Biblical Money & Inflation
John Weaver | SermonAudio
| Lecture Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Speaker | John Weaver |
| Source | SermonAudio |
| Media ID | 330412270 |
| Subject | Old Testament Studies |
| Course | Genesis: Abraham, Covenant, and Promise |
| Genre | Sermon |
| Date | 2004-02-29 |
| Dictation Name | |
| Book | Book 077: Genesis: Abraham, Covenant, and Promise — Chapter 3 |
| Source Timed Segments | 69 |
Synopsis: John Weaver examines the biblical and constitutional basis for money, arguing that only gold and silver are legitimate money according to Scripture and the U.S. Constitution. He explains that inflation is not rising prices but an increase in the money supply, which devalues currency and is a form of theft. Weaver traces the history of paper money in America, highlighting the Founding Fathers' opposition to it, and warns of the dangers of fiat currency. He encourages believers to invest in silver and gold as a hedge against inflation and to understand God's demand for honesty in economic matters.
Formatted Transcript
Introduction: The Purchase of Machpelah
Weaver reads Genesis 23:1-20, focusing on Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah for 400 shekels of silver, setting the stage for a discussion on biblical money.
"And Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years old. These were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Abraham stood up from before his dead and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 'I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. Give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.' And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, 'Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us. In the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead. None of us shall withhold from thee a sepulchre, that thou mayest bury thy dead.' And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he communed with them, saying, 'If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field.'" "For as much money as it is worth, he shall give it me for possession of a burying place amongst you."
And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
"Nay, my lord, hear me. The field I give thee, and the cave that is therein I give it thee. In the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee. Bury thy dead."
And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying,
"But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me. I will give thee money for the field. Take it of me, and I will bury my dead there."
And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
"My lord, hearken unto me. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that betwixt me and thee? Bury therefore thy dead."
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
"And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. And after this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And the field and the cave that is therein were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the sons of Heth."
Three Truths from Genesis 23:16
Weaver identifies three principles: only gold and silver are real money, money is by weight, and it must be current money with the merchant to avoid fraud.
Now, it's important that we understand the transaction that took place. So in verse 15, Ephron says this: "My Lord, hearken unto me. The land is worth 400 shekels of silver. What is that betwixt me and thee? Bury therefore thy dead." Now, Ephron has named a price. And then the Bible tells us in verse 16, "And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, 400 shekels of silver, current money with the merchant." So Abraham then weighs out 400 shekels of silver. Now let me give you three very important truths that we discover from verse 16.
The first one is this: Only specie, that is gold and silver, is real money. The second thing we find is this: that money is by weight. It is something that can be actually weighed. And the third thing that we find in verse 16 is this: that he gave 400 shekels of silver, current money or current coins with the merchant. In other words, in order not to defraud, in order not to steal, it had to be current money with the merchant.
God's Demand for Honest Weights and Measures
Citing Deuteronomy 25:13-16, Weaver emphasizes that God abhors dishonest weights and measures, linking this to the integrity of money.
Now, if you look in your Bible, hold Genesis 23, but go to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 25, because God demands honesty in every area. Notice, if you would please, Deuteronomy, chapter 25, beginning there in verse 13. Deuteronomy 25, verse 13, God says,
"Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small."
So you're not to have a different weight that is a great and a small. And the only reason anyone would have a different weight would be in order to defraud or to steal. So He says,
"Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight. A perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
Now watch,
"...for all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God."
So God says anyone who defrauds through money, through weight, or through measure, God says that individual is an abomination to God.
Biblical Money: Silver and Gold by Weight
Weaver notes that throughout the Bible, money is always by weight and usually silver or gold, with the shekel being a standard weight.
Now throughout the Bible, money is always by weight and usually it is always silver and gold. Now there were other valuable metals that were coins as well, but usually by far the vast majority would be silver and gold. If you look in your Bible through the book of Genesis chapter 13 and verse 2, the Bible tells us about the riches of Abraham and it just simply says this: Genesis 13 verse 2,
"And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold."
So he had a lot of silver. He had a lot of gold as well as a lot of cattle. Now the word silver occurs 320 times in the Bible. The word gold occurs 417 times in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the most common coin was the shekel. Now the shekel meant a weight. It was a standard of weight and a standard of value among the Hebrews. The shekel of the sanctuary, and you don't have to turn there, but it is mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 verse 13 and in Numbers chapter 3 verse 47. But the shekel of the sanctuary was equal to 20 gerahs in Ezekiel 45 verse 12, and a gerah again was a measure of weight as well. There were shekels of gold mentioned in the Bible. There were shekels of silver. There were shekels of brass and there were also shekels of iron. But a shekel was a definite weight.
Now let me just kind of stroke your imagination and ask you several questions. What in the world has happened in our country, monetarily speaking? Why is it that we no longer have biblical or constitutional money? Why is it that seemingly we make more and more than we've ever made in our lives, and yet we have less? Everyone talks about inflation. Doesn't matter where you go, it's inflation, inflation, and inflation. And surely everyone knows that inflation is higher prices, right? Wrong. Dead wrong.
Historical Lesson: Continental Currency and Hyperinflation
Weaver recounts the hyperinflation of the Continental dollar during the American Revolution, leading to the phrase 'not worth a continental.'
Let me give you this morning a quick history lesson as well as a Bible lesson. During the American War for Independence, which was from 1776 to 1783, the Continental Congress issued $225 million of paper money to finance the war. These paper dollars were known as Continentals. The Continental paper dollar was not redeemable in gold or silver coins. They were eventually to be retired in seven years from taxes that were going to be levied upon the states. Well, that never happened. And as a result, massive inflation overtook our nation. General George Washington wrote in 1779 that a wagon load of money would scarcely purchase a wagon load of provisions.
Now stop and think about that. A wagon load of money would scarcely purchase a wagon load of provisions. By the spring of 1781, the paper money was absolutely worthless. Hence, we get the historical expression, "not worth a continental," because the money was absolutely worthless.
Founding Fathers' Opposition to Paper Money
Weaver details the Constitutional Convention debates where delegates vehemently opposed paper money, leading to hard money clauses in the Constitution.
Now, this hyperinflation was fresh on the minds of the Founding Fathers when they met in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention in May of 1787. On August the 16th of 1787, part of the agenda that day was to discuss proposals for the monetary affairs of our country. The proposal that was under consideration was this one. Let me read it to you: "The legislature of the United States shall have power to coin money, to regulate the value of foreign coin, to borrow money and emit bills on the credit of the United States."
Now, what I'm about to quote to you was recorded by James Madison. James Madison is known as the father of the Constitution because he was the secretary at the Constitutional Convention and he's the individual who took all of the notes. He is now giving us part of the debate over this proposal: "The legislature of the United States shall have power to coin money, to regulate the value of foreign coin, to borrow money, and to emit bills on the credit of the United States." Here are some of the statements made by the delegates. Listen carefully. Governor Morris, who was a delegate from Pennsylvania, moved to strike out the phrase, "and to emit bills on the credit of the United States," because he wanted to say, if the United States had credit, such bills would be unnecessary. And if they did not have credit, they would be unjust and useless. Pierce Butler of South Carolina seconded the motion.
Later in the discussion, he remarked that paper was a legal tender in no country in Europe. He was urgent for disarming the government of such a power. He said the government does not need such a power. James Mason of Virginia had a mortal hatred to paper money, but was unwilling to tie the hands of the legislature. A few others agreed with him. But most of the delegates were vehement in their opposition to irredeemable paper money. Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut said he thought it was a favorable moment to shut and to bar the door against paper money. He went on to say, paper money can in no case be necessary. Give the government credit and other resources will offer. The power may do harm, never good. James Wilson of Pennsylvania said, it will have a most salutary influence on the credit of the United States to remove the possibility of paper money.
George Read of Delaware thought the words, if not struck out, could be as alarming as the mark of the beast in Revelation. He didn't think too much of paper money. And John Langdon of New Hampshire had rather reject the whole Constitution than retain the three words "and emit bills." So our founding fathers were deadly opposed to paper money. Do you realize there were two men who were really responsible for getting the hard money clause in our Constitution? The first one was Roger Sherman. Some of you have his little booklet, "A Caveat Against Injustice," where he's dealing with the paper money issue, and especially the differences of the paper money between the several states. The other man who was responsible was John Witherspoon, who was a Presbyterian pastor and theologian. It was these two men that really were the movers and the shakers in getting the hard money clauses in our Constitution.
Constitutional Provisions for Money
Weaver reads Article 1, Sections 8 and 10, emphasizing that only gold and silver can be legal tender, and questions why we have fiat money instead.
And by the way, let me just give them to you. Listen carefully. Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution says this: "The Congress shall have the power to coin money and to regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and to fix the standard of weights and measures." Now listen what our Congress has the power to do: to coin money and to regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and to fix the standard of weights and measures. Now listen to what Article 1, Section 10 of the United States Constitution says: "No state, that includes Georgia, no state shall coin money, emit bills of credit, make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debt." Did you hear that? No state, the constitutional provision is no state in this union can make anything but gold and silver a legal tender in payment of debts. In other words, no paper money.
Now, I hope you're beginning to ask yourself a very important question. Here it is: Since the Bible demands silver and gold as lawful money, and since the Constitution, and by the way, supposedly, the supreme law of the land, but since the Constitution also demands silver and gold as lawful money, here's the question you should ask yourself: Why do we not have lawful money? Why do we have fiat money? Why do we have paper money? Why do people think a Federal Reserve note is money when it is neither Federal, nor Reserve, nor a note? It's just simply a piece of paper.
What is a Dollar?
Weaver explains that a dollar is a unit of measurement of silver or gold, defined in the Coinage Act of 1792, and that Federal Reserve notes are fraudulent.
Now, while I'm on the subject, let me ask you a question. What is a dollar? Ah, it certainly is not a Federal Reserve note. A dollar is a unit of measurement, just like gallons, and quarts, and bushels, and inches, and feet. Most monetary historians associate the dollar with—listen carefully—Count Schlick, who began minting silver coins in 1519 in Joachimsthal, Bohemia. The coins were called Schlickenthalers or Joachimsthalers. They were literally later on referred to just simply as thalers, which then came down into English as dollars. But it was a unit of measurement. Now Merrill Jenkins, who was also a monetary realist, so to speak, he wrote and he said this: "What is a dollar of money? In the Coinage Act of 1792 it states that the money account of the United States shall be expressed in dollars." Now listen carefully, the term dollar is a unit of measurement just like a quart or an inch. In and of itself a unit of measurement represents nothing. I'll explain that in just a moment. In and of itself a unit of measurement represents nothing.
It was the Coinage Act of 1792, in the Coinage Act of 1792, a dollar measure of gold was a certain number of grains of .999 gold, while a dollar measure of silver was a certain number of grains of .999 silver. A silver dollar, as we used to call it, would literally be expressed as a dollar quantity of silver. And you had a gold dollar, literally a dollar quantity of gold. You would not go into the supermarket and walk up to one of the young men who work there and simply say, "I'd like a quart." A quart of what? "I'd like a gallon." Would you go back to the butcher market and say, "I'd like six ounces"? Six ounces of what? Would you go into a fabric store and say, "I want two feet"? Two feet of what? See, a dollar is simply a unit of measurement. And when you look at a Federal Reserve note, and it has written down on the bottom "one dollar," that is fraud. This is not a unit of measurement.
This is nothing but a piece of paper. Now, when Alexander Hamilton wrote the Coinage Act of 1792, he simply made into law the market definition of a dollar equating the silver content of the Spanish milled dollar. The silver content of the Spanish milled dollar is 371.25 grains of silver. That is the dollar that is referred to in the Constitution.
Now the historical definition of the dollar has never been changed, and it cannot be changed any more than the definition of an inch, or a foot, or a yard, or a bushel, or a quart can be changed. And so it's a grudging misrepresentation to think that paper money, quote unquote, or electronic money is equal to a dollar. It is not. It cannot possibly be. Because a dollar is a unit of measurement in silver or gold. Why do we not have silver and gold as money? Why do we have legal tender laws and why do we have paper money instead of silver and gold? Well, let me give you a legal answer.
Legal Tender Laws and Dishonesty
Weaver quotes Salmon P. Chase and others to argue that legal tender laws exist only to force acceptance of bad money, and that debasing coinage was once a capital offense.
Salmon P. Chase, who served as Secretary of the Treasury under President Lincoln's administration, when he was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, dissenting in Knox v. Lee, summed up his argument against legal tender laws in twelve words. Here's what he said: "The legal tender quality is only valuable for the purposes of dishonesty." The legal tender quality, that is of money, is only valuable for the purposes of dishonesty. So the only reason we have legal tender laws is because it is dishonest money and it is a fraud. And when you read on the Federal Reserve note, "This note is legal tender for all debts public and private," Salmon Chase says the only value of these legal tender laws is for dishonesty. Stephen T. Byington wrote in September of 1895, in the issue of the American Federationist, he said, quote, "No legal tender laws ever needed to make men take good money. It is only used to make them take bad money. Kick it out." That's correct. No legal tender laws ever needed to make you take gold or silver.
How many of you in here would rather have gold or silver than this? Yeah. I'd take it in a heartbeat and so would you. Before I leave the Coinage Act of 1792, I want to give you a quote from Section 19 of that Act.
Now, I want you to remember that our founding fathers, when they were putting in the Constitution that Congress shall have the power to coin money and regulate the value thereof, they had just come through that hyperinflation experience. They knew all about the dangers of paper money. And in the Coinage Act of 1792, section 19, it says this, listen carefully: "If any of the gold or silver coins shall be debased, every such officer or person who shall commit any or either of said offenses shall be deemed guilty of felony and shall suffer death." Did you know that? Did you know the Coinage Act of 1792 is still law? And here's section 19, says anyone who debases the gold or silver coins shall be guilty of a felony and shall suffer death.
Now, needless to say, if the law was applied to our modern day bankers and politicians, it would not be long before we saw the emergence of biblical and constitutional money. I've often said that we either have the stupidest politicians that ever lived or the most treasonous. So you can be the judge. Now, let me give you another quote from Merrill Jenkins in his book, "The Greatest Hoax on Earth." He said this: "The writers of the Constitution knew exactly what they were doing when they wrote in Article 1, Section 10, Paragraph 1, 'No state shall make anything but gold and silver coin a legal tender in payment of debts.' People able to barter with gold and silver coin control government and are free. Loss of the right to trade in gold and silver coins enslaves people to the creators of psychological money." Langley stated, what he is saying is this: when we do not have biblical or constitutional money, we are enslaved. And the reason they produce this fiat money is for the purpose of enslaving us.
Inflation Defined and Its Effects
Weaver defines inflation as an increase in the money supply, which decreases purchasing power, and provides historical examples of its devastating effects.
But as bad as the debasement of coinage is, the printing of paper money is worse. Why? Because it's difficult to perceive the debasement and the progressive worthlessness of paper money. The problem with paper money is you think you have something when you don't. You think you have 10,000 bucks in the bank. And because of inflation, which I'm going to get to in just a moment, you don't really have 10,000 bucks. You might really only have 9,000, or the purchasing power of 9,000, although you've got 10,000 in there. You see, inflation is not higher prices. That is a symptom. Inflation is increase in the money supply. Inflation is an unseen tax. Inflation is a way that you and I are stolen from through paper money without even knowing it. Do you realize when the money supply is increased, the purchasing power of that which is already in existence is decreased? And while I'm at it, listen carefully, the government is the only one that can produce inflation. I don't produce inflation.
You don't produce inflation. It's the government that produces inflation. Let me give you an example. Just suppose that we have 500 billion dollars, and I'm using that term loosely. Let me correct it. Let's suppose we have 500 billion FRNs floating around in circulation. And the Treasury then, department, produces another 500 billion and dumps them upon us. Well, our money supply then has just been increased by 100%, and in theory so has inflation, but the existing currency is now decreased in value by 50%. So when you increase the money supply, the value of what you already have goes down. So, the greater the increase in the money supply, the greater the decrease in the value of the currency. Inflation is a decrease in the purchasing power of money caused by the increase of the money supply. That is, more and more money is demanded for the same goods and services.
Let me say it very plainly again. Inflation is when the money becomes increasingly worthless. Prices only rise because the paper currency does not retain its value, and it takes more and more of it to buy the same thing. Now, you think I'm making this up, but let me give you a quote from the United States Bureau of Engraving in their booklet, "Government Securities." I really ought to change that to "Government Insecurities," but here it is. Here's the quote from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving: "The Bureau prints approximately 16 million notes each day. The Bureau has the power to create money, almost any amount of it."
"The only limiting factors are the speed of the presses and the public's willingness to accept it." Now there it is straight from the horse's mouth. What did they say? The Bureau of Engraving creates money. How do they create it? Out of thin air. They print it. They said the only limitation we have is the speed of our presses and the willingness of people to accept it. You see, folks, the only thing that holds this up is confidence. And when the confidence goes, this is gone.
I want to give you several illustrations. What cost $1,000 in 1900 would, in 2002, cost $2,756.01. Now, that's a long period of time. I'm going to show you a better one in just a moment.
If you were to buy the exact same products in 1900, the exact same products would cost you $48.18. In 2002, the same products would cost you $1,000. Now, you've got to remember, after 1964, our money was taken, even our coins were taken off the silver standard, in other words, coinage is totally debased. If you had $1,000 in 1964, in 2002, in order to have $1,000 worth of purchasing power, you would need $5,654.32. So, what would cost you $1,000 in 2002
would have only cost you $176.86 in 1964. Now, what am I trying to say? I'm trying to show you the value of the money goes down. Another comparison is this: $1,000 in 1964 would today—you would need $5,974.19 to equal the purchasing power of $1,000. This is in 2004.
Now, I'll tell you what you can do. Go to your computer, go to your search engine, and type in "inflation calculator." And you'll have four or five calculators that'll come up. And you can put in any amount and any date from 1900 on to 2004, and you can see how our money has lost its value. Now listen carefully. Things are not getting better, they're getting worse. You need to consider the fact that this is becoming more and more worthless. In fact, I don't really know the value of this piece of paper.
Practical Advice: Invest in Silver and Gold
Weaver urges consistent monthly purchases of silver and gold as a hedge against inflation, providing sources and emphasizing long-term holding.
Now, let me tell you something that I have tried to encourage young people to do. I don't know how many have taken my advice, probably very few. But here's what I told young people: You ought to buy silver and gold every month. I don't care if it's 50 bucks worth, 100 bucks worth, whatever you have, buy it every month. Be consistent. Be faithful. You do not have to buy $40,000 worth at one time. I don't know any young couple who have $40,000 to spare. I don't know any older couples who have $40,000 to spare. But the truth is, most everybody throws away $100 a month. Can you imagine, here's a young husband and wife, say they're in their early 20s. If they began consistently buying silver and gold and did it every month, as much as they could afford, sometimes 100 bucks, sometimes 200, sometimes 300, sometimes 50. But as much as they could afford and if they did it consistently, can you imagine what they would have by the time they were 50 years old?
Did you know silver is just going up, what, about 50% over the last little time? Gold is going up. All it's going to do, listen, as the paper money goes down, silver and gold are going to constantly and continually rise. Now, if you want to jot this down, I'm going to give you very quickly three sources as to where you can get silver and gold. And I would imagine that each, in fact, I know one would, but I imagine all three of them would work with you on a monthly basis. Buying something consistently. The first one, of course, is Henry Klingler. You can get silver and gold from Henry.
His phone number, 912-427-2715. Jesup, Georgia.
The second place is Franklin Sanders, the Money Changer. His address is P.O. Box 178, West Point, Tennessee. West Point is one word. W-E-S-T-P-O-I-N-T, Tennessee, 38486. He's got a toll free number: 888-218-9226. 888-218-9226. The third person is Ron Wilson, Atlantic Bullion and Coin, or ABC, Atlantic Bullion and Coin. 203 Siloam Road, S-I-L-O-A-M, Siloam, right? Siloam Church. 203 Siloam Road, Easley, E-A-S-L-E-Y, Easley, South Carolina, 29642. 29642. He also has a toll-free number, 800-327-8606.
Now, let me just say something. I certainly know there are other valuable investments as well as silver and gold. I understand that. But what I'm trying to tell you is these two metals are foundational. They're basic. And I'll tell you something else. Having good equipment at home, being able to do things for yourself, that's an excellent investment as well. But here's the thing about silver and gold, and I'm certainly not going to ask who in this room has it.
It's none of my business and none of anybody else's business. But I will ask you this, and you don't answer out loud. Once you get it, do you just simply spend it at will, spend it at pleasure, give it away, throw it away? The answer is no. Let me tell you what you can do. You can say, "I'm going to save money." And let's say you take a thousand of these little Federal Reserve notes and you stick them in a book somewhere. "I'm saving that money."
If you want something badly enough, you know what you'll do? You'll go get that thousand bucks and spend it. But if you have a thousand bucks of silver, a thousand bucks of gold, you will think long and hard before you get rid of that silver and gold. Let me tell you, I realize there's money to be made in trading gold for silver and silver for gold at the right time. But I want to tell you something. If you buy silver and gold, I do not buy it, or I would not buy it, with the intent of making money on it right away. That would be good if you could. But if you buy silver and gold, you ought to buy it with the mentality of twenty years down the road. Of something to keep, which will be a hedge against inflation. If you can make money trading it, do so. There's no problem with that. But the point I'm trying to make is you'll get rid of these so easily and so quickly, and you will not get rid of that silver and gold as easily and quickly. But you need to make sure you understand that real money is biblical money. It's constitutional money. And this is not money.
Conclusion and Prayer
Weaver concludes by reiterating that real money is biblical and constitutional, and prays for wisdom and faithfulness.
It is not a dollar. It is not a unit of measurement of anything. It's a Federal Reserve note, which is neither Federal, nor Reserve, nor a note. OK, let's pray. Father, we thank Thee for Jesus Christ and for His grace and mercy. We thank Thee for the truth of Your Word. Help us, Lord, to be faithful to Thee. To be considerate, Lord, of what You teach us in Your Word.
Enable us to be as wise as we can be. Wise as a serpent, as You said, and harmless as a dove. Give us wisdom to serve Thee acceptably. In Thy name we pray. Amen.
Study Guide
Major Themes
Biblical Definition of Money
Summary: Only gold and silver, measured by weight, qualify as real money according to Scripture.
Evidence: Weaver states: 'Only specie, that is gold and silver, is real money... money is by weight.'
God's Demand for Economic Honesty
Summary: God condemns dishonest weights and measures, and any economic system that defrauds is an abomination.
Evidence: Weaver cites Deuteronomy 25:13-16: 'all that do such things... are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.'
Constitutional Money
Summary: The U.S. Constitution mandates gold and silver as the only legal tender, reflecting the Founding Fathers' opposition to paper money.
Evidence: Weaver reads Article 1, Section 10: 'No state shall... make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debt.'
Inflation as Monetary Expansion
Summary: Inflation is not rising prices but an increase in the money supply, which devalues currency and acts as a hidden tax.
Evidence: Weaver explains: 'Inflation is increase in the money supply... Inflation is an unseen tax.'
The Fraud of Fiat Money
Summary: Paper money is inherently dishonest, and legal tender laws are only needed to force acceptance of worthless currency.
Evidence: Weaver quotes Salmon Chase: 'The legal tender quality is only valuable for the purposes of dishonesty.'
Historical Warnings Against Paper Money
Summary: The hyperinflation of the Continental dollar and the German Deutschmark illustrate the dangers of fiat currency.
Evidence: Weaver recounts: 'A wagon load of money would scarcely purchase a wagon load of provisions' and the German woman's basket story.
Practical Wisdom: Invest in Precious Metals
Summary: Believers should consistently buy silver and gold as a long-term hedge against the devaluation of paper currency.
Evidence: Weaver advises: 'You ought to buy silver and gold every month... as a hedge against inflation.'
God's Judgment on Unjust Economic Systems
Summary: God condemns nations that debase their currency, as seen in Isaiah 1:22, and rebellion in economics leads to collapse.
Evidence: Weaver reads Isaiah 1:22: 'Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water' and warns of civilizational collapse.
Key Arguments
Only gold and silver are biblical money
Summary: The Bible consistently uses silver and gold as money, measured by weight, and God condemns dishonest money.
Evidence: Weaver notes: 'Only specie, that is gold and silver, is real money' and cites Genesis 23:16 and Deuteronomy 25.
The Constitution requires hard money
Summary: The Founding Fathers, having experienced hyperinflation, explicitly prohibited paper money and mandated gold and silver as legal tender.
Evidence: Weaver quotes Article 1, Section 10 and the Coinage Act of 1792, which made debasement a capital offense.
Inflation is caused by government expansion of the money supply
Summary: Inflation is not a natural phenomenon but a deliberate policy that steals purchasing power from citizens.
Evidence: Weaver states: 'Inflation is increase in the money supply... the government is the only one that can produce inflation.'
Paper money is inherently fraudulent
Summary: Federal Reserve notes are not money but worthless paper, and legal tender laws force their acceptance.
Evidence: Weaver calls Federal Reserve notes 'neither Federal, nor Reserve, nor a note' and quotes Chase on legal tender.
A dollar is a unit of measurement of precious metal
Summary: The dollar was defined in 1792 as a specific weight of silver or gold, and paper 'dollars' are a misrepresentation.
Evidence: Weaver explains: 'A dollar is a unit of measurement... 371.25 grains of silver.'
Fiat money leads to economic enslavement
Summary: Without gold and silver money, people are enslaved to the creators of paper money, and civilization risks collapse.
Evidence: Weaver quotes Merrill Jenkins: 'Loss of the right to trade in gold and silver coins enslaves people.'
Investing in silver and gold is a biblical hedge
Summary: Consistent, long-term purchase of precious metals protects against the devaluation of paper currency.
Evidence: Weaver advises: 'You ought to buy silver and gold every month... as a hedge against inflation.'
God judges nations with unjust monetary systems
Summary: Isaiah 1:22 shows that debasing currency is rebellion against God, and such nations face collapse.
Evidence: Weaver reads Isaiah 1:22 and states: 'One cannot flaunt his rebellion in the face of God and expect to survive.'
Scripture References
Genesis 23:1-20
Context: Weaver reads the entire passage about Abraham purchasing the cave of Machpelah for 400 shekels of silver.
Genesis 23:15-16
Context: Weaver highlights these verses to show that money was silver, weighed, and current with the merchant.
Deuteronomy 25:13-16
Context: Weaver reads this passage to show God's demand for honest weights and measures, calling violators an abomination.
Genesis 13:2
Context: Weaver cites this verse to show that Abram's wealth was in cattle, silver, and gold.
Exodus 30:13
Context: Weaver mentions the shekel of the sanctuary as a standard weight.
Numbers 3:47
Context: Weaver mentions this verse in connection with the shekel of the sanctuary.
Ezekiel 45:12
Context: Weaver notes that the shekel equals 20 gerahs.
Isaiah 1:22
Context: Weaver reads this verse to show God's condemnation of debased silver and watered-down wine as rebellion.
Historical References
American War for Independence (1776-1783)
Context: Weaver describes how the Continental Congress issued $225 million in paper money, leading to hyperinflation.
Constitutional Convention of 1787
Context: Weaver details the debates on August 16, 1787, where delegates opposed paper money and voted to strike 'emit bills' from the Constitution.
Coinage Act of 1792
Context: Weaver explains that this act defined the dollar as 371.25 grains of silver and made debasement a capital offense.
Henry VIII of England
Context: Weaver tells the story of 'Old Copper Nose' to illustrate coin debasement by plating copper with silver.
German hyperinflation in the 1920s
Context: Weaver recounts how the Deutschmark became worthless, with people using it as wallpaper or kindling, and a basket being more valuable than the money.
Stock market crash of 1929
Context: Weaver references multimillionaires becoming paupers overnight to illustrate the danger of paper assets.
Important Quotes
Only specie, that is gold and silver, is real money.
Significance: This is Weaver's foundational claim that biblical money is exclusively precious metals.
The legal tender quality is only valuable for the purposes of dishonesty.
Significance: Weaver quotes Salmon P. Chase to argue that legal tender laws exist only to force acceptance of bad money.
Inflation is increase in the money supply. Inflation is an unseen tax.
Significance: Weaver defines inflation correctly as monetary expansion, not price increases, and calls it a hidden tax.
A dollar is a unit of measurement, just like gallons, and quarts, and bushels, and inches, and feet.
Significance: Weaver explains that a dollar is a specific weight of silver or gold, not a piece of paper.
If any of the gold or silver coins shall be debased, every such officer or person who shall commit any or either of said offenses shall be deemed guilty of felony and shall suffer death.
Significance: Weaver quotes the Coinage Act of 1792 to show the seriousness with which the Founders viewed currency debasement.
Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.
Significance: Weaver uses Isaiah 1:22 to show God's condemnation of currency debasement.
You ought to buy silver and gold every month.
Significance: Weaver's practical application urging consistent investment in precious metals.
Discussion Questions
How does the biblical definition of money as silver and gold by weight challenge our modern understanding of currency?
Context: Weaver argues that only specie is real money based on Genesis 23:16.
In what ways does inflation as an increase in the money supply affect our daily lives and financial decisions?
Context: Weaver defines inflation and explains how it devalues existing currency.
Why do you think the Founding Fathers were so opposed to paper money, and how does their reasoning apply today?
Context: Weaver recounts the Constitutional Convention debates and the hard money clauses.
How should Christians respond to the fact that our current monetary system is based on fiat currency rather than gold and silver?
Context: Weaver calls Federal Reserve notes fraudulent and urges investment in precious metals.
What does Isaiah 1:22 teach us about God's view of economic injustice and currency debasement?
Context: Weaver reads Isaiah 1:22 and connects it to rebellion against God.
Is it practical for the average person to invest in silver and gold as Weaver suggests? What are the obstacles?
Context: Weaver advises monthly purchases of precious metals and provides sources.
How does the concept of 'legal tender' relate to honesty and freedom, according to Weaver's quotes?
Context: Weaver quotes Salmon Chase and Stephen Byington on legal tender laws.
What lessons can we learn from historical hyperinflations (Continental currency, Weimar Germany) for our own financial preparedness?
Context: Weaver gives examples of hyperinflation to warn of paper money's dangers.
Applications
Invest in silver and gold consistently
Summary: Weaver urges believers to buy silver and gold every month as a long-term hedge against inflation and currency devaluation.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'You ought to buy silver and gold every month... as a hedge against inflation.'
Understand the true nature of money
Summary: Recognize that only gold and silver are biblical money, and paper currency is fraudulent and will ultimately become worthless.
Evidence: Weaver states: 'Only specie, that is gold and silver, is real money' and calls Federal Reserve notes 'neither Federal, nor Reserve, nor a note.'
Be honest in all financial dealings
Summary: God demands just weights and measures; Christians should avoid any form of economic dishonesty or fraud.
Evidence: Weaver cites Deuteronomy 25:13-16: 'all that do such things... are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.'
Prepare for economic collapse
Summary: Weaver warns that the current fiat money system is unsustainable and will collapse; believers should be prepared with tangible assets.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'I believe it will collapse. It's just a matter of time.'
Educate yourself on monetary history and policy
Summary: Weaver encourages investigation into the monetary system, quoting Hemphill that it is 'the most important subject intelligent persons can investigate.'
Evidence: Weaver quotes Robert Hemphill: 'It is the most important subject intelligent persons can investigate and reflect upon.'
Hold precious metals for the long term
Summary: Weaver advises against quick trading; instead, buy and hold silver and gold with a 20-year perspective.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'If you buy silver and gold, you ought to buy it with the mentality of twenty years down the road.'
Recognize inflation as a form of theft
Summary: Understand that government expansion of the money supply steals purchasing power and is a hidden tax.
Evidence: Weaver explains: 'Inflation is an unseen tax. Inflation is a way that you and I are stolen from through paper money.'
Use constitutional money as a standard
Summary: Weaver implies that believers should advocate for and use gold and silver as money, in line with the Constitution.
Evidence: Weaver reads Article 1, Section 10: 'No state shall... make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debt.'
deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T17:28:12Z
deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T20:10:03Z