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Question 2

Bercot argues that the New Testament contains “not one single commandment” that Christians must tithe, and says the early Christians therefore didn’t teach it either; what are the strongest objections you feel rising up to that claim, and what specific New Testament texts (if any) do you think actually require a tithe?

Another way to ask: Bercot says the New Testament never commands Christians to tithe. What objections do you have to that, and what New Testament verses (if any) do you think actually require tithing?

Direct Answer The transcript’s main point is that there is no New Testament command requiring Christians to give a fixed 10% tithe, and Bercot says he could not find one in the Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, or Hebrews. The strongest “objections” mentioned are basically the usual assumption that tithing is a universal rule, but he insists the actual New Testament texts he finds support voluntary giving, not a tithe.

Support from Transcript:

Bercot says, “If you can find a commandment in the New Testament… we are to tithe, then… the early Christians tithe,” but he says he “hasn’t been able to find” such a command.
He reports the Gospels’ tithing reference is Jesus describing Pharisees tithing “mint and the cumin,” and he says Jesus is speaking of “the Mosaic law,” not future church practice.
He says in Paul, Acts, and the letters, “nothing… is said about tithe.”
He notes Hebrews only mentions tithing historically (Abraham/Melchizedek; old priesthood), not as a Christian rule.
He cites giving texts: 1 Cor. 16:2 (“as he may prosper”) and 2 Cor. 9:7 (“as he purposes… not… of necessity”).

Discussion Follow-ups If the New Testament does not command a tithe, what “principle” should govern giving instead? How do we avoid using “no tithe” as an excuse for selfishness?

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