(Bible Authority, Part 14)

Is there Bible authority for a congregation

to give relief to non-Christians in its
benevolence work and from its collected
treasury?
Is the benevolent work of the local church
general or limited in scope?
God’s pattern gives the answer, Heb. 8:5;
2 Tim. 1:13
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Pattern of congregational action:
Local churches assisting Christians
Relief of local Christians, Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-
37; 6:1-6
Relief of Christians elsewhere, Acts 11:27-
30; Rom. 15:25-27 (1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:4;
9:1, 12-13)

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Pattern of individual action: Helping all
men as one has ability and opportunity
Must distinguish individual action and
congregational action
“Whatever the Christian can do, the local church
can do.” Wrong! 1 Tim. 5:16
“We do many things without authority.” Wrong!
Col. 3:17

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 Churches or Individuals?
John 15:1-8 Gal. 6:1-10 Jas. 1:18-27
2 - branch 1 - man, you 18 - us, we
3 - you (pl.) 2 - you, one 19-20 - brethren, man
4 - you 3 - anyone, 21 - your souls
5 - you, he, him himself, he 22 - yourselves
6 - anyone, he 4-5 - each one 23 - anyone, he, man
7 - you 6-7 - him, man 24 - he, himself man
8 - you, disciples 8 - he, his 25 - he who, one
9 - us, we 26 - anyone, he
5 10 - we, us 27 - oneself
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 James 1:26-27

•Bridle tongue
Visit •Do not deceive
Fatherless •Keep oneself
and widows unspotted

The Same Man

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Never a tool to introduce the gospel
Social gospel: Salvation Army, Rescue Mission
Local church’s benevolent work is the fruit
of faith, not the means of spreading it
Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35 (Rom. 15:28; 2 Cor. 8:3-5)
Jesus & multitude, Mk. 6:34; Jno. 6:25-27, 66
Gospel draws, Jno. 6:44-45 (Rom. 1:16)

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“We are saying also that in the benevolent
work of the church there are some
occasions wherein aid is rendered to one
who is not a Christian and that this in itself
has opened doors of evangelism.”
Bill Jackson
(LaCoste-Jackson Debate, 1984)

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pantas: “all men” (KJV, NKJV); “all others” (ESV)
Who are the “all”?
“All” must be qualified (cf. 2 Ths. 3:10)
Context discusses needy saints, 2 Cor. 9:1
Recipients thank and glorify God in prayer
for the obedience of the Gentiles – Saints,
2 Cor. 9:12-14

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pantas: “all men” (KJV, NKJV); “all others” (ESV)
Gentile Christians partook (koinonia) of
spiritual things with recipients, Rom. 15:25-27
Prayer for deliverance from disobedient and be
accepted by saints, Rom. 15:30-31 (Ac 21:17)
Did unbelievers attack Paul after getting relief?
Paul did not misapply the funds!
Who are the “all”?
“All” the Christians in Jerusalem – None left out

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Collected funds existed, Acts 2:44-45
Alien sinner was in need, Acts 3:2-3
The apostles “had no money” for him,
Acts 3:4-6
Yet, funds were at their disposal for relief,
Acts 4:35
Therefore, the collected funds were not
for unbelievers
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Apostles had power to give the lost man:
A miracle of healing, Acts 3:6-7
The gospel to save his soul, Acts 3:11-26
Apostles did not have power:
To give an unbeliever relief from the local
church’s treasury
To use benevolence as an evangelistic tool

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Through honest labor, each Christian is
to help the weak, Acts 20:33-35
The local church must meet its specific
responsibility of relieving needy saints,
cf. 1 Tim. 5:16
Must not change these God-given roles

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