Fathers Of Faith Who Never Considered Tithing A New Testament Doctrine/Practise.

Fathers Of Faith Who Never Considered Tithing A New Testament Doctrine/Practise. 

Last month i was reasoning in scriptures with a brother on the tithe issue when he said this in defence of tithing: "Even Paul, went to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before him to be sure that his revelation was consistent. Which of our fathers with verifiable credibility has taught anything against tithing?"

Didn't give his question much thought knowing that the truth is no respecter of persons and does not derive it's validation from men. However, I deemed it helpful to compile a short list of some fathers of faith who never preached tithing as a new testament doctrine/practise, that my readers may know that we are not in forbidden or uncharted territoritories of truth when we boldly declare that tithing is obsolete and has no place in the new covenant.

(1.) Martin Luther (1483 – 1546)

Professor of theology, Seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, Known for “Ninety-Five Theses”, Translated the Bible from Latin into a native language

“But the other commandments of Moses, which are not [implanted in all men] by nature, the Gentiles do not hold. Nor do these pertain to the Gentiles, such as the tithe”

Ref: “How Christians Should Regard Moses ” p.139; August 27, 1525

(2.) John Wesley (1703 – 1791)

Theologian, Credited with the foundation Methodism. His work and writings also played a leading role in the development of the Holiness movement and Pentecostalism

“give all you can, or, in other words, give all you have to God. Do not stint yourself, like a Jew rather than a Christian, to this or that proportion. “Render unto God,” not a tenth, not a third, not half, but all that is God’s, be it more or less”

(3.) George Fox (1624 – 1691)

English Dissenter, founder of the Religious Society of Friends (The Quakers)

“It were better for you to plead for Christ, who has ended the tithing priesthood with the tithes, and has sent forth his ministers to give freely, as they have received freely.”

Ref: “The Life of George Fox” p.120; 1853

(4.) Charles Spurgeon (1834 – 1892). Preached to around 10,000,000 people in his life time. 

“But you are not under a system similar to that by which the Jews were obliged to pay tithes to the priests. If there were any such rule laid down in the Gospel, it would destroy the beauty of spontaneous giving and take away all the bloom from the fruit of your liberality! There is no law to tell me what I should give my father on his birthday. There is no rule laid down in any law book to decide what present a husband should give to his wife, nor what token of affection we should bestow upon others whom we love. No, the gift must be a free one, or it has lost all its sweetness.”

Ref: “Christ’s Poverty, Our Riches” (Sermon 2716) April 18, 1880(

(5.)  John Nelson Darby (1800 – 1882)

Founder of Exclusive Bretheren, Considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism, Produced a translation of the Bible

“They proposed the subtleties of casuists and neglected the essential things of the law of God. Exact as to the minutiae of the tithes demanded by the law of Moses, they neglected justice, mercy, and faith, all that which was really important in the eyes of God. They washed the outside, and within they were full of rapine and unrighteousness.”

Ref: “Notes on the Gospel of Matthew”

(6.) C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963). Author, Professor at Cambridge & Oxford, known for authoring “The Screwtape Letters”, & “Mere Christianity”

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”

Ref: “The Joyful Christian” p.144; 19

(7.)Erasmus (1466 – 1536)

Teacher, Theologian, & Influential Writer

“And yet, disgusting as it is to see Christian princes in this field more inhuman than ny pagan tyrants ever were, yet this is a little less outrageous than the fact that among our priests also, in whose eyes all money ought to be quite worthless and whose duty it is freely to share the endowments they have so freely received, everything has its price, nothing is free. Think of the storms they raise over those famous tithes of theirs, how hatefully they oppress wretched common people! You cannot be baptized, which means that you cannot become a Christian unless you pay cash; such are the splendid auspices under which you enter the portals of the Church.”

(8.) Russell Earl Kelly, Ph.D

Theologian & Author

“This book fully supports such giving as a freewill-offering and a faith response from the heart motivated by love and the Holy Spirit. However, the author is equally convinced that preaching a mandatory ten percent (so-called tithe) of gross income, regardless of circumstances, is unscriptural and causes more harm than good to the body of Christ.”

Ref: “Should the Church Teach Tithing”

(9.) Dave Hunt, founder of The Berean Call

"I don't think tithing is for Christians. Everything belongs to the Lord…I don’t read anything in the New Testament saying that we give 10%”