Almsgiving
Giving to the poor as a school of love, not mere charity
Almsgiving is charitable giving to the poor, understood as both an obligation and a way of expressing and growing in love. Jesus teaches on it in Matthew 6, the Didache commends it among early Christians, and Cyprian devotes a treatise, On Works and Alms, to its spiritual fruit. Across the traditions it is seen not only as relief for the needy but as a discipline that forms the giver in charity.
How it traveled
- JamesJerusalem · 62applies
- 2 CorinthiansPhilippi · 67applies
- RomansCorinth · 67applies
- MarkRome · 68applies
- MatthewAntioch · 80applies
- LukeRome · 84applies
- ActsRome · 84applies
- The Instructions of Commodianus.— · 220explains
- Book II. Of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons— · 220explains
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339applies
- Aphrahat: Select DemonstrationsMosul · 345explains
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379applies
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- On the Duties of the ClergyMilan · 397explains
- Concerning WidowsMilan · 397explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies on the Statues to the People of AntiochConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · 430explains
- Of the Work of MonksHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- The EnchiridionHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Ecclesiastical History of SozomenConstantinople (Istanbul) · 450explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458applies
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- Selected Epistles of Gregory the GreatRome · 604applies
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- Christian CharityNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three PartsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great
(Admonition 21.) Differently to be admonished are those who already give compassionately of their own, and those who still would fain seize even what belongs to others. For those who already give comp
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The Treatises of Cyprian. · Cyprian
Treatise VIII. On Works and Alms. Argument.—He Powerfully Exhorts to the Manifestation of Faith by Works, and Enforces the Wisdom of Offerings to the Church and of Bounty to the Poor as the Best Inv
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
See how great the virtue of alms, both in the former discourse, and here! There, it delivered from death temporal; here, from death eternal; and opened the gates of heaven. Such are the pains taken fo
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
“As each had the ability, they sent.” But now, none does this, although there is a famine more grievous than that. For the cases are not alike, for (all) to bear the calamity in common, and, while all
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Book IV · Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
I. When any Christian becomes an orphan, whether it be a young man or a maid, it is good that some one of the brethren who is without a child should take the young man, and esteem him in the place of
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Christian Charity · Jonathan Edwards
The words explained. The duty here enjoined, is giving to the poor: “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brot
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Christian Charity · Jonathan Edwards
An exhortation to the. duty of charity to the poor. We are professors of Christianity, we pretend to be the followers of Jesus, and to make the gospel our rule. We have the Bible in our houses. Let u
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Homilies on Second Corinthians · John Chrysostom
Having encouraged them with these encomiums, he again tries exhortation. For on this account he mingled these praises with his rebuke, that he might not by proceeding from rebuke to exhortation make w
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On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
146. The first thing necessary is to do kindness in good faith, and not to act falsely when the offering is made. Never let us say we are doing more, when we are really doing less. What need is there
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Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament · Augustine of Hippo
Sermon XI. [LXI. Ben.] On the words of the Gospel, Matt. vii. 7, “Ask, and it shall be given you;” etc. An exhortation to alms-deeds. 1. In the lesson of the Holy Gospel the Lord hath exhorted us t
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon · John Chrysostom
Moral. Seest thou that a failure in alms-giving is enough to cast a man into hell fire? For where will he avail who does not give alms? Dost thou fast every day? So also did those virgins, but it avai
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon · John Chrysostom
Moral. For what reason then was He maintained by women? For women, it is said, followed Him, and ministered unto Him. (Mark xv. 41.) It was to teach us from the first that He is concerned for those wh
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John · John Chrysostom
Let us then imitate them, and not quench our lamps, but keep them bright by alms-doing, for so is the light of this fire preserved. Let us collect the oil into our vessels whilst we are here, for we c
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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Sermon X. On the Collections, V. I. Our goods are given us not as our own possessions but for use in God’s service. Observing the institutions of the Apostles’ tradition, dearly beloved, we exhort
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Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New England · Jonathan Edwards
God’s people at such time as this, ought especially to abound in deeds of charity, or alms-giving. We generally, in these days, seem to fall far below the true spirit and practice of Christianity with
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
For this mystery He directs to be always clear, not from violence only, but even from bare enmity. Yea, for this mystery is a mystery of peace; it allows us not to cling to wealth. For if He spared no
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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Sermon XVII. On the Fast of the Tenth Month, VI. I. The duty of fasting is based on both the Old and New Testaments, and is closely connected with the duties of prayer and almsgiving. The teaching
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
relieve them that are widows indeed, and that the Church be not burdened.” (1 Tim. v. 16.) Be it how you will, only do it. But I put it, not, “that the Church be not burdened,” but, “that thou be not
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
Homily XXV. Acts XI. 19 “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that rose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto t
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A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness · Augustine of Hippo
(18.) The Righteousness of This Life Comprehended in Three Parts,—Fasting, Almsgiving, and Prayer. As long, then, as we are “absent from the Lord, we walk by faith, not by sight;”the fasting He indic
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