Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of a "Community of Goods" refers to the practice of sharing possessions and resources among members of a community, particularly within a religious or spiritual context. This idea is most prominently illustrated in the early Christian church as described in the Book of Acts. The practice is rooted in the belief that material possessions are secondary to spiritual unity and communal well-being.
Biblical FoundationThe primary scriptural basis for the Community of Goods is found in the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 2:44-45 states, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This passage highlights the early Christians' commitment to communal living and mutual support, reflecting their dedication to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Further evidence of this practice is seen in
Acts 4:32-35 : "The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need."
Theological ImplicationsThe Community of Goods is often viewed as an expression of the early church's radical commitment to living out the teachings of Christ. It reflects the belief that the followers of Jesus are called to a life of selflessness, generosity, and care for one another. This practice underscores the principle that spiritual kinship in Christ transcends material wealth and personal ownership.
Theologically, the Community of Goods can be seen as a manifestation of the Kingdom of God on earth, where believers live in harmony and equality, mirroring the divine justice and love of God. It challenges the notion of individualism and materialism, promoting instead a lifestyle of communal responsibility and stewardship.
Historical ContextThe practice of sharing goods was not entirely unique to the early Christians. Similar communal living arrangements were found among other religious groups of the time, such as the Essenes. However, the Christian Community of Goods was distinct in its motivation and scope, driven by the teachings of Jesus and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
The early church's practice of communal living was both a practical response to the needs of its members and a powerful testimony to the surrounding society. It demonstrated the unity and love that characterized the followers of Christ, serving as a witness to the transformative impact of the Gospel.
Challenges and DevelopmentsWhile the Community of Goods was a hallmark of the early church, it also presented challenges. The account of Ananias and Sapphira in
Acts 5:1-11 illustrates the potential for deceit and hypocrisy within such a system. Their account serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of integrity and honesty in communal living.
Over time, as the church grew and spread geographically, the practice of holding all things in common became less central. The apostolic letters, such as those of Paul, emphasize the importance of generosity and support for the needy (e.g.,
2 Corinthians 9:6-7), but do not mandate a communal sharing of all possessions.
Modern ReflectionsIn contemporary Christian thought, the principle of the Community of Goods continues to inspire various expressions of communal living and economic sharing. Monastic communities, intentional Christian communities, and various charitable organizations embody aspects of this early Christian practice. These modern expressions seek to live out the biblical call to love one's neighbor and to prioritize spiritual wealth over material accumulation.
The Community of Goods remains a powerful reminder of the early church's commitment to living out the radical implications of the Gospel, challenging believers to consider how they might embody these principles in their own lives and communities.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Community of GoodsCOMMUNITY OF GOODS
ko-mu'-ni-ti, (hapanta koina eichon, literally, "They had all things (in) common"): InActs 2:44, it is said that, in the infant church at Jerusalem, "all that believed were together, and had all things common," and (Acts 4:34) "as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet." The inference from this, that there was an absolute disposal of all the property of all the members of the church, and that its proceeds were contributed to a common fund, has been disputed upon the ground that the example of Barnabas in selling "a field" for this purpose (Acts 4:37) would not have been mentioned, if this had been the universal rule. The thought conveyed is that all believers in that church held their property as a trust from the Lord, for the benefit of the entire brotherhood, and, as there was need, did as Barnabas.
No commandment, of which record has been preserved, prescribed any such course. It came from the spontaneous impulse of the sense of brotherhood in Christ, when the band of disciples was still small, making them in a sense one family, and under the external constraint of extreme want and persecution. So much there was, that they realized, under such conditions they had in common, that they were ready to extend this to all things. It was, in a sense, a continuance of the practice of a common purse in the band of immediate followers of our Lord during his ministry. The penalty inflicted on Ananias and Sapphira was not for any failure to comply fully with this custom, but because this freedom which they possessed (Acts 5:4) they falsely professed to have renounced, thus receiving in the estimation of their brethren a credit that was not their due. This custom did not last long. It was possible only within a limited circle, and under very peculiar circumstances. The New Testament recognizes the right of individual property and makes no effort to remove the differences that exist among believers themselves. The community of goods which it renders possible is spiritual (1 Corinthians 3:21 f), and not one of visible and external things. With respect to the latter, it enjoins upon the Christian, as a steward of God, the possession and administration of property for the progress of the kingdom of God, and the highest interests of men. The spirit ofActs 4:34 is always to pervade the association of believers as a true Christian community. Meyer, on the above passage, has suggested that it is not unlikely that the well-known poverty of the church at Jerusalem, and its long dependence upon the alms of other churches, may be connected with this early communistic practice, which, however justifiable and commendable at the time, bore its inevitable fruits in a subsequent season of great scarcity and lack of employment.
H. E. Jacobs
Library
Whether it is Lawful for a Man to Possess a Thing as his Own?
... Now according to the natural law all things are common property: and the
possession of property is contrary to thiscommunity ofgoods....
Whether Two Species of Justice are Suitably Assigned, viz....
... Now it is hurtful to the common good of the many, if thegoods of thecommunity
are distributed among many, both because thegoods of thecommunity would be...
Of the Precepts of Plato, and Censures of the Same.
... For the ownership of property contains the material both of vices and of virtues,
but acommunity ofgoods contains nothing else than the licentiousness of...
Peter's First Sermon
... The so- calledcommunity ofgoods was not imposed by commandment, as is plain from
Peter's recognition of Ananias' right to do as he chose with his property....
Still Another Triplet
... There is no trace in the Pauline Epistles of thecommunity ofgoods which for a
short time prevailed in the Church of Jerusalem and which was one of the causes...
The Progress of the Gospel from the Death of Christ to the Death...
... Still, even at this period, the principle of acommunity ofgoods was not carried
out into universal operation; for the foreign Jews who were now converted to...
On the Fast of the Seventh Month, iii .
... make their common supplications [1191] ? IV.Community ofgoods and of
actions is most precious in God's sight. It is a great and...
Whether TemporalGoods Should be Foregone on Account of Scandal?
... are consigned to us to take care of them for someone else; thus thegoods of the
Church are consigned to prelates, and thegoods of thecommunity are entrusted...
The Preachings on the Lake.
... Thecommunity ofgoods was for some time the rule in the new society.[1] Covetousness
was the cardinal sin.[2] Now it must be remarked that the sin of...
The Church of Jerusalem and the Labors of Peter.
... of God, members of one body under one head, Jesus Christ; and this fraternal unity
expressed itself even in a voluntarycommunity ofgoods"an anticipation...
Resources
What is a community church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Community of Christ (RLDS)? | GotQuestions.orgHow should Christians react to persecution against the LGBTQ community? | GotQuestions.orgCommunity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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