Topical Bible: Offerings: Antiquity of

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The concept of offerings is deeply rooted in the earliest narratives of the Bible, signifying humanity's innate desire to worship and honor God through sacrificial acts. Offerings, as depicted in the Scriptures, serve as a tangible expression of devotion, gratitude, and atonement.

Early Instances of Offerings

The practice of offerings can be traced back to the very beginning of human history as recorded in the Bible. The first explicit mention of offerings is found in the account of Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 4:3-4 , it is written: "In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD, while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering." This passage highlights the distinction between offerings that are pleasing to God and those that are not, emphasizing the importance of the heart's intent and the quality of the offering.

Noah's Sacrificial Offering

Following the great flood, Noah's first act upon exiting the ark was to build an altar and offer sacrifices to God. Genesis 8:20-21 states: "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. Taking from every kind of clean animal and bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.'" This offering signifies a renewal of the covenant between God and humanity, underscoring the role of offerings in divine-human relationships.

Patriarchal Offerings

The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, also practiced offerings as a central aspect of their worship. Abraham's willingness to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering, as commanded by God, is a profound demonstration of faith and obedience (Genesis 22:2-13). This narrative not only illustrates the significance of offerings but also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Jacob, too, made offerings to God, as seen in Genesis 31:54 : "Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal." These acts of offering were integral to the patriarchs' covenantal relationship with God, serving as expressions of gratitude and commitment.

Mosaic Law and Offerings

The formalization of offerings is extensively detailed in the Mosaic Law, where various types of offerings are prescribed, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. Leviticus 1-7 provides comprehensive instructions on how these offerings are to be conducted, each serving distinct purposes within the community of Israel.

The offerings under the Mosaic Law were not merely ritualistic but were intended to maintain the holiness of the people and their relationship with God. They provided a means for atonement, thanksgiving, and fellowship, reflecting the multifaceted nature of offerings as both a personal and communal act of worship.

Conclusion

The antiquity of offerings in the Bible reveals their foundational role in the worship and spiritual life of God's people. From the earliest narratives to the detailed prescriptions of the Mosaic Law, offerings have been a vital expression of faith, devotion, and covenantal relationship with the Divine.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 4:3,4
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Why they Call Themselves Perat??; their Theory of Generation ...
... Perat??; Their Theory of Generation Supported by an Appeal to Antiquity; Their
Interpretation ... of; for the ruler of this world rejoices in (offerings of) blood. ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xi why they call themselves.htm

'The Love of Thine Espousals'
... children of Israel, which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings
of oxen ... a mere attempt of a later age to claim antiquity for comparatively ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the love of thine espousals.htm

Altar and Temple
... the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the ... feast
of the year, crowded with reminiscences from the remote antiquity of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

Introductory Notice to the Early Liturgies.
... the Lord shall choose; and thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, the flesh and ... Various
liturgies have come down to us from antiquity; and their age, authorship ...
/.../various/early liturgies/introductory notice to the early.htm

The Earliest Chapters in Divine Revelation
... Cain and Abel are both represented in the familiar story of Genesis 4. as bringing
their offerings to Jehovah. ... [Sidenote: Antiquity of human civilization and ...
/.../iii the earliest chapters in.htm

Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
... Sin-offerings, guilt-offerings, trespass-offerings, and the day of atonement
(practically ... It is their concrete method of proclaiming the antiquity and divine ...
/.../ix influences that gave rise.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... In that case it must have been brought to Egypt from remote antiquity, for it ... ansato,
as symbols of life; or bears a flat tray, full of offerings"bunches of ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

Pagan Shrines and Temples.
... The shape and nature of the offerings bear witness to numberless cases of recovery ...
present day, there was a temple of great veneration and antiquity, and that ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter ii pagan shrines and.htm

Authorship of the Pentateuch.
... carefully indicate their explanatory notes; but this was not the usage of high
antiquity. ... the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter ix authorship of the.htm

The Ancient Form of Government Utterly Corrupted by the Tyranny of ...
... In one thing, those who hold the place of deacons in the mass exhibit an empty image
of antiquity, for they receive the offerings previous to consecration. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the ancient form.htm