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Prerequisite #1
Prerequisite #2
Prerequisite #3
Genesis - Abraham
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The Levitical Tithe
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PREREQUISITE #2 - DEFINITION OF INCOME
The word "income" is not found in the King James Version of the Holy Bible. Because we hear this word being used in the church, we need to understand its meaning.
Definition of income from Webster's Dictionary:
in·come, n.
1. the monetary payment received for goods or services, or from other sources, as rents or investments.
2. something that comes in as an addition or increase, esp. by chance.
3. Archaic. a coming in.
-Syn. 1. interest, salary, wages, annuity, gain, return, earnings.
Section 61 of Title 26, Subtitle A, Chaper 1, Subchapter B, Part 1 of the Federal Code includes the following in the definition of gross income:
Gross income means all income from whatever source derived, including (but not limited to) the following items:
1. Compensation for services, including fees, commissions, fringe benefits, and similar items;
2. Gross income derived from business;
3. Gains derived from dealings in property;
4. Interest;
5. Rents;
6. Royalties;
7. Dividends; etc.
Nowadays, most people think of income being money. However, income can be in the form of services or items of value. Therefore, even in a barter exchange, the item received is the income.
Now let's find some examples of income in the scriptures.
Wages for services rendered:
Genesis 31:41 (KJV)
41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
Exodus 2:9 (KJV)
9And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
Jeremiah 22:13 (KJV)
13Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
Interest on loans:
Exodus 22:25 (KJV)
25If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
Leviticus 25:36 (KJV)
36Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.
Sale or purchase of property, crops, and animals:
Genesis 23:15-16 (KJV)
15My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
16And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
In Genesis 23:15-16 we see that Abraham purchased land with money.
Deuteronomy 14:24-26 (KJV)
24And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
25Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
26And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
In Deuteronomy 14:25-26 we see that they had a marketing system where they could sell and buy animals and food from crops.
So even though the KJV of the Bible does not use the word "income," we find several verses that show they did, in fact, have income, and they had money. Taxes had to be paid with money.
Matthew 17:27 (KJV)
27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Therefore, we have plainly shown that in biblical times, they had money, income, and markets to buy and sell goods.
Now let's continue to Prerequisite #3 by clicking here.
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