Tithe, << tyth, >> is a tax of one-tenth on the profits from the produce of one’s land or one’s earnings. The word tithe comes from an Old English word meaning a tenth.
In ancient Israel, the tithe mainly supported the priesthood, but it was also distributed to the poor. Tithing was seen as a way to acknowledge God’s authority and to express gratitude for favors. The early Christian church did not require tithing. By the 500’s, church law required payment of a tax on income and lands. In the late 700’s, Charlemagne made this civil law. Tithing was more common in the West than in the East. Today, members of some Christian churches contribute a tenth of their income to the church, but most churches allow voluntary contribution.
