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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

  1. James
    Jerusalem · 62
    applies
  2. 2 Corinthians
    Philippi · 67
    applies
  3. Romans
    Corinth · 67
    applies
  4. 1 Timothy
    Ephesus · 67
    applies
  5. Galatians
    Ephesus · 67
    applies
  6. Mark
    Rome · 68
    applies
  7. Matthew
    Antioch · 80
    applies
  8. Luke
    Rome · 84
    applies
  9. Acts
    Rome · 84
    applies
  10. The First Apology
    Rome · 165
    applies
  11. The Instructions of Commodianus.
    — · 220
    explains
  12. Book II. Of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons
    — · 220
    explains
  13. The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.
    — · 220
    explains
  14. The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.
    — · 220
    applies
  15. The Epistles of Cyprian.
    Carthage · 258
    applies
  16. The Treatises of Cyprian.
    Carthage · 258
    explains
  17. The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  18. The Church History of Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    applies
  19. Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations
    Mosul · 345
    explains
  20. The Letters
    Caesarea (Cappadocia) · 379
    applies
  21. Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen
    Nazianzus · 390
    explains
  22. On the Duties of the Clergy
    Milan · 397
    explains
  23. Concerning Widows
    Milan · 397
    explains
  24. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  25. A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  26. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  27. Homilies on First Corinthians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  28. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  29. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  30. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains

Key passages(20)

The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great — The Book of Pastoral Rule. — How the Ruler, While Living Well, Ought to Teach and Admonish Those that are Put Under Him. — part 20↗explains

The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Gregory the Great

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The Treatises of Cyprian., On Works and Alms.↗explains

The Treatises of Cyprian. · Cyprian

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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily XXII on Acts x. 1-4. — part 7↗explains

A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom

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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily XXV on Acts xi. 19. — part 5↗explains

A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom

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Book IV, Sec. I.—On Helping the Poor↗explains

Book IV · Constitutions of the Holy Apostles

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Christian Charity — SECTION I. The words explained↗explains

Christian Charity · Jonathan Edwards

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Christian Charity — SECTION III. An exhortation to the duty of charity to the poor — part 1↗explains

Christian Charity · Jonathan Edwards

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Homilies on Second Corinthians — Homily XVI — part 2↗applies

Homilies on Second Corinthians · John Chrysostom

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On the Duties of the Clergy — Book I. — part 12↗explains

On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan

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Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. vii. 7, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you;’ etc. An exhortation to alms-deeds.↗explains

Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament · Augustine of Hippo

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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon — Homilies on 2 Timothy. — 2 Timothy 2:20,21 — part 3↗explains

The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon · John Chrysostom

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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon — Homilies on Titus. — Titus 3:8-11 — part 2↗explains

The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon · John Chrysostom

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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John — John 2.11 — part 3↗applies

The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John · John Chrysostom

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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great — Sermons. — On the Collections, V.↗explains

The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Leo the Great

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Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New England — PART V. What ought to be done to promote this work. — SECTION III. Some things that concern all. — part 5↗explains

Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New England · Jonathan Edwards

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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom — Matthew XIV. 23, 24. — part 3↗applies

The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom

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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great — Sermons. — On the Fast of the Tenth Month, VI.↗explains

The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Leo the Great

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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily XLV on Acts xx. 32. — part 4↗applies

A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom

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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily XXV on Acts xi. 19. — part 1↗explains

A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom

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A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness — The Righteousness of This Life Comprehended in Three Parts,—Fasting, Almsgiving, and Prayer.↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness · Augustine of Hippo

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