jesus’ use Golgotha…. of terminology from the world of the This is really quite astounding; I enjoyed reading the theater in his discourses, possibly learned book. If you have A Harmony of the Gospels you at the large Greco-Roman theater can study through the area about the birth of Jesus, excavated at Sepphoris; and on how the and look at the timeframe where we have Jesus born realities of urban political life, particularly in the fall of 5B.C. the role of the kingship, intrude into Jesus’ parables, a probable mirror of doings at the We know that Herod died in 4B.C., so this court of Herod Antipas. gives us great historical background to it, because The economy of first-century Galilee, its what happened after Herod the Great died has a politics, its fiscal and taxation system, its great impact on how the Gospel was preached later geography, climate, commerce, highways, when Jesus began His ministry following the announcement of John the Baptist. and many other fascinating facets that must have impinged on Jesus come into sharper pg 52—The Division of Herod’s Kingdom: focus in this book. Small wonder that he peopled his discourses with government Following the death of Herod the Great, officials, merchants, wealthy landowners His kingdom was divided, as stipulated in and tax collectors… his final will among three of his sons. Antipas inherits Galilee and Peraea and Who were publicans. Whenever we read of tax receives the title of “tetrarch,” signifying collectors we’re talking about publicans, the ruler of one-fourth of a kingdom. …not just farmers, fishermen, and Archelaus, the oldest brother of Antipas, shepherds. The new portrayal of Jesus becomes ruler of Judea and Samaria, emerging from these pages does not receiving the more important title of discard the familiar pastoral background so “ethnarch,” meaning “ruler of a nation.” typical in the Gospels, but in adding a Philip, Herod’s son by his wife Cleopatra critical “urban edge” to that panorama, of Jerusalem, becomes tetrarch of the Jesus becomes even more realistic—the territories northeast of the Sea of Galilee. 111601 1 Tithing Series #1 Urban Economics of Jesus’ Time which then is Decapolis or the Ten Cities survey the landscape. To the north the broad and rich Bet Netofa Valley is green Before his sons assumed power, Augustus from the spring rains. The valley stretches has to ratify Herod’s will. Antipas is from the Mediterranean Sea toward the sixteen years old, Archelaus eighteen when Jordan Rift and the Sea of Galilee. in May 4B.C. they sail on separate ships Verdant forests cover the surrounding from Caesarea to Rome. Each is hills. accompanied by royal family members and a legal council. Antipas and Archelaus both Today they’re all barren! had received their education in Rome. In Mount Carmel eighteen miles to the west fact, when Antipas arrives back in Rome in juts into the Mediterranean. The high ridge mid-summer, he has been gone from Rome to the south hides from view the village of about six months. Lawyers representing Nazareth nestled around its pleasant spring. Antipas and Archelaus contest Herod’s will in the imperial court until early fall. Then The city plan, laid out on Roman grid Philip arrives with his own delegation. pattern adjusted to the contours of the land, After the summations are eloquently has all those constructions typical of the presented to Augustus, he makes the splendid Roman provincial capital—a main decision to honor Herod’s last will virtually east-west street leading to the forum, as written. Antipas’ royal residence with an imposing tower that offers a breathtaking panorama, So, they inherit those kingdoms.