Early Christian Beliefs About Almsgiving
Early Christian writings teach that almsgiving was a normal Christian duty. Writers like Clement of Rome, Hermas, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Cyprian tie giving to mercy, repentance, and care for the poor. They also say alms should be given quietly, without show. The Bible passages most often linked to this theme include Matthew 6, Luke 12, Acts 20, and Tobit.
121 early-church witnesses · 200 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about almsgiving?
Early Christian writings teach that almsgiving was a normal and serious Christian duty, not a small extra. Clement of Rome, Hermas, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Cyprian, and others connect giving to the poor with mercy, obedience, and care for widows, orphans, strangers, and the sick. Several writers also say alms should be given quietly, without pride or show, and that Christians should give according to their ability.
Some texts go further and link almsgiving with repentance, forgiveness of sins, or being “rich toward God,” though those lines are strongest in books like Tobit and in authors such as Cyprian and Clement of Rome. The overall witness is broad and strong, though a few passages are indirect or use later liturgical or biblical echoes rather than direct teaching on almsgiving itself.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians treated almsgiving as part of faithful Christian life, not as an optional habit.
- They praised care for widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor.
- They also warned against giving for show or praise.
- Some writers linked almsgiving with repentance, mercy, or blessing.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians teach that almsgiving was a duty to the poor?
The sources present almsgiving as a basic Christian obligation toward the poor and needy. They also describe it as service given to God, not merely human philanthropy.
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness
"Honor widows who are truly widows." Be a friend to orphans, for God is "the Father of the fatherless, and the Judge of the widows." Do nothing without the bishops, for they are priests, and you are a servant of the priests. They baptize, offer sacrifice, ordain, and lay on hands, but you minister to them, as the holy Stephen did at Jerusalem to James and the elders. Do not neglect the sacred meetings of the saints; inquire after each one by name. "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers, both in word and behavior."
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
It is also a great work of justice to protect and defend orphans and widows who have nothing and need help. Therefore, the divine law commands this for everyone, since all good judges think it is part of their duty to show them natural kindness and to try to help them. But these works belong especially to us, since we have received the law and the very words of God Himself to instruct us. For they understand that it is naturally just to protect those who need protection, but they do not understand why it is so. For God, to whom everlasting mercy belongs, commands that widows and orphans should be defended and cared for for this reason: so that no one, out of concern and pity for those entrusted to him, should be kept from facing death for justice and faith, but should meet it quickly and boldly, since he knows that he leaves his loved ones in God's care and that they will never lack protection. Also, taking up the care and support of the sick, who need someone to help them, belongs to the greatest kindness and great generosity. And whoever does this will both gain a living sacrifice to God, and what he has given to another for a time he himself will receive from God for eternity. T
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness
... fruit and labor honorably in the holy things of Your Church; those who do not forget the poor, the widows, the orphans, the strangers, and the needy; and all who have asked us to remember them in our prayers.
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James 1:27 Supporting witness
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
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1 Timothy 5:16 Supporting witness
If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
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Psalms 146:9 Supporting witness
The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
Did early Christians say almsgiving could help with repentance or sins?
Several sources explicitly link almsgiving with repentance, forgiveness, or the cleansing of sin. Others say alms deliver from death or purify, while still grounding the claim in Scripture.
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Tertullian, On Baptism Direct teaching
Give to every one who begs you, has a reference of its own, appertaining especially to almsgiving.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
Matthew 6:1 Consider your alms. Do not do them before people so they may see you. If you do, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:2 So when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the marketplaces, so that people may praise them. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. Matthew 6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matthew 6:4 Let your alms be hidden, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.
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Theophilus of Antioch, Connection to Matthew 6:3 Supporting witness
And those that do good it teaches not to boast, lest they become men-pleasers. For it says: "Let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth."
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Matthew 6:1 Supporting witness
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
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Matthew 6:2 Supporting witness
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
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Matthew 6:3 Supporting witness
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Did early Christians say alms should be given quietly and sincerely?
The sources warn against giving for show and instead urge hidden, humble almsgiving. They describe giving in a way that seeks God’s approval rather than human praise.
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Clement of Rome, Second Epistle (attributed) Direct teaching
... the earth will melt, like lead melting in fire. Then the hidden and open deeds of men will appear. Almsgiving, then, is good as repentance from sin. Fasting is better than prayer, and almsgiving than both. Love covers a multitude of sins, 1 Peter 4:4, and prayer from a good conscience delivers from death. Blessed is everyone who is found complete in these, for almsgiving lightens the burden of sin.
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Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching
...ine help. He said, "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; and redeem your sins by almsgiving, and your unrighteousness by mercies to the poor, and God will be patient with your sins." Daniel 4:27 And since the king did not obey him, he suffered the disasters and harms that he had seen, and that he might have escaped and avoided if he had redeemed his sins by almsgiving. Raphael the angel also teaches the same and urges that alms should be given freely and generously, saying, "Prayer is good, with fasting and alms; because alms does deliver from death, and it purges away sins." Tobit 12:8-9 He shows that our prayers and fastings are less effective unless they are helped by almsgiving; that requests alone have little power to obtain what they seek unless they are made sufficient by the addition of deeds and good works. The angel reveals and makes clear and certain that our petitions become effective by almsgiving, that life is redeemed from dangers by almsgiving, and that souls are delivered from death by almsgiving.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
The angel reveals, and manifests, and certifies that our petitions become efficacious by almsgiving, that life is redeemed from dangers by almsgiving, that souls are delivered from death by almsgiving.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
... truth, and do before Him what pleases Him. And command your sons to practice righteousness and almsgiving, and to be mindful of God, and always bless His name.” Tobit 14:10-11 And again: “All the days of your life, most dear son, keep God in your mind, and do not be willing to break His commandments. Do righteousness all the days of your life, and do not be willing to walk in the way of iniquity. Because if you act truthfully, your works will prosper. Give alms from your possessions, and do not turn your face away from any poor man. Then it will happen that the face of God also will not be turned away from you. As you are able, my son, so do. If your possessions are abundant, give more alms from them. If you have little, share from that little. And do not be afraid when you give alms, for you are storing up a good reward for yourself against the day of necessity, because alms deliver from death, and do not allow one to come into Gehenna. Alms are a good gift for all who give them, in the sight of the Most High God.” Tobit 4:5-11
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Tobit 12:9 Supporting witness
for alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life:
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Wisdom of Sirach 3:30 Supporting witness
Water will quench a flaming fire; And alms maketh an atonement for sins.
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Wisdom of Sirach 14:16 Supporting witness
Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; For there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
Did early Christians support widows, orphans, and other needy people with alms?
A large cluster of sources shows almsgiving being directed toward widows, orphans, strangers, prisoners, the sick, and other vulnerable people. This appears both in church practice and in scriptural instruction.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
... be careful about their support, so that they lack nothing. Give to orphans the care of parents; to widows, the care of husbands; to those of proper age, marriage; to the craftsman, work; to those who are unable to work, compassion; to strangers, a home; to the hungry, food; to the thirsty, drink; to the naked, clothing; to the sick, visitation; and to prisoners, help. Besides all these, take even greater care of the orphans, so that they lack nothing. As for the young woman, care for her until she reaches marriageable age, and then give her in marriage to a brother. Give help to the young man, so that he may learn a trade and be supported by the income from it. Then, when he becomes skilled in it, he may be able to buy for himself the tools of his trade. In this way he will no longer burden any of the brothers, or their sincere love for him, but will support himself. For certainly that man is happy who is able to support himself and does not take the place of the orphan, the stranger, and the widow.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
...es not restrain himself from them, blessed is he in his life. "Then these follow with them: helping widows, looking after orphans and the needy, rescuing the servants of God from necessities, being hospitable—for in hospitality good-doing finds a field—never opposing anyone, being quiet, having fewer needs than all men, reverencing the aged, practicing righteousness, watching the brotherhood, bearing insolence, being long-suffering, encouraging those who are sick in soul, not casting those who have fallen into sin out of the faith, but turning them back and restoring them to peace of mind, admonishing sinners, not oppressing debtors and the needy, and if there are any other actions like these. Do these seem good to you?" he says. And I said, "What, sir, is better than these?" "Walk in them, then," he says, "and do not restrain yourself from them, and you will live to God. Keep, therefore, this commandment. If you do good, and do not restrain yourself from it, you will live to God. All who act in this way will live to God. And again, if you refuse to do evil, and restrain yourself from it, you will live to God. And all will live to God who keep these commandments and walk in them
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Commodianus, Writings Direct teaching
If your brother should be weak—I mean the poor man—do not visit him empty-handed while he lies sick. Do good under God. Show your obedience by your money. Then he will be restored. Or, if he should die, let a poor man be refreshed, one who has nothing with which to repay you, but the Founder and Author of the world on his behalf. Or if it displeases you to go to the poor man, always hateful, send money, and something by which he may recover himself. In the same way, if your poor sister lies on a sickbed, let your matrons begin to bring her food. God Himself cries out, "Break your bread to the needy." There is no need to visit with words, but with benefits. It is wicked that your brother should be sick through lack of food. Do not satisfy him with words. He needs food and drink. Look upon those surely weakened, who are not able to act for themselves. Give to them at once. I pledge my word that fourfold shall be given you by God.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
...hey think is appropriate; the collection is deposited with the leader, who supports the orphans and widows, and those who, through illness or any other reason, are in need, as well as those who are imprisoned and the strangers living among us. In short, he takes care of all who are in need. Sunday is the day when we all hold our common assembly because it is the first day on which God made the world, having transformed darkness and matter. Jesus Christ our Savior also rose from the dead on this day. For He was crucified on the day before Saturn's day (Saturday), and on the day after Saturn's day, which is the day of the Sun, He appeared to His apostles and disciples and taught them these things, which we have also shared with you for your consideration.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
But the true widows are those who have had only one husband and are well known by everyone for good works. They are truly widows: sober, chaste, faithful, and pious. They have brought up their children well and have welcomed strangers without blame. These are to be supported as women devoted to God. Besides this, bishop, remember the needy. Reach out your helping hand and provide for them as the steward of God, distributing the offerings at the proper time to each of them: to the widows, the orphans, the friendless, and those afflicted with trouble.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness
...who bear fruit and work honorably in the holy churches of God; for those who remember the poor, the widows and the orphans, the strangers and those in need; and for those who have asked us to mention them in our prayers;
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Acts 4:35 Supporting witness
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
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Acts 11:29 Supporting witness
Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
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Romans 12:13 Supporting witness
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Common Questions
Did early Christians teach that almsgiving mattered?
Yes. Writers like Clement of Rome, Hermas, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Cyprian treat almsgiving as a real Christian duty.
Did early Christians say almsgiving should be done in secret?
Yes. They often echoed Matthew 6 and said giving should not be done to win praise from other people.
Who did early Christians think should receive help?
They often named widows, orphans, strangers, the weak, the sick, and the poor.
Source Index for Almsgiving
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 159 ranked source links from 200 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 159 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 121
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?
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Clement of Rome, Connection to Acts 20:35
Bible Passages 79 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.