Definition and Context
Welfare, in a biblical context, refers to the well-being and prosperity of individuals and communities. It encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual health, as well as economic stability. The concept of welfare is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where God's concern for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger is evident throughout Scripture.

Old Testament Insights
The Old Testament provides numerous examples of God's concern for the welfare of His people. The Law given to Israel includes specific provisions for the care of the needy. Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." This command reflects God's desire for His people to provide for the less fortunate.

The concept of the Year of Jubilee, as described in Leviticus 25, further emphasizes God's concern for economic welfare and social justice. Every fiftieth year, debts were to be forgiven, and land was to be returned to its original owners, ensuring that poverty and inequality did not become entrenched in society.

Prophetic Emphasis
The prophets frequently called Israel to account for neglecting the welfare of the vulnerable. Isaiah 1:17 exhorts, "Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." Similarly, Micah 6:8 summarizes God's requirements: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

New Testament Teachings
In the New Testament, Jesus' ministry exemplifies God's concern for human welfare. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and preached good news to the poor. In Matthew 25:35-36 , Jesus identifies Himself with the needy, saying, "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me."

The early church continued this emphasis on welfare. Acts 2:44-45 describes the communal life of the believers: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This practice demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that no member of the community lacked basic necessities.

Apostolic Instructions
The apostle Paul also addressed welfare in his letters. In 1 Timothy 5:3-4 , he instructs, "Honor the widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to show godliness to their own household and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God." Paul emphasizes the responsibility of families to care for their own, while also acknowledging the church's role in supporting those without family.

Theological Implications
The biblical concept of welfare is grounded in the character of God, who is compassionate and just. Believers are called to reflect God's character by caring for the needy and promoting justice. This responsibility is not merely a social obligation but a spiritual mandate, as caring for others is an expression of love and obedience to God.

Practical Application
Christians are encouraged to engage in acts of charity and justice, both individually and collectively. This may involve supporting charitable organizations, advocating for fair policies, and personally assisting those in need. The biblical call to welfare challenges believers to live out their faith in tangible ways, demonstrating the love of Christ to a hurting world.Acts 20:35
I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
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Deuteronomy 15:7-11
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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Luke 12:33
Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.
Topicalbible.org

James 2:8
If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well:
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(n.) Well-doing or well-being in any respect; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; exemption from any evil or calamity; prosperity; happiness.1515. eirene -- one, peace, quietness, rest.
... peace, peace of mind Definition: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common
Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1515.htm - 7k

4991. soteria -- deliverance, salvation
... Feminine Transliteration: soteria Phonetic Spelling: (so-tay-ree'-ah) Short Definition:
deliverance, salvation Definition: welfare, prosperity, deliverance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4991.htm - 7k

3588. ho, he, to -- the
... 1), sight (1), some (7), some* (5), suitable (1), these (4), things (1), this (31),
those (406), those who (17), together* (8), under* (1), welfare (1), what ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3588.htm - 8k

7965. shalom -- completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
... 7964, 7965. shalom. 7966 . completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
Transliteration: shalom Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-lome') Short Definition: peace. ...
/hebrew/7965.htm - 6k

2899b. tobah -- welfare, benefit, good things, good
... 2899a, 2899b. tobah. 2900 . welfare, benefit, good things, good.
Transliteration: tobah Short Definition: good. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/2899b.htm - 5k

8001. shelam -- welfare, prosperity
... 8000, 8001. shelam. 8002 . welfare, prosperity. Transliteration: shelam
Phonetic Spelling: (shel-awm') Short Definition: peace. ...
/hebrew/8001.htm - 6k

2896b. tob -- a good thing, benefit, welfare
... 2896a, 2896b. tob. 2897 . a good thing, benefit, welfare. Transliteration:
tob Short Definition: good. Word Origin from tob Definition ...
/hebrew/2896b.htm - 5k

3468. yesha -- deliverance, rescue, salvation, safety, welfare
... deliverance, rescue, salvation, safety, welfare. Transliteration: yesha or yesha
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh'-shah) Short Definition: salvation. ...
/hebrew/3468.htm - 6k

3444. yeshuah -- salvation
... victories (1), victory (1). deliverance, health, helping, salvation, save,
saving health, welfare. Feminine passive participle of ...
/hebrew/3444.htm - 6k

2896. towb -- pleasant, agreeable, good
... joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth,
pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ...
/hebrew/2896.htm - 6k

2898. tub -- good things, goods, goodness
... From towb; good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative
concretely, the best), beauty, gladness, welfare -- fair, gladness, good ...
/hebrew/2898.htm - 6k

For Temporal and Eternal Welfare.
... Prayer and the Christian Life. FOR TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL WELFARE. O God,
my Father! thanks to Thee I bring with deep humility, That ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/for temporal and eternal welfare.htm

Declaring the Nature of Internal Recollection, and Instructing the ...
... Declaring the Nature of internal Recollection, and instructing the Soul how it ought
to behave it self therein, and in the Spiritual Welfare, whereby the Devil ...
/.../chap xi declaring the nature.htm

Do Such Then Believe in Jesus the Only Saviour, who Seek their ...
... Lord's Day 11 Question 30 Do such then believe in Jesus the only Saviour, who seek
their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else? ...
/.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 30 do such then.htm

If God Demands Obedience from Man, if He Formed Man, Called Him ...
... Book IV Chapter XIV."If God demands obedience from man, if He formed man, called
him and placed him under laws, it was merely for man's welfare; not that God ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiv if god demands obedience.htm

List of the Benefits which Constantine Conferred in the Freedom of ...
... VIII."List of the Benefits which Constantine conferred in the Freedom of the Christians
and Building of Churches; and other Deeds for the Public Welfare. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter viii list of the benefits.htm

Home as a Stewardship.
... The interest of the former is that also of the latter; and the latter, in promoting
the interest of his Lord, is but advancing his own welfare. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter vi home as a.htm

Special Conference in virginia.
... in their dwellings must perform their various duties toward the young plants in
the vineyard of the Lord." "Generally men care for the bodily welfare of their ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/special conference in virginia.htm

The Church and Other Rural Agencies
... Since the arousal of interest in rural welfare by the studies made by the Country
Life Commission in 1908, probably no movement has made more rapid progress ...
/.../vogt/church cooperation in community life/chapter ix the church and.htm

He.
... Since "all things are vanity: what is man's abundance, with all his toil, wherein
he laboureth under the sun?" [5173] For our temporal welfare itself finally ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/he.htm

Method and Organization
... These organizations that flourish in our modern church life naturally fall
into three classes: religious, semi-religious and welfare. ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/vii method and organization.htm

Welfare (32 Occurrences)
...Welfare (32 Occurrences). Luke 6:27 "But to you who are listening to me I say, Love
your enemies; seek the welfare of those who hate you; (WEY). ...
/w/welfare.htm - 16k

Greeting (19 Occurrences)
... GREETING. gret'-ing (sha'-al; chairo, aspasmos, aspazomai): (1) Sha'-al means "to
ask," "to inquire of anyone respecting welfare," hence, "to greet." In the Old ...
/g/greeting.htm - 18k

Good (8348 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed;
promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent ...
/g/good.htm - 26k

Inquired (74 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Acts 18:22 Landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and inquired after
the welfare of the Church, and then went down to Antioch. (WEY). ...
/i/inquired.htm - 28k

Peace (523 Occurrences)
... Version (British and American) "fared," literally, "of the peace of the people"),
and how the war prospered" (literally, "and of the peace (welfare) of the war ...
/p/peace.htm - 46k

Greeted (17 Occurrences)
... Exodus 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him.
They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent. (See NIV). ...
/g/greeted.htm - 11k

Well-being (19 Occurrences)
... (n.) The state or condition of being well; welfare; happiness; prosperity; as,
virtue is essential to the well-being of men or of society. ...
/w/well-being.htm - 11k

Fare (13 Occurrences)
... (singular) imperat. (err(h)oso) or plural (err(h)osthe) as a farewell salutation,
or at the close of a letter, or to describe the welfare (usually physical or ...
/f/fare.htm - 15k

Tobiah (14 Occurrences)
... Samaria (Nehemiah 2:10). He was grieved exceedingly when Nehemiah came
to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. In two ways ...
/t/tobiah.htm - 13k

Congratulate (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 8:10 and Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare,
and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten ...
/c/congratulate.htm - 9k

Should a Christian go on welfare? | GotQuestions.org

What is applied ethics? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Hebrew word shalom? | GotQuestions.org

Welfare: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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