The pulpit has long been the ultimate authority in Nigeria, but recent theological upheavals are challenging the status quo. The “Tithing Debate”—fueled by social media critics like Daddy Freeze and the recent high-profile apology by Pastor E.A. Adeboye—has forced millions of Nigerian Christians to re-examine what they have been taught for decades.

For years, the narrative was uniform: Pay 10% of your income to the church, or face divine wrath. But does this doctrine hold up against the very Bible it claims to cite?

Below is a fact-check of the most common tithing claims made by Nigerian clerics, weighed against the historical and biblical texts of the Old and New Testaments.

CLAIM 1: “The Biblical Tithe was a Monetary Payment (10% of Income)”

The Narrative:

Many Nigerian General Overseers preach that tithing applies to salaries, business profits, and monetary gifts. It is often described as the “first 10%” of any money that comes into a believer’s hand.

The Fact-Check: FALSE

• The Evidence: throughout the Old Testament (Leviticus 27:30, Deuteronomy 14:22), the tithe is strictly defined as agricultural produce: crops, fruit, and livestock.
• The Nuance: Money (gold and silver shekels) existed in biblical times and was used for transactions (e.g., Abraham buying a field). Yet, God never commanded a tithe of money. In fact, Deuteronomy 14:24-26 allowed Israelites who lived far away to sell their tithe for money to transport it, but they were required to convert it back into food and drink upon arriving in Jerusalem.
• Verdict: The biblical tithe was a food tax on the land of Israel, not a monetary tax on general income. 

CLAIM 2: “Pastors are the ‘Levites’ of Today and Must Collect Tithes”

The Narrative:

To justify collecting tithes, many pastors claim the mantle of the “Levite”—the tribe set apart by God to receive the tithe in the Old Testament.

The Fact-Check: FALSE

• The Evidence: The Levitical priesthood was strictly genealogical. You could not “become” a Levite by anointing or calling; you had to be born into the tribe of Levi.
• The Problem: Jesus Christ was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The book of Hebrews (7:11-14) explicitly states that the Levitical priesthood has been changed and superseded by the Priesthood of Jesus.
• The New Testament Standard: The New Testament teaches the “Priesthood of All Believers” (1 Peter 2:5-9). There is no “Levite” class in the Christian church.
• Verdict: Nigerian pastors are Gentiles, not biological Levites. Claiming Levitical rights to collect tithes has no basis in the New Testament. 

CLAIM 3: “If You Don’t Tithe, You Are Under a Curse (Malachi 3)”

The Narrative:

This is the most potent weapon in the Nigerian pulpit. Pastors frequently quote Malachi 3:8-9 (“Will a man rob God?… You are cursed with a curse”) to warn members that poverty, sickness, or the “devourer” will attack them if they withhold their 10%.

The Fact-Check: MISLEADING CONTEXT

• The Context: Malachi was a prophet speaking specifically to Israelites living under the Old Covenant Law of Moses. They were diverting the food meant for the Levites.
• The Theological Shift: The New Testament teaches that “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13).
• Verdict: Using Malachi 3 to threaten New Testament believers contradicts the core Christian doctrine of Grace. Christians are taught to give, but there is no scriptural record of a Christian being “cursed” for not tipping the apostles 10%.

CLAIM 4: “Jesus Commanded Us to Pay Tithes”

The Narrative:

Defenders of strict tithing often cite Matthew 23:23, where Jesus rebukes the Pharisees but adds, “These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (referring to tithing mint and cumin).

The Fact-Check: MISSING CONTEXT

• The Evidence: When Jesus spoke these words, He was speaking to Pharisees—Jewish leaders who were still under the Law of Moses. The New Covenant (Christianity) did not begin until after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• The Silence: In all the letters written to the early churches (Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, etc.), there is not a single command to tithe. Instead, the instructions are to give “cheerfully,” “generously,” and “as he purposes in his heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7)—never as a fixed percentage or under compulsion.
• Verdict: Jesus validated tithing for Jews under the Law, but He never instituted it as a commandment for the Church.

Summary of Findings

The Current State of Affairs

The rigid “Pay or Perish” theology is cracking. Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s recent apology for saying “Non-tithers won’t go to heaven” marked a significant turning point, though he still maintains tithing is a secret to prosperity. Meanwhile, voices like Abel Damina and Daddy Freeze continue to argue that the modern tithe is a systemic fabrication designed to fund church empires rather than follow biblical truth.

For the Nigerian churchgoer, the choice is now between Historical Tradition (what pastors say) and Biblical Literacy (what the text actually says).