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Question 8

Tertullian is quoted: “in disarming Peter [the Lord] disarmed every soldier,” and “one person cannot be bound to two masters, to God and to Caesar”; what early-Christian assumptions about discipleship and violence are embedded in that quote, and what would have to change in your theology of “service,” “patriotism,” or “self-defense” to take it seriously?

Another way to ask: Tertullian says that when Jesus disarmed Peter, He disarmed every soldier, and that we can’t serve both God and Caesar. What does this show about early Christians’ view of following Jesus and using violence, and what would you need to rethink about “service,” “patriotism,” or “self-defense” to agree with it?

Direct Answer From the transcript, Tertullian assumes discipleship cannot be combined with military violence because loyalty to Christ conflicts with being an agent of Caesar’s sword. Taking it seriously would require rethinking whether Christian “service” can include carrying the sword, even in “times of peace.”

Support from Transcript:

Bercot says this debate existed “as early as the second century,” and Tertullian addressed it.
Tertullian: “One person cannot be bound to two masters, to God and to Caesar.”
He asks: “How will a Christian man carry on war?…how will he serve even in times of peace without a sword, which the Lord has taken away?”
Tertullian notes that although “a centurion believed,” the later act of Jesus “disarming Peter” had wider meaning.
Bercot ties this to Jesus’ command to Peter: “put your sword away…Everyone who lives by the sword will die by the sword.”

Discussion Follow-ups What does it mean practically to believe “the Lord has taken away” the sword? How might our idea of patriotism change if allegiance to Christ limits what we do for the state?

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