Beneficence, the quality of being kind and doing good, is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting God's nature and His expectations for His people. The Scriptures provide numerous exhortations and examples of beneficence, encouraging believers to embody this virtue in their daily lives.

Old Testament References

1. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 · "If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs."

This passage underscores the importance of generosity and compassion towards those in need, emphasizing that beneficence is a command from God to His people.

2. Proverbs 19:17 · "Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender."

Here, the act of kindness is portrayed as an investment in God's kingdom, with the assurance of divine reward for those who practice beneficence.

3. Isaiah 58:6-7 · "Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

The prophet Isaiah highlights that true worship and devotion to God are demonstrated through acts of justice and mercy, including providing for the needy.

New Testament References

1. Matthew 5:16 · "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Jesus teaches that acts of beneficence are a testimony to God's goodness and serve to bring glory to Him.

2. Luke 6:35 · "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

This passage calls believers to a higher standard of love and generosity, mirroring God's own beneficence towards all people.

3. Acts 20:35 · "In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

The Apostle Paul reminds the early church of Jesus' teaching, emphasizing the blessedness of giving and supporting those in need.

4. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 · "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Paul encourages the Corinthian church to give generously and willingly, highlighting the principle of sowing and reaping in the context of beneficence.

5. James 1:27 · "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James defines true religion as active compassion and care for the vulnerable, aligning with the biblical call to beneficence.

Throughout the Scriptures, beneficence is presented as an essential expression of faith and obedience to God. Believers are called to reflect God's love and generosity through their actions, serving as His instruments of blessing in the world.Deuteronomy 15:7-18
If there be among you a poor man of one of your brothers within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother:
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Leviticus 25:35-43
And if your brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with you; then you shall relieve him: yes, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with you.
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Psalm 41:1
Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
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Psalm 112:9
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.
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Proverbs 3:27,28
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
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Proverbs 11:25
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself.
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Proverbs 22:9
He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.
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Proverbs 25:21,22
If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
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Proverbs 28:27
He that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
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Isaiah 58:6,7,10,11
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
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Ezekiel 18:5,7-9
But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
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Matthew 5:42
Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not you away.
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Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
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Matthew 25:35-45
For I was an hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:
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Mark 9:41
For whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.
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Mark 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
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Luke 3:11
He answers and said to them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.
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Luke 11:41
But rather give alms of such things as you have; and, behold, all things are clean to you.
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Acts 6:1-4
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.
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Acts 11:29,30
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers which dwelled in Judaea:
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Romans 15:25-27
But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
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1 Corinthians 13:3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.
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1 Corinthians 16:1-3
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do you.
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2 Corinthians 8:1-15,24
Moreover, brothers, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
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2 Corinthians 9:1-15
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
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Galatians 2:10
Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
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Philippians 4:10-18
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again; wherein you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity.
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1 Timothy 5:8,16
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
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1 Timothy 6:18
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
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Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
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Hebrews 13:16
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
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James 2:15,16
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
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1 John 3:17
But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?
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Organized Beneficence.
... started them on a career of wide beneficence, with a ... In June, 1810, the General
Association of Massachusetts met ... and devout study of the Scriptures, arrived at ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xv organized beneficence.htm

Athanasius is Again Banished; Concerning Eleusius, Bishop of ...
... the explanation of the Sacred Scriptures; he had made some attainments in general
knowledge, and ... supported by their power and beneficence towards strangers ...
/.../chapter xv athanasius is again banished.htm

On the Sufficiency and Perfection of the Holy Scriptures In
... the Scriptures themselves, we distinguish by the general term, "inspiration ... of a
description of the beneficence of God ... to them in all the Scriptures what they ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 2 on the sufficiency.htm

Want of Universality in the Knowledge and Reception of ...
... The general character of the works of nature is, on ... We can judge of beneficence,
because it depends upon ... by the impression which the Scriptures themselves make ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vi want of universality.htm

The Evening of the Third Day in Passion-Week - on the Mount of ...
... by references to the prophetic Scriptures, that every ... point, whether a second or
general Resurrection was ... their terror fear, and their beneficence good will. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi the evening of.htm

part ii.
... Before detailing in full, therefore, the general system of beneficence, these two ...
principles not found nor recognized in the Scriptures, the influence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clark/the faithful steward/part ii.htm

part iii.
... the precepts, examples, promises, and teachings of the Scriptures on this ... to take
the last step in erecting a general system of beneficence, viz.: the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clark/the faithful steward/part iii.htm

The divine institutes
... XII.--Of the Kinds of Beneficence, and Works of ... and Works of Christ are Proved from
the Scriptures. ... Christ Descending from Heaven to the General Judgment, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lactantius/the divine institutes/

The World, Created by God, Still Cherished and Protected by Him. ...
... is said that God fully manifests his beneficence to the ... indeed (Ps.146:9), extols
the general providence of ... Scriptures moreover, the better to show that every ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 16 the world created.htm

Note to the Following Treatise 1. The Following Letter
... known before all, exhorts us by the Scriptures, and reminds ... and with respect to power
in general and a ... a little further on we read: "The Beneficence, the name ...
/.../note to the following treatise.htm

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