The Teachings of the Early Church

The Jesus Gospel

Sharing the teachings of Jesus that the world would like to ignore.

For the 300 years closest to Jesus the Christian church taught and lived non-violence. What did they know that we have failed to understand?

Following is the list of Christian writers from the first three centuries who supported Christian involvement in violence:

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Trick statement. There are none known from the first three centuries.

I realize there is nothing I can say that will make sense.

“Under no circumstances should a true Christian draw the sword.” – Tertullian, 155-230 A.D.

At Jesus birth there was the slaughter of innocents and I am sure God was cursed for allowing it to happen.

“We, who were formerly slayers of one another, not only do not make war upon our enemies, but, for the sake of neither lying nor deceiving those who examine us, gladly die confessing Christ.” - Justin Martyr, 100 - 165 A.D.

War and senseless slaughter will not go away. Each side with the sword will say they have a legitimate reason for striking and a just reason for going to war. But with each blow they strike they begin to mirror those who they say they oppose until the line is so blurred it is difficult to tell who is who.

“We who had been filled with mutual slaughter and every wickedness, have each one - all the world over - changed the instruments of war, the swords into ploughs and the spears into farming instruments, and we cultivate piety righteousness, love for men, faith and hope which is from the Father Himself through the Crucified One.” - Justin Martyr, 100 - 165 A.D.

We will dress the villains in terms that will make them seem inhuman to help justify the violence. They will be called barbarians or savages or devils on horses. They will be less than human and clearly evil.

“And so, in this commandment of God, no exception at all ought to be made to the rule that it is always wrong to kill a man, whom God has wished to be regarded as a sacrosanct creature…Thou shalt not kill… It is always unlawful to put a man to death.” - Lactantius of Bithynia, aprox 240-317 A.D.

But in the end it is not the barbarian or the savage or the devil on the horseback we really need to fear.

“Christians have been taught not to defend themselves against their enemies; and because they have kept the laws that command gentleness and love of man, they have received from God that which they would not have achieved if they were permitted to make war, though they might have been quite able to do so.” Origen

Rather it will be us the Christian. You know the one. The one who fought in the crusades. The same one who bought and sold slaves. Yes the same one who murdered and raped the people they called Indians. The very one who tried to exterminate the Jews. The one who dropped the atomic bombs on civilian centers in the name of justice. And the one today that searches hard to find the reason to draw the sword. Onward Christian solider…

“The greatest warfare, in other words, is not with human enemies but with those spiritual forces which make men into enemies.” Origen

And with each blow we strike we nail Jesus back on the cross, again and again and again.

“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;” Apostle Peter

So now here we are, needing to ask the question: Who really is the barbarian and the savage and the devil on the horseback? And is there anyone willing to try a different way?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Jesus)

The early church was not passive and they took social justice to heart. They opposed the common practice of war, abortion and the abandoning of the frail and the sick by the roadside. They were willing to share their worldly possessions and to reach out to friend and foe alike. Their testimony is powerful! Here is a sampling of what they taught.

"We who had been filled with mutual slaughter and every wickedness, have each one - all the world over - changed the instruments of war, the swords into ploughs and the spears into farming instruments, and we cultivate piety righteousness, love for men, faith and hope which is from the Father Himself through the Crucified One.” - Justin Martyr, 100 - 165 A.D.

“Under no circumstances should a true Christian draw the sword.” – Tertullian, 155-230 A.D.

“We have come in accordance with the counsel of Jesus to cut down our arrogant swords of argument into plowshares, and we convert into sickles the spears we formerly used in fighting. For we no longer take swords against a nation, nor do we learn anymore to make war, having become sons of peace for the sake of Jesus, who is our Lord.” - Origen of Alexandria, 185-254 A.D.

“We, who were formerly slayers of one another, not only do not make war upon our enemies, but, for the sake of neither lying nor deceiving those who examine us, gladly die confessing Christ.” - Justin Martyr, 100 - 165 A.D.

“You cannot demand military service of Christians any more than you can of priests. We do not go forth as soldiers.” Origen of Alexandria, 185-254 A.D.

"And so, in this commandment of God, no exception at all ought to be made to the rule that it is always wrong to kill a man, whom God has wished to be regarded as a sacrosanct creature…Thou shalt not kill… It is always unlawful to put a man to death.” - Lactantius of Bithynia, aprox 240-317 A.D.

“And this is at least incredible, inasmuch as even now those Barbarians who have an innate savagery of manners . . . and cannot endure to be a single hour without weapons; but when they hear the teaching of Christ, straightway instead of fighting they turn to husbandry, and instead of arming their hands with weapons they raise them in prayer, and in a word, in place of fighting among themselves henceforth they arm against the devil and against evil spirits, subduing these by self-restrains and virtue of soul. Now this is at once a proof of the divinity of the Saviour, since what men could not learn among idols they have learned from him.” - Athanasius, 296-373 A.D.

“I am a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal king. From now I cease from this military service of your emperors, and I scorn to adore your gods of stone and wood, which are deaf and dumb images… I cast down my vine-staff and belt… and I refuse to serve as a soldier … I threw down my arms; for it was not seemly that a Christian man, who renders military service to the Lord Christ, should render it also by inflicting earthly injuries.” - Marcellus the centurion, 298 A.D.

Did Jesus really intend for us to take his words seriously? "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy', but I say to you love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you that you may be sons of your father in heaven..." Matthew 5: 43-45 Should we be obedient to these words? Or should we pretend they were never said?