Alms

Alms denotes the giving of material goods—money, food, clothing, or shelter—to the poor and needy. Linguistically, the English word alms derives from the Greek eleemosyne, “mercy” or “pity,” though the practice is commanded in the Hebrew Scriptures before that Greek term appears. The text says in Deuteronomy 15:10–11 that Israel must give to the poor with a heart not grieved, opening the hand to “your brother, to your needy, and to your poor,” because the poor will never cease out of the land. The prophet in Isaiah 58:6–7 identifies the fast God chooses with releasing the oppressed, distributing bread to the hungry, bringing the poor who are cast out into one’s house, and covering the naked.

The New Testament continues this concrete ethic. Jesus tells his disciples, “Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy” (Luke 12:33), tying such giving to a treasure in heaven that does not fail. Paul lists generous giving among the ordinary marks of the renewed community (Romans 12:8) and praises the Macedonian churches whose deep poverty overflowed in generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2); he applies the sowing image to bountiful rather than sparing giving (2 Corinthians 9:6). The pastoral letters instruct the wealthy to be “ready to distribute, willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:18), and Hebrews commends the labor of love shown in serving the saints (Hebrews 6:10) and calls doing good and sharing “such sacrifices” with which God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:16). The letter of 1 John 3:17 makes the test stark: whoever has the world’s goods, sees a brother in need, and closes his heart against him—how does God’s love remain in him?

Christian traditions differ over how to frame almsgiving theologically. In Catholic and Orthodox teaching, almsgiving is a work of mercy and often a penitential practice joined to prayer and fasting; in classical Reformation teaching, it is a fruit of faith and gratitude rather than a contribution to justification; in many Anabaptist and evangelical traditions, it is closely tied to discipleship, stewardship, and communal diaconal care. The scriptural texts consistently press for concrete mercy, inward willingness, and love of neighbor, while the theological weight assigned to almsgiving varies by tradition.

AI-generated reference entry, grounded in the passages where this term appears — history and Scripture stated as such, interpretation labeled as interpretation. Not a substitute for the text itself.