• Notice that in all 9 passages which have to do with a church providing material goods, the ones receiving those goods were needy Christians.
    • To say it another way, in every instance of a church using the Lord’s money to relieve those who were poor, it was limited to Christians who were poor.
    • Sometimes this is called “limited benevolence.”
  • Consider some arguments which have been made:
    • Acts 2:46 - “The early church broke bread from house to house.”
      • Some argue that the early Christians were living in a communal fashion through the church treasury.
      • This is not a valid conclusion. They could have simply been sharing meals with each other.
    • James 1:27 - “Can’t the church practice pure and undefiled religion?”
      • This verse is talking about individual responsibilities.
      • Compare this verse to I Timothy 5:16.
    • Luke 10:30-37 - “Jesus taught us to do the same as the good Samaritan.”
      • This is directed to individuals, not churches.
    • II Corinthians 9:13 - “Paul said the money went to ‘them’ (needy saints) and to ‘all’ (others).”
      • This interpretation conflicts with other passages where it is repeatedly stated that this money was for the saints.