Bible Dictionary
CONTRIBUTION
A contribution is a gift given to meet the needs of others. In the early church, such offerings expressed fellowship in Christ and were given freely, regularly, and according to each person’s means.
Definition
A contribution is an offering that puts fellowship among believers into practical service. Christian gifts and possessions are treated as entrusted for distribution according to need. Contributions were free offerings of grateful hearts, not legal exactions, and were given according to the means of the donors.
Biblical Usage
The early church first collected for needy members in Jerusalem. Gentile churches later sent aid to the poor there, extending fellowship from local congregations to the wider church. Gifts were gathered weekly, proportioned to the giver’s means, and sent by accredited representatives.
Historical Background
Contributions arose within the church’s fellowship in Christ. The practice included weekly collection and organized delivery to their destination.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kon-tri-bu'-shun (koinonia, "communion" or "fellowship," Ro 15:26; 2Co 9:13): The meaning "contribution" is drawn from the context, rather than from the Greek word. The phrase in the passage cited, literally rendered, would be "to exercise" or "put fellowship into activity." The koinonia subsisting among believers because of their inner communion with Christ places them and their gifts and possessions at the service of one another (see COMMUNION). They are enjoined. not to forget to communicate (Heb 13:16). To be "communicative" (koinonikoi) is to be a habit of their lives, the Christian principle being that of the holding of all property as a trust, to be distributed as there is need (Ac 2:44 f; 2Co 8:14 f). The first occasion for calling this fellowship into activity, by way of "contributions," was within the church at Jerusalem and for its needy members (see COMMUNITY OF GOODS). The second occasion was repeatedly from the infant Gentilechurches for the poor within the same church (Ac 11:29; Ro 15:26; 2Co 8:1-4; 9:2); the fellowship thus widening from intra-congregational to general church benevolence. These contributions were gathered weekly (1Co 16:2 f), were proportioned to the means of the givers (Ac 11:29; 1Co 16:2), were not exacted or prescribed, in a legalistic manner, but were called forth as the free-will offerings of grateful hearts (2Co 8:7), springing from th community spirit, and were sent to their destination by accredited representatives of the congregations (1Co 16:3; Ac 11:30).</p><p>H. E. Jacobs</p>