COMMUNITY OF GOODS. An expression not literally from the NT but referring to the free Christian love expressed in the sharing of material goods, as recorded in Acts 2:44 and 4:34-5:11.

Problems to be faced in these passages concern how complete this community of goods was and whether there was any compulsion involved in the sharing of private property set forth here. The social structure of the church at Jerusalem was not a communal program in the modern sense of the word as shown in the two Acts passages cited above, for the emphasis is placed first upon the sharing of spiritual blessings in Christ (Acts 2:42, 43; 4:31-33). In addition, the Christians were willing to share their material goods (“they...were together and had all things in common,” 2:42-44; 4:32 KJV). As a result, none of the saints at Jerusalem was impoverished (ἐνδεής, G1890) (4:34 RSV). Furthermore, the Acts texts indicate that the properties of Christians were not automatically considered to be the possession of the corporate visible Church. Rather, the picture is that these properties were sold from time to time (ἐπίπρασκον, 2:45), and the monetary value was then brought to the apostles (4:34) and the distribution made (from time to time, διεμέριζον, 2:45; cf. 4:35), all in the degree that (καθότι, G2776, 2:45; 4:35) anyone developed a material need.

That the disciples were not forced to sell their property nor give it to the Church is shown by the example of Ananias and Sapphira who were condemned not for failing to give their property (Acts 5:4), but for pretending to contribute more than they actually had given (5:1-3).

Even this modified voluntary community of goods seems to have been practiced only in the Jerusalem church and for a limited time. Later this church received gifts from non-Judean churches (Acts 11:27-30; 2 Cor 8:1-5), one such church being instructed to lay aside offerings for the Lord’s work each week (1 Cor 16:1, 2), with no suggestion of any community of goods. Paul’s teaching is that individual Christians are to be responsible stewards of what God has entrusted to them (1 Cor 4:1, 2).

This principle of private ownership of property is also set forth in the OT where the respect for, and the sanctity of, another’s private person and property are taught (Exod 20:15; 21:26-22:13).

Bibliography F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles (1965), 101, 130-133.