PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE – The founder and presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has sparked discussions among Christians after reportedly teaching that Adam was sent out of the Garden of Eden for touching what he described as God’s tithe.
The cleric made the remarks during a sermon, according to media reports published on October 4, 2024, after a video of his teaching circulated on social media.
Pastor Ibiyeomie argued that Adam’s offence was not simply eating the forbidden fruit but violating God’s instruction by taking what he considered to be reserved for God.
His interpretation connects the biblical account of Adam and Eve with the Christian teaching on tithing, which involves setting aside a portion of one’s income or resources for God.
The statement generated debate among Christians and social media users, with some discussing the importance of tithing while others questioned whether the interpretation was supported by the biblical account.
In Genesis chapter 2, the Bible records that God instructed Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis chapter 3 describes how Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were subsequently sent out of the Garden of Eden.
The passage does not explicitly describe the forbidden fruit as a tithe. The concept of tithing appears in other parts of the Bible, including Leviticus 27:30, which refers to a tenth of the produce of the land as belonging to the Lord.
Pastor Ibiyeomie’s teaching therefore presents a particular theological interpretation of the Eden narrative, linking the command concerning the forbidden tree to the principle of giving God what belongs to Him.
The remarks have contributed to continuing discussions about tithes, offerings and how biblical teachings should be interpreted in contemporary Christian practice.
IBN News notes that the claim about Adam touching God’s tithe is the pastor’s interpretation and is not explicitly stated in the Genesis account.
