Is this teaching biblical?
John Avanzini's claim that Jesus was wealthy, lived in a 'nice big house,' and 'wore designer clothes' is a fabrication with zero biblical or historical support. Jesus explicitly stated He had nowhere to lay His head. The seamless tunic soldiers cast lots for was a simple garment, not luxury fashion. Avanzini rewrites history to justify greed — turning the humble Savior into a prosperity icon.
What did John Avanzini say?
"Jesus had a nice house! You don't think Jesus had a nice house? You think he was homeless? ... Jesus had a nice big house! ... Jesus wore designer clothes!"
Speaker: John Avanzini
Source: Believer's Voice of Victory, TBN, January 20, 1991
What does Scripture actually teach?
Matthew 8:20
"And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.'"
— NKJV
Jesus Himself declared He had nowhere to lay His head — He was functionally homeless during His earthly ministry. Avanzini's claim of a 'nice big house' directly contradicts the words of Christ. This is not interpretation — it is fabrication.
John 19:23
"Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece."
— NKJV
Avanzini uses this verse to claim Jesus wore 'designer clothes.' A seamless tunic was simply a common garment woven in one piece — a sign of practical craftsmanship, not luxury. The church has always seen Christ's poverty as exemplary, and the soldiers dividing His only garments shows how little He possessed.
2 Corinthians 8:9
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
— NKJV
Paul explicitly states Jesus 'became poor' for our sakes. The riches here are spiritual — through His poverty we gain eternal life. Avanzini inverts the gospel: instead of Christ's poverty enriching us spiritually, he claims Christ was materially wealthy to justify our material greed.