What Does It Mean to Give a Tithe?

A tithe (pronounced tie-th) is one-tenth part of one's income. Tithing, or giving a tithe, goes back to ancient times, even before the days of Moses.The definition of tithe from the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church explains the term as "the tenth part of all fruits and profits due to God and thus to the church for the maintenance of its ministry." The early church depended on tithes and offerings to operate as does the local church to this day. The Definition of Tithe in the Old Testament The first instance of tithing is found in Genesis 14:18-20, with Abraham giving a tenth of his possessions to Melchizedek, the mysterious King of Salem. The passage does not shed light on why Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, but some scholars believe Melchizedek was a type ofChrist. The tenth Abraham gave represented the whole--everything he had. In giving the tithe, Abraham simply acknowledged that everything he had belonged to God.After God appeared to Jacob in a dream at Bethel, beginning in...