NJIKO: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Humanities, Law, Education and Social Sciences

This research examines the theological transformation of tithing within the Christian tradition through a combined analysis of Scripture, the Church Fathers, doctrinal development, and contemporary ecclesial practice. The study argues that tithing, originally a legal obligation under the Mosaic covenant, underwent a profound reinterpretation in the early Church. For some Fathers, such as St. Irenaeus, tithing belonged to the abrogated ceremonial law fulfilled in Christ; others, including St. Cyprian, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Augustine, saw continuity in the principle of supporting the clergy and the poor, though transformed by the demands of charity in the new dispensation. The research further explores how the Fathers expand the notion of Christian giving beyond fixed percentages toward sacrificial generosity, voluntary offerings, and even “tithes of life,” as found in John Cassian's spiritual exegesis. By integrating biblical theology, patristic testimony, systematic reflection on law and grace, and pastoral implications for the modern Church, this study proposes a contemporary framework, Sacrificial Generous Giving, as a theological continuation, not legal replication, of ancient tithing. This approach honours Scripture, tradition, and the lived reality of the Church while remaining faithful to the spirit of Christ's teaching on charity.

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