A pension, in contemporary terms, refers to a regular payment made during a person's retirement from an investment fund to which that person or their employer has contributed during their working life. While the Bible does not explicitly mention pensions as understood today, it does provide principles and teachings related to provision, care for the elderly, and financial stewardship that can be applied to the concept of pensions.

Biblical Principles of Provision and Stewardship

The Bible emphasizes the importance of providing for one's family and planning for the future. In 1 Timothy 5:8 , it is written, "If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This verse underscores the responsibility of individuals to ensure the well-being of their family members, which can be extended to the idea of preparing for retirement through savings or pensions.

Care for the Elderly

Scripture places a strong emphasis on honoring and caring for the elderly. Leviticus 19:32 states, "You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD." This respect and care for the elderly can be seen as a communal responsibility, which in modern times can translate into systems like pensions that support individuals in their later years.

The Example of Joseph

The account of Joseph in Egypt provides an example of wise financial planning and provision. During the years of plenty, Joseph stored up grain to prepare for the years of famine (Genesis 41:34-36). This act of foresight and stewardship ensured the survival of many, including his own family. Similarly, contributing to a pension plan can be seen as a form of prudent planning for future needs.

Generosity and Support within the Community

The early church demonstrated a model of communal support and generosity. Acts 4:34-35 describes how "there were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need." This spirit of sharing and support reflects the biblical principle of caring for one another, which can be related to the concept of pensions as a means of supporting those who are no longer able to work.

Trust in God's Provision

While planning and saving for the future is wise, the Bible also teaches believers to trust in God's provision. Matthew 6:31-33 encourages, "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." This passage reminds Christians that while they should be responsible stewards, their ultimate trust should be in God's provision.

In summary, while the Bible does not directly address pensions, it provides a framework of principles regarding provision, care for the elderly, financial stewardship, and trust in God that can inform a Christian understanding of pensions.1. (n.) A stated allowance to a person in consideration of past services; payment made to one retired from service, on account of age, disability, or other cause; especially, a regular stipend paid by a government to retired public officers, disabled soldiers, the families of soldiers killed in service, or to meritorious authors, or the like.

2. (n.) A payment; a tribute; something paid or given.

3. (n.) A certain sum of money paid to a clergyman in lieu of tithes.

4. (n.) A boarding house or boarding school in France, Belgium, Switzerland, etc.

5. (v. t.) To grant a pension to; to pay a regular stipend to; in consideration of service already performed; -- sometimes followed by off; as, to pension off a servant.

PENSION

pen'-shun (1 Esdras 4:56, the King James Version "and he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages"; kleros, "allotted portion," usually (here certainly) of lands (the Revised Version (British and American) "lands")): Literally it means simply "payment," and the King James Version seems to have used the word in order to avoid any specialization of kleros. There is no reference to payment for past services.

See LOT.

The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA
... FOR USE BY THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States of America IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1916 THE CHURCH PENSION FUND NEW ...
/.../various/the hymnal of the protestant episcopal church in the usa/title page.htm

Events During the War
... Shortly after this I got a postal card from my brother at home, saying that he had
news from Washington, that Mother had been granted a pension because of my ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter iv events during the.htm

Carey's College
... to Parliament about the time that the great missionary died, praying that they might
not be doomed to starvation by being deprived of a crown pension of L80 a ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter i careys college.htm

Thankful Service.
... The thought should be, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits?".
If a man does the state some great service we give him a pension, or a statue. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lix thankful service.htm

In the Course of this Crude Study we Shall have to Touch on what ...
... end in a police-court. If he smashes a window he can pay for it; if he smashes
a man he can pension him. He can (like the millionaire ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 8 in the course.htm

The Life of Mr. Patrick Simpson.
... A bishopric was offered him, and an yearly pension besides from the king, in order
to bring him into his designs, but he positively refused all, saying, That ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr patrick 2.htm

But when Titus had Composed the Troubles in Judea...
... He also honored me with the privilege of a Roman citizen, and gave me an annual
pension; and continued to respect me to the end of his life, without any ...
/.../josephus/the life of flavius josephus/section 76 but when titus.htm

Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
... It was in 1751 that Count Bernstorff, then prime minister to the King of Denmark,
invited him to reside at Copenhagen, and offered him a pension, which should ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/friedrich gottlieb klopstock.htm

Joseph Priestly.
... and theological studies, and published various works; and when, at last, he separated
from his noble patron, he retired with an annual pension of one hundred ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/joseph priestly.htm

Montgomery
... From 1833 till his death he received a royal pension of two hundred pounds a year.
He died quietly in his sleep on April 30, 1854, at his home, in Sheffield. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/montgomery.htm

Pension
... 5. (vt) To grant a pension to; to pay a regular stipend to; in consideration of
service already performed; -- sometimes followed by off; as, to pension off a ...
/p/pension.htm - 7k

Pens (8 Occurrences)

/p/pens.htm - 8k

Rate (23 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality
of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a seaman; to rate a pension. 14. ...
/r/rate.htm - 15k

Pent (1 Occurrence)

/p/pent.htm - 6k

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