A few thoughts on all things common, deacons, and giving

Our pastor is preaching through the book of Acts. We are currently in chapter 5. I wanted to share a few thoughts on all things common, deacons, and giving from chapters 2-6.

 Acts 2:44-46  

⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. ⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 4:32, 34-35

³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

The church in ch. 2 had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. They could say the same thing by the end of ch 4, neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. They were a self-supporting community. Nothing they possessed was "his own", and if they had lands or houses they sold them. This sounds like they were essentially a commune. The most amazing thing was, Neither was there any among them that lacked.

This continued through ch 6, where the apostles needed help regarding the daily ministration, so they appointed 7 men to help.

Acts 6:1-6

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Ministration and ministry are the word diakonia. I find it interesting that the word deacon is diakonos. I believe there is a word play here – diakonia (ministration) and diakonos (deacon) – and that it is intended to lead us to believe these are the first deacons. Tradition confirms this. I believe the Bible teaches us that every church ought to have deacons.

We don’t read any more about this all things common in the book of Acts or the epistles. I used to say that this continued for a brief time in the Jerusalem church and nowhere else, however Tertullian, writing in the latter part of the 2^nd century (155–220), adds a new twist to this:

“our brotherly love continues even to the division of our estates, which is a test few brotherhoods will bear, and which commonly divides the dearest unions among you.
But we Christians look upon ourselves as one body, informed as it were by one soul; and being thus incorporated by love, we can never dispute what we are to bestow upon our own members. Accordingly among us all things are in common, excepting wives
But is it any great wonder that such charitable brethren as enjoy all things in common should have such frequent love-feasts?”
The Apology Of Tertullian, Chapter XXXIX (translated by Wm. Reeve)

I don’t know exactly what Tertullian meant by all things are in common,  but I’m don’t think they were all living in communes, which may mean that the Jerusalem church wasn’t a commune either.

I am persuaded there are three questions we need to ask from these chapters:

1) Is there any further apostolic instruction regarding or concerning this?
No. Absolutely no mention of it after Jerusalem in Acts or in the epistles.

Many movements in church history began as or featured communal living: the Jesus Movement, Shiloh Youth Revivals (John Higgins), Mansion Messiah (Calvary Chapel), His Place (Arthur Blessit), Waldensians, Moravians, Monasteries, Hutterites, the Jesus Army (England) to name a few. They all faded after just a few years. The only ones that lasted were monasteries and Nunneries. I conclude this is clearly not an essential.

2) Is there anything here that is expected or required of following generations?
Ah, this is a different matter. Neither was there any among them that lacked. I believe this is an essential, something that should mark all our churches.

3) Is there any apostolic teaching concerning money?
Jesus talked about money and giving, but that was almsgiving, an individual practice.

Paul talked about money in 2 Corinthians 8-9 (an offering for the churches in Judea and Jerusalem) and 1 Corinthians 16:1; otherwise, the apostles didn’t talk about money, giving, or offerings. But Paul did say something in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 that reflects a principle from Acts 2-6:

“For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.”

That something seems pretty powerful to me!