Thesis (DTh (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This dissertation addresses the topic, “Theological perspectives on Tithing in the Old
Testament and their implications for believing communities in Africa.” At the height of
“prosperity” and “word of faith” theologies, material resources became a central issue in the
contemporary Church in Africa. Opponents query the biblical basis, point to abuses such as
the lifestyles of pastors, and allege the commercialization of the gospel. Dispensationalists
query the case for tithing in the New Testament, and the degree of reliance on the Old
Testament where the situation might be different from ours. The impact has been to provide
more resources for the Church and forestall the economic dependency on the West. So the
research seeks to answer the questions about the theological basis for the adoption of the tithe
system as a means of mobilizing local resources in support of the Church’s programmes,
among others. And the thesis of the research is that a rigorous study and theological
interpretation of the different examples of tithing in the Old Testament can motivate a more
reflective theological-ethical understanding of the practice of tithing amongst believing
communities in Africa.
In order to achieve this, chapter two presented a survey of tithing in the Ancient Near
East and Old Testament. It was shown that the concept of tithing was not peculiar to Ancient
Israel; it was also found in other Ancient Eastern cultures like Ancient Egypt, Old and New
Babylonia, Assyria, and Ugarit. Whereas the tithe system in the Old Testament was always
theologically motivated, it was not always the case in other examples from the Ancient Near
East.
Chapters three and four studied the theological perspectives of tithing in Numbers and
Deuteronomy. Numbers presented the tithe as the wages for the cult personnel, while
Deuteronomy expanded the beneficiaries to include, the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans
and the widows. The Israelites were to tithe as a means of expressing worship to the LORD
and obedience to the laws. Both books presented the tithe as a theological obligation on the
worshipper.
Chapter five was an empirical survey of tithing in the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.
The study revealed an overwhelming support for the adoption and continuation of the tithe
system in the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. Furthermore, it showed that the PCN needed to
do more in helping it’s members have a holistic understanding of the theological motivation for tithing. The “worship of God” was presented as the theological cornerstone of tithing, and
the “blessings of God”, as the reward of obedience.
Finally, the implications and relevance of tithing for the Church in Africa was
evaluated in chapter six. It was shown that by tithing, the Church in Africa would be
demonstrating its gratitude for God’s prized redemptive activity in the world, its joyful
participation in God’s own undying concern for the poor and destitute; that while tithing
should not be pursued as a mere institutionalized legalism, it remains a sound biblical
benchmark for Christian stewardship.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1366 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Ajah, Miracle |
| Contributors | Bosman, H. L., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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