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| Pastor Paula White |
We Must Honor God's Principle of First
Fruits in 2015
http://paulawhite.org/firstfruits
To be in alignment
with what God has for us, we must start the year off as instructed- by
obeying God's Holy Principle! God's Word clearly instructs us…"When you
come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall
bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest,"
Leviticus 23:10. It is to be set apart as holy unto God!
First Fruits in
Hebrew is "bikkurim" and literally means "promise to come." And there is
ONE who never breaks His promise – God! That is why the truth behind
this "promise to come" in God's Word is so powerful. Though long
overlooked by many, this divine establishment of God's order of things
is actually the root that governs the rest. When you KEEP FIRST THINGS
FIRST through faith and obedience, you turn God's promise into
provision… ABUNDANT PROVISION!
Because He wants to
see you succeed, He has put a system into place based on the principle
of "First Fruits." The Bible references first fruits or first things or
devoted things no less than 32 times.
"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your increase"
(Proverbs 3:9).
"When you come
into the land which I gave you, and reap its harvest, then you shall
bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest"
(Leviticus 23:9-10)
God claims the
first fruits of anything! It rightfully belongs to Him in His divine
order. When we apply the Principle of First Fruits – First Things First –
in our lives, we begin to see that all firsts should be given to the
Lord: the first part of the day, the first day of the week (Sabbath),
the first month of the year, and the first of our harvest – be it the
wages for the first hour, the first day, the first week, or the month.
You can put God first in every area of your life by:
- PRAYING. Give God your first thoughts in the morning. Talk with Him
before you do anything else EVERY day. Pray without ceasing for your
family, for financial recovery and blessings, for healing... for your
needs. God will honor your faithfulness.
- PLANNING. Where do you want to be 365 days from today? Getting from
here to there requires a prayerful plan. Seek God's clear directive for
your life, then write it down. Keep it in the front of you on a daily
basis. Let it get into your spirit. See it! Believe it! Live it!
- MAKING AN OFFERING. When you give your first fruits offering, you
are planting a seed for the remainder of the year. Everything you have
is a gift from God... you have an option to keep it or to sow it for an
even greater harvest. There is a greater portion that awaits you in
honor of your first fruits offering!
Give Your Best First Fruits Offering Today and Receive Paula White's First Fruits Package!
When you
offer God your first fruits and bring Him the fullness of the first, you
establish the foundation that the "whole thing" - your entire life –
will be holy and blessed!
I challenge
you to put FIRST THINGS FIRST and HONOR GOD! Start activating the Word
by offering God your FIRST FRUITS as a seed for your harvest in 2015. As
you sacrifice your offering to Him, you set a precedent of what will
come. You release a great promise of provision as a result of your
obedience. Many people give a week's salary, others a day's, but
everyone must give their very best offering!
BROTHER GARY
ARNOLD exposes Paula white’s first fruits nonsense
INTRODUCTION
This in-depth study of the firstfruits is for all Christians. The main forcus
of this course is on firstfruits offerings.
There are prerequisites to most subjects you study. Before reading a novel
written in English, you need a basic understanding of the English language.
Before studying the topic of firstfruits, you need a basic understanding of not
only the words used in the bible, but also an understanding of the words you
have heard in church. This study of the firstfruits includes the prerequisites
necessary to fully understand the subject.
We have attempted to organize this course in a logical order so that you will
build on your knowledge of the firstfruits. To get the most out of this course,
it is imperative that you study this material in the order presented. Some of
the material presented may be new to you and may seem irrelevant to the subject.
As you progress through the course, the relevancy will become clear.
This course is biblically based. We base nearly all our conclusions on the
scriptures. Anytime a conclusion is based on our opinion, we tell you so.
We take God at His word. We don't draw conclusions based on what sounds good,
what sounds right, or what makes us feel good or bad. We do our best to stick
with the Word of God. Only the truth will set us free.
Your comments are always welcome.
Gary Arnold, Certified Money and Finance Minister
PREREQUISITE
#1 - DEFINITION OF FIRSTFRUITS
Before we start our studies of the firstfruits offerings, we need to understand
the definition of firstfruits. Today's definition is not the same as the
biblical definition.
The dictionary defines a word according to its usage at the time the dictionary
is published. A current dictionary defines firstfruits as the earliest fruit of
the season or the first product or result of anything.
It is common practice nowadays to call the first of one's income the
firstfruits. But what was the definition of the word firstfruits when the Kings
James Version of the Holy Bible was written?
As you can see from above, the Hebrew definition shown above means the
firstfruits of the crop.
We have included most verses in the Bible that use the term firstfruits. In the
Old Testament, the firstfruits offerings were always food from crops. In the
New Testament, firstfruits has a different meaning. For each verse, we have
included the Hebrew defintion or Greek definition to help you understand the
meaning of firstfruits in that verse.
Now let's continue to Prerequisite #2 by clicking here.
PREREQUISITE
#2 - DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INCOME AND ASSETS
In our studies of the firstfruits offerings, we will find that the firstfruits
were always food, from crops. Before going further, we need to understand the
difference between income and assets.
ASSETS:
Includes all property owned, both tangible and intangible.
For a person, assets can include real estate, such as land, buildings, a house;
cash, including gold and silver; furniture, etc.
For a business, assets usually include real estate owned by the business,
inventories, machinery, etc.
For a farmer, assets include the real estate, such as the land and farm
buildings; the crops; the farm animals, etc.
INCOME:
Income is the money or equivalent that comes from the sale of assets or for
services rendered. In other words, for a farmer, income might include money or
the equivalent that comes from the sale of crops, animals, milk from the cows
or other animals, eggs from chickens, etc.
For an individual, income may come from providing services rendered, such as a
farm worker, carpenter, tradesman, accountant, doctor, nurse, etc.
When studying the scriptures on firstfruits offerings, be sure you understand
the difference between assets and income. Be sure you can identify whether the
firstfruits offerings came from assets or from income. This is vital to
understanding firstfruits offerings.
Now let's continue to Prerequisite #3 by clicking here.
PREREQUISITE
#3 - DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD'S LABOR AND MAN'S LABOR
Before we continue our study of the firstfruits offering, we need to understand
the difference between God's labor and man's labor.
Philippians 4:19 (KJV):
19 But my God shall
supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God will supply all our needs. What are our basic needs? WATER - FOOD -
CLOTHING - SHELTER.
Where does water come from? GOD GIVES US WATER. God made this earth with oceans
and lakes full of water. Water condenses from atmospheric vapor, forming in the
clouds, giving us rain. The water comes from God - from God's labor.
Where does our food come from? GOD GIVES US CROPS AND ANIMALS. A seed grows
into a vine or tree, giving us fruit. These are miracles of God, or you can say
the fruit comes from God's labor. We get meat from animals; again, miracles of
God, or from God's labor.
Our clothing comes from cotton and other fibers from the soil, from God's
labor.
Our homes come from lumber and other materials that God has furnished to us
from His labor.
God supplies us with all our needs - everything we need to sustain life on
earth, from HIS labor.
Now let's look at Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV):
18 But thou shalt
remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,
that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is
this day.
And from the NIV:
18 But remember the
LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so
confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
God gives us the power, or ability, to get or produce wealth. In other words,
God gives us the ability to work and earn a living. God gives us the ability to
work - to labor. When we work, it is our labor doing the work, not God's labor.
He gave us the ability to do the work ourselves.
God supplies the crops with His labor. Man harvests the crops with man's labor.
God supplies the cotton and other fibers and materials to make clothes from His
labor. Man supplies the labor to cut, sew, and put together our garments.
God supplies the wood from trees, and all the other materials needed to build
our homes, from His labor. Man supplies the labor to put the materials
together, to build the homes.
It is important in our bible studies to understand the distinction between
God's labor and man's labor.
Now let's continue to the Summary by clicking here.
SUMMARY
Today, many pastors and others teach that firstfruits is somehow either equal
to, or a part of the tithe. The scriptures clearly show that firstfruits have
nothing to do with the tithe. In fact, the scriptures clearly distinguish
between contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. (See Nehemiah 12:44.) And in
Nehemiah 10:37 it is clear that the firstfruits were taken to the priests, to
the temple, and that the tithe was taken to the Levites, who lived in the
Levitical cities.
A liberal definition of firstfruits would include the first of most anything,
including the first part of one's income. However, the scriptures restrict the
definition of firstfruits, when associated with offerings, to only food.
Offerings of firstfruits consisted of grains, grapes (and wine made therefrom),
olives (and olive oil made therefrom), and from other crops that come from the
ground or soil.
Firstfruit offerings always came from the miracles of God, or from that which
was "produced" by God. Man cannot produce crops. Man can only harvest
the crops that God produces and gives to us. In Deuteronomy 8:18 God tells us
that He gave man the ability to produce wealth. In other words, God gives us the
ability to work and earn a living. We earn that income from our labor. Our
labor is not holy. Firstfruit offerings only came from God's labor and NEVER
man's labor. Saying that the first part of one's income is the firstfruits is
not biblical. It fits the definition of firstfruits, but NOT the biblical
context relating to offerings.
In this study I present three versions of each referenced verse. The first is
from the Kings James Version of the Holy Bible. Because word meanings have
changed over the years, it is sometimes necessary to compare the Kings James
Version to newer versions of the bible. This helps to give a better
understanding of the true meaning of the verses. I also have used the STRONG’S
EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE of the Bible in conjunction with STRONG'S HEBREW AND
GREEK DICTIONARIES.
As you go through the scriptures, you will see that firstfruits offerings were
ALWAYS assets, NEVER income, and ALWAYS from God's labor, NEVER from man's
labor. Keep that in mind when you study firstfruits offerings. When a pastor
asks for a firstfruits offering of your income, you need to realize your pastor
has taken the concept of firstfruits out of the biblical context and is
applying it to income. That is a man-made principle. It is not biblical. Of
course you have a right to give the first part of whatever you wish to the
church. But giving a firstfruits offering from your income has NOTHING to do
with firstfruits offerings in the scriptures.
Firstfruits offerings according to the Word of God:
Food from crops only (assets) from God's labor.
Firstfruits offerings according to some preachers:
Money (income) from man's labor.
Deuteronomy 4:2 (NIV):
2 Do not add to
what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the
LORD your God that I give you.
Scripture is given by God and not to be changed by man. When man changes the
scripture, it is no longer the Word of God. Christians are not to adapt the
Bible to the times. Christians are to adapt their life to the Bible.
2 Peter 2:1, 3 (NIV):
1 But there were
also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers
among you.
3 In their greed
these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NIV):
1 In the presence
of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view
of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the Word;
be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with
great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will
come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own
desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what
their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn
their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
The choice is yours. Follow tradition, or follow the Word of God.
At Trinity Financial Ministries, we believe in generous giving, from the heart,
not under compulsion. We believe giving results in blessings.
Please keep in mind the definition of firstfruits, the difference between
assets and income, and the difference between God's labor and man's labor as
you continue your studies. The scriptures that follow in this study should help
you to better understand what firstfruits offerings is all about.
Click here to continue.
Exodus
23:16 (KJV):
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown
in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year,
when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exodus 23:16 (RSV):
You shall keep the feast of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what
you sow in the field. You shall keep the feast of ingathering at the end of the
year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor.
Exodus 23:16 (NIV): “Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the
crops you sow in your field. “Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of
the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.
NOTES: The Hebrew definition is best understood here in the NIV translation.
Click here to continue
Exodus
23:19 (KJV):
The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the
LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
Exodus 23:19 (RSV):
“The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of
the LORD your God. “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.
Exodus 23:19 (NIV): “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the
house of the LORD your God. “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
NOTES: The above shows three ways to say the same thing: firstfruits of thy
land; first fruits of your ground; firstfruits of your soil. All three refer to
crops.
Click here to continue.
Exodus
34:22 (KJV):
And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest,
and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.
Exodus 34:22 (RSV):
And you shall observe the feast of weeks, the first fruits of wheat harvest,
and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.
Exodus 34:22 (NIV):
“Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and
the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
NOTES: All three above refer to the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (crops).
Click here to continue.
Exodus
34:26 (KJV):
The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the
LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
Exodus 34:26 (RSV): The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall
bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in its
mother’s milk.”
Exodus 34:26 (NIV):
“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your
God. “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
NOTES: Whether you prefer firstfruits of thy land, of your ground, or of your
soil, the reference is to the crops.
Click here to continue.
Leviticus
2:12 (KJV):
As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but
they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.
Leviticus 2:12 (RSV):
As an offering of first fruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall
not be offered on the altar for a pleasing odor.
Leviticus 2:12 (NIV):
You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are
not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma.
NOTES: Verse 11 refers to grain offerings, so we are still referring to crops.
Click here to continue.
Leviticus
2:14 (KJV):
And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt
offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the
fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.
Leviticus 2:14 (RSV):
“If you offer a cereal offering of first fruits to the LORD, you shall offer
for the cereal offering of your first fruits crushed new grain from fresh ears,
parched with fire.
Leviticus 2:14 (NIV):
“‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, offer crushed heads
of new grain roasted in the fire.
NOTES: If you follow through the previous verses, you can see that it is clear
that this verse is referring to grain, or crops.
Click here to continue.
Leviticus
23:10 (KJV):
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the
land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall
bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Leviticus 23:10 (RSV):
“Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land which I give you and
reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest
to the priest;
Leviticus 23:10 (NIV): “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you
enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the
priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.
NOTES: All three above refer to a harvest. The NIV gives the clearest meaning.
Click here to continue.
Leviticus
23:17 (KJV): Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two
tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they
are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
Leviticus 23:17 (RSV):
You shall bring from your dwellings two loaves of bread to be waved, made of
two tenths of an ephah; they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baked with
leaven, as first fruits to the LORD.
Leviticus 23:17 (NIV):
From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine
flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the LORD.
NOTES: Two loaves of bread made of fine flour which comes from grains, or
crops.
Click here to continue.
Leviticus
23:20 (KJV): And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits
for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to
the LORD for the priest.
Leviticus 23:20 (RSV):
And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits as a wave
offering before the LORD, with the two lambs; they shall be holy to the LORD
for the priest.
Leviticus 23:20 (NIV):
The priest is to wave the two lambs before the LORD as a wave offering, together
with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the LORD for
the priest.
NOTES: The firstfruits here is the bread, which comes from grains, or crops.
Click here to continue.
Numbers
18:12 (KJV):
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the
firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given
thee.
Numbers 18:12 (RSV):
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the
first fruits of what they give to the LORD, I give to you.
Numbers 18:12 (NIV):
“I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they
give the LORD as the firstfruits of their harvest.
NOTES: Again, all the items come from the ground - olives, grapes, and grain.
All from crops.
Click here to continue.
Numbers
28:26 (KJV):
Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the
LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do
no servile work:
Numbers 28:26 (RSV):
“On the day of the first fruits, when you offer a cereal offering of new grain
to the LORD at your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you
shall do no laborious work,
Numbers 28:26 (NIV):
“‘On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the LORD an offering of new
grain during the Feast of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.
NOTES: In the KJV, the word meat is referring to the edible part of a fruit or
nut, not animal.
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Deuteronomy
18:4 (KJV):
The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first
of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.
Deuteronomy 18:4 (RSV):
The first fruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first of
the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.
Deuteronomy 18:4 (NIV):
You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and oil, and the
first wool from the shearing of your sheep,
NOTES: Firstfruits of grain, wine, and oil, all items that come from the
ground. Crops. Wine from grapes; oil from olives, etc.
Click here to continue.
Deuteronomy
26:10 (KJV):
And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD,
hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship
before the LORD thy God:
Deuteronomy 26:10 (RSV):
And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which thou, O
LORD, hast given me.’ And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and
worship before the LORD your God;
Deuteronomy 26:10 (NIV):
and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me.”
Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.
NOTES: Firstfruits of the land, or of the ground, or of the soil, that was
eaten. Crops.
Click here to continue.
2 Kings
4:42 (KJV):
And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the
firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk
thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
2 Kings 4:42 (RSV):
A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first
fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And
Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.”
2 Kings 4:42 (NIV):
A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley
bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain.
“Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said.
NOTES: All the items listed above come from crops.
Click here to continue.
2
Chronicles 31:5 (KJV):
And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought
in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the
increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
2 Chronicles 31:5 (RSV):
As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in
abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce
of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
2 Chronicles 31:5 (NIV): As soon as the order went out, the Israelites
generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all
that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.
NOTES: All items listed above come from crops. The tithe referred to here is
merely a mathematical term, meaning a tenth, and has nothing to do with
"tithing."
Click here to continue.
Nehemiah
10:35-37 (KJV):
35And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of
all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
36Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is
written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring
to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our
God:
37And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our
offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the
priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground
unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities
of our tillage.
Nehemiah 10:35-37 (RSV):
35We obligate ourselves to bring the first fruits of our ground and
the first fruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the
LORD;
36also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister
in the house of our God, the first-born of our sons and of our cattle, as it is
written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks;
37and to bring the first of our coarse meal, and our contributions,
the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers
of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our
ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns.
Nehemiah 10:35-37 (NIV):
35“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the
LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.
36“As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of
our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our
God, to the priests ministering there.
37“Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our
God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of
the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a
tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes
in all the towns where we work.
Verse 35:
Verse 37 (KJV):
NOTES: All the verses above refer to crops, including the fruit of every tree.
Verse 37 proves that firstfruits and the tithe are not the same thing. In Verse
37, it is clear that the firstfruits were taken to the house of the Lord (the
temple) and the tithe was taken to the Levites, who lived in the Levitical
cities. The firstfruits were given to the priests, not the Levities.
Click here to continue.
Nehemiah
12:44 (KJV):
And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for
the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out
of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and
Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
Nehemiah 12:44 (RSV):
On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the
contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the
portions required by the law for the priests and for the Levites according to
the fields of the towns; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites
who ministered.
Nehemiah 12:44 (NIV):
At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the
contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were
to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests
and the Levites, for Judah
was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.
NOTES: The verse above distinguishes between contributions, firstfruits, and
tithes.
Click here to continue.
Proverbs
3:9 (KJV):
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine
increase:
Proverbs 3:9 (RSV):
Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your
produce;
Proverbs 3:9 (NIV):
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
NOTES: Referring to the three versions above, we can see that "all thine
increase" is the same as "all your produce" is the same as
"all your crops." In the KJV, the word "increase" was
translated from the Hebrew word below.
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Jeremiah
2:3 (KJV):
Israel
was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that
devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 2:3 (RSV):
Israel
was holy to the LORD, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it became
guilty; evil came upon them, says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 2:3 (NIV):
Israel
was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were
held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’” declares the LORD.
NOTES: Referring to the eating of the holy firstfruits, or crops. In the KJV,
the word "increase" was translated from the Hebrew word below.
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Ezekiel
20:40 (KJV):
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the
house of Israel,
all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I
require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your
holy things.
Ezekiel 20:40 (RSV):
“For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, says the Lord GOD,
there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land; there I
will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest
of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings.
Ezekiel 20:40 (NIV): For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,
declares the Sovereign LORD, there in the land the entire house of Israel will
serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and
your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
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Ezekiel
44:30 (KJV):
And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all,
of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: ye shall also give unto
the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in
thine house.
Ezekiel 44:30 (RSV):
And the first of all the first fruits of all kinds, and every offering of all
kinds from all your offerings, shall belong to the priests; you shall also give
to the priests the first of your coarse meal, that a blessing may rest on your
house.
Ezekiel 44:30 (NIV):
The best of all the firstfruits and of all your special gifts will belong to
the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that
a blessing may rest on your household.
NOTES: The Hebrew definition clarifies that firstfruits is referring to crops.
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Romans
8:23 (KJV):
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to
wit, the redemption of our body.
Romans 8:23 (RSV):
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies.
Romans 8:23 (NIV):
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan
inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies.
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of
fruitfruits as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits
has a different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New
Testament verses are included, however, to complete the study.
Click here to continue.
Romans
11:16 (KJV):
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy,
so are the branches.
Romans 11:16 (RSV):
If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the
root is holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:16 (NIV):
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch
is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of
fruitfruits as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits
has a different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New
Testament verses are included, however, to complete the study.
Click here to continue.
Romans
16:5 (KJV):
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved
Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Romans 16:5 (RSV):
greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the
first convert in Asia for Christ.
Romans 16:5 (NIV):
Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus,
who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of
fruitfruits as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits
has a different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New
Testament verses are included, however, to complete the study.
Click here to continue.
1
Corinthians 15:20 (KJV):
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that
slept.
1 Corinthians 15:20 (RSV):
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who
have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV):
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who
have fallen asleep.
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of fruitfruits
as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits has a
different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New Testament
verses are included, however, to complete the study.
Click here to continue.
1
Corinthians 15:23 (KJV):
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are
Christ’s at his coming.
1 Corinthians 15:23 (RSV):
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those
who belong to Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:23 (NIV):
But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those
who belong to him.
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of
fruitfruits as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits
has a different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New
Testament verses are included, however, to complete the study.
Click here to continue.
1
Corinthians 16:15 (KJV):
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the
firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry
of the saints,)
1 Corinthians 16:15 (RSV):
Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts
in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;
1 Corinthians 16:15 (NIV):
You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and
they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you,
brothers,
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of
fruitfruits as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits
has a different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New
Testament verses are included, however, to complete the study.
Click here to continue.
James
1:18 (KJV):
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of
firstfruits of his creatures.
James 1:18 (RSV):
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a
kind of first fruits of his creatures.
James 1:18 (NIV):
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of
firstfruits of all he created.
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of
fruitfruits as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits
has a different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New
Testament verses are included, however, to complete the study.
Click here to continue.
Revelation
14:4 (KJV):
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These
are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from
among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Revelation 14:4 (RSV):
It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste; it
is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from
mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb,
Revelation 14:4 (NIV):
These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept
themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased
from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
NOTES: The purpose of this word study is to determine the meaning of
fruitfruits as used for offerings. In the New Testament, the word firstfruits
has a different meaning and will not be expanded upon in this study. New
Testament verses are included, however, to complete the study.
For a complete study of the Biblical Tithe, please go to http://www.Tithing101.com.
