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Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, contributions refer to offerings, gifts, or donations made by individuals or groups to support religious activities, the needs of the community, or the work of the ministry. These contributions are often seen as acts of worship, expressions of gratitude, and demonstrations of obedience to God's commands.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, contributions were an integral part of the religious life of Israel. The Mosaic Law outlined various types of offerings, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings (Leviticus 1-7). These offerings were made to atone for sin, express thanksgiving, or fulfill vows. Additionally, the Israelites were commanded to give tithes, which were a tenth of their produce or income, to support the Levites, who had no inheritance of land (Numbers 18:21-24).

The construction of the Tabernacle was funded by voluntary contributions from the Israelites. In Exodus 25:1-2 , the LORD instructed Moses, "Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him." This freewill offering included gold, silver, bronze, and other materials needed for the Tabernacle's construction.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of contributions continues, with an emphasis on generosity and the heart's attitude. Jesus commended the poor widow who gave two small coins, highlighting her sacrificial giving (Mark 12:41-44). The early church practiced communal living, where believers sold their possessions and distributed the proceeds to anyone in need (Acts 2:44-45).

The Apostle Paul frequently addressed the topic of contributions in his epistles. He encouraged the Corinthian church to set aside a sum of money on the first day of the week to support the saints in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Paul emphasized that contributions should be given willingly and cheerfully, as stated in 2 Corinthians 9:7 : "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver."

Spiritual Significance

Contributions in the Bible are not merely financial transactions but are deeply spiritual acts. They reflect the giver's relationship with God and their commitment to His work. The act of giving is seen as a response to God's generosity and provision. In Malachi 3:10 , God challenges the Israelites to bring the full tithe into the storehouse, promising to "open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure."

Furthermore, contributions are a means of participating in God's mission. By supporting the church and its ministries, believers contribute to the spread of the Gospel and the care of those in need. The New Testament encourages believers to be generous and ready to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age (1 Timothy 6:18-19).

Conclusion

Contributions in the biblical sense encompass a wide range of offerings and gifts, each with its own purpose and significance. They are acts of worship, expressions of faith, and means of supporting the community and God's work on earth. Through contributions, believers demonstrate their trust in God's provision and their commitment to His kingdom.
Strong's Hebrew
8641. terumah -- contribution, offering (for sacred uses)
... Word Origin from rum Definition contribution, offering (for sacred uses) NASB Word
Usage allotment (15), contribution (20), contributions (10), heave offering ...
/hebrew/8641.htm - 6k
Library

Paul a Prisoner
... On this occasion, Paul and his companions formally presented to the leaders of the
work at Jerusalem the contributions forwarded by the Gentile churches for ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 38 paul a prisoner.htm

The Last Events in Galilee - the Tribute-Money, the Dispute by the ...
... The family of the Chief of the Sanhedrin (Gamaliel) seems to have enjoyed the curious
distinction of bringing their contributions to the Temple-Treasury, not ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iii the last events.htm

The Formation of the CIM
... For the support of the workers already in China, our friends at home were sending
in unsolicited contributions from time to time, and every need was met. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter xix the formation of.htm

Of the Term Mass.
... Thence a part was taken to be consecrated; the rest was distributed to the poor.
With this custom they also retained Mass as the name of the contributions. ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 33 of the term.htm

Hebrew Captives; Or, Mordecai and Esther.
... Zerubbabel was also entrusted with large contributions toward the expense of
rebuilding the temple, from the Jews who chose to remain behind. ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/hebrew captives or mordecai and.htm

Whyte -- Experience
... because He had verified it all in Himself for thirty experimental years." Now if
that is so demonstrably true of so many of our Lord's contributions to Holy ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/whyte experience.htm

Preface.
... The American Editor has performed the humble task of ushering these works
into American use, with scanty contributions of his own. ...
/.../clement/the first epistle of clement to the corinthians/preface.htm

Chapter seventeen
... The present hymnal of the church contains contributions by about sixty Danish
writers. Though the majority of these are represented ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter seventeen.htm

Christian Furchtegott Gellert
... In 1742, when he was a young man of seven-and-twenty, he joined with a number of
his friends in bringing out a periodical called the "Contributions from Bremen ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/christian furchtegott gellert.htm

Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
... From Schulpforta he went to Leipsic, where he soon became intimate with the set
of young men who were bringing out the "Contributions from Bremen." They urged ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/friedrich gottlieb klopstock.htm

Thesaurus
Contributions (19 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Contributions (19 Occurrences). Acts 11:30 This they did,
forwarding their contributions to the Elders by Barnabas and Saul. (WEY). ...
/c/contributions.htm - 12k

Contribution (24 Occurrences)
... as there is need (Acts 2:44 2 Corinthians 8:14 f). The first occasion for calling
this fellowship into activity, by way of "contributions," was within the ...
/c/contribution.htm - 16k

Barnabas (33 Occurrences)
... The two were at the end of this period sent up to Jerusalem with the contributions
the church at Antioch had made for the poorer brethren there (11:28-30). ...
/b/barnabas.htm - 25k

Philippians (2 Occurrences)
... The Philippians had sent Epaphroditus, their messenger, with contributions to meet
the necessities of the apostle; and on his return Paul sent back with him ...
/p/philippians.htm - 42k

Poor (276 Occurrences)
... made it a condition, Paul says, "that we should remember the poor; which very thing
I was also zealous to do" (Galatians 2:10); contributions were accordingly ...
/p/poor.htm - 60k

Commentaries
... Chrysostom wrote continuous commentaries on Isaiah (only Isaiah 1-8:10 remaining)
and on Galatians; but his chief contributions were his Homilies, covering ...
/c/commentaries.htm - 57k

Kishon (6 Occurrences)
... the strong spring at Jenin. Contributions also come from the copious fountains
in the neighborhood of Megiddo. At Sa`adiyeh, again ...
/k/kishon.htm - 12k

Lod (4 Occurrences)
... BJ, III, iii, 5). After the death of Julius Caesar the inhabitants of Lydda and
certain other towns, having failed to pay the contributions Cassius demanded ...
/l/lod.htm - 11k

Lydda (3 Occurrences)
... BJ, III, iii, 5). After the death of Julius Caesar the inhabitants of Lydda and
certain other towns, having failed to pay the contributions Cassius demanded ...
/l/lydda.htm - 11k

Levy (19 Occurrences)
... etc. 7. (vt) To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority;
as, to levy taxes, toll, tribute, or contributions. 8. (vt ...
/l/levy.htm - 13k

Resources
Who was Anselm of Canterbury? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Saint Thomas Aquinas? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Ambrose of Milan? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus
Concordance
Contributions (19 Occurrences)

Acts 11:30
This they did, forwarding their contributions to the Elders by Barnabas and Saul.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.
(See RSV)

2 Corinthians 8:20
For against one thing we are on our guard--I mean against blame being thrown upon us in respect to these large and liberal contributions which are under our charge.
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 9:13
For, by the practical proof of it which you exhibit in this service, you cause God to be extolled for your fidelity to your professed adherence to the Good News of the Christ, and for the liberality of your contributions for them and for all who are in need,
(WEY)

Exodus 36:3
and they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They brought yet to him freewill offerings every morning.
(See NAS)

Exodus 36:6
Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 22:12
If a priest's daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy things.
(See NIV)

Numbers 5:9
Every heave offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present to the priest, shall be his.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 24:10
All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:10
Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:12
And they brought in the offerings and the tithes and the hallowed things faithfully; and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:14
And Kore, the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the east door, had control of the offerings freely given to God, and the distribution of the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things.
(See NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 10:37
and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our wave offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
(See NAS RSV)

Nehemiah 10:39
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests who minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
(See NIV)

Nehemiah 12:44
On that day were men appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 13:5
had prepared for him a great chamber, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the wave offerings for the priests.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 13:31
and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 20:40
For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 44:30
The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, shall be for the priest: you shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Contributions

Related Terms

Contributions (19 Occurrences)

Contributory (1 Occurrence)

Agur (1 Occurrence)

Thrown (126 Occurrences)

Solemn (100 Occurrences)

Apocrypha

Hebrew (37 Occurrences)

Numbers (136 Occurrences)

Truth (380 Occurrences)

Commentaries

Anem (1 Occurrence)

Contribution to the LORD
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