Early Christian Beliefs About Barbarians
Early Christians often used “barbarians” to mean foreign peoples, not a single race or one fixed idea. Clement, Aristides, Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian all connect barbarian peoples with God, truth, or the spread of Christ. Some writers also use the word in older Greek ways for outsiders, captives, or non-Greeks, so the tone can be mixed. The main Christian takeaway is that barbarians were not outside the reach of the gospel.
108 early-church witnesses · 226 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about barbarians?
Early Christian writers did not treat barbarians as one simple group. Some, like Clement, Aristides, Irenaeus, and Origen, spoke of barbarians as people who could be wise, learn the truth, and come to Christ, while others used the word for outsiders, captives, or nations seen as dangerous or pagan. The strongest pattern is that Christians insisted the gospel reached Greeks and barbarians alike, and that people from barbarian nations could truly believe.
At the same time, a few writers also used the word in the old Greek sense of foreign or non-Greek peoples, so the tone is mixed and sometimes negative. The Bible passages most tied to this topic also point to both judgment language about nations and the equal call of the gospel to all peoples. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Many early Christians said barbarians could believe in Christ and receive salvation.
- Some writers used “barbarian” as a simple word for foreign or non-Greek peoples.
- A few texts speak harshly about barbarian nations, especially when discussing pagan worship or war.
- Bible passages used on this topic include Romans 1:14 and Acts 28:2-4.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians say barbarians could believe in Christ?
Several early writers explicitly say that barbarian peoples believed in Christ and kept the ancient tradition. These sources present barbarians not as outside the faith, but as part of the church’s expansion.
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Colossians 3:11 Supporting witness
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
How did early Christian writers use the word barbarian?
Some sources use “barbarians” as a broad cultural label for non-Greek peoples, contrasting them with Greeks or describing customs, language, and social life. In these texts, the word is descriptive and often tied to ethnicity or language rather than a single religious judgment.
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Aristides, The Apology Direct teaching
So then there are, as I said above, four classes of men: — Barbarians and Greeks, Jews and Christians.
Did early Christian writers criticize barbarian religion?
Some early apologists describe barbarian religions as idolatrous or mistaken, especially in contrast to Christian monotheism. These passages argue against the worship of created things and images rather than making a blanket claim about every barbarian people.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching
and yet these words are preached throughout the whole world, so that Greeks and Barbarians, wise and foolish, adopt the doctrines of the Christian religion.
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Tertullian, De Corona Direct teaching
It may be of some Christians too; for Christ is also among the barbarians.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
...and marine legions with me. Assessing my situation and my troops against the overwhelming number of barbarians and enemies, I quickly turned to prayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience. Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies. Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God followin
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Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Background
...stories. Moreover, it's important for you to understand that nothing was accurately recorded by the Greeks before the era of the Olympiads, and there is no ancient work detailing any actions of the Greeks or Barbarians. Before that period, there existed only the history of the prophet Moses, which he wrote in Hebrew by divine inspiration. The Greek alphabet was not yet in use, as language experts inform us, saying that Cadmus first brought the letters from Phoenicia to the Greeks. Your first philosopher, Plato, confirms they were a recent discovery. In the "Timaeus," he wrote that Solon, the wisest of the wise men, upon returning from Egypt, told Critias that he heard from a very old Egyptian priest who said to him, “O Solon, Solon, you Greeks are always children, and there is no aged Greek.” He further said, “You are all young in soul because you hold no ancient opinion passed down through tradition or any system of instruction aged with time; all these things are unknown to you because for many generations, the descendants of those ancient times died silent, without the use of letters.” It is essential, therefore, that you understand that all history has been written in these
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Romans 1:14 Direct teaching
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
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Acts 13:46 Supporting witness
Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
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Acts 13:48 Supporting witness
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
More related quotations from this section 3 shown
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Plato does not deny that he got everything best in philosophy from the barbarians, and he admits that he went to Egypt. So, writing in the Phaedo that the philosopher can receive help from every side, he said, "Greece indeed is great, O Cebes, where there are good men everywhere, and the races of the barbarians are many." In this way, Plato thinks that some of the barbarians also are philosophers. Epicurus, on the other hand, thinks that only Greeks can do philosophy. And in the Symposium, Plato, praising the barbarians as practicing philosophy with outstanding excellence, truly says, "And in many other cases, both among Greeks and barbarians, temples built for such sons are already numerous." And it is clear that the barbarians especially honored their lawgivers and teachers, calling them gods. For, according to Plato, they think that good souls, after leaving the region above the heavens, willingly come down to this Tartarus. Taking on a body, they share in all the troubles involved in birth because of their care for the human race. These are the ones who make laws and publish philosophy, and no greater gift than this has ever come from the gods to the human race, or ever will co
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Wherefore he also called the races of the barbarians, races of barbarian philosophers, recognising, in the Phœdrus, the Egyptian king, and shows him to us wiser than Theut, whom he knew to be Hermes.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
Many nations of those barbarians who believe in Christ agree with this path, having salvation written in their hearts by the Spirit, without paper or ink. They carefully preserve the ancient tradition, believing in one God, the Creator of heaven, earth, and everything in it, through Christ Jesus, the Son of God. Because of His surpassing love for His creation, He humbled Himself to be born of the virgin, uniting man through Himself to God. After suffering under Pontius Pilate, rising again, and ascending in splendor, He will come in glory as the Savior of the saved and the Judge of the judged, sending those who distort the truth and despise His Father and His coming into eternal fire. Those who have believed this faith without written documents are barbarians regarding our language; however, concerning doctrine, behavior, and way of life, they are very wise due to their faith. They please God by conducting themselves with righteousness, chastity, and wisdom. If anyone were to preach the inventions of the heretics to them in their language, they would immediately stop their ears and flee as far as possible, not even enduring to listen to the blasphemous speech. Therefore, through th
How did early Christians speak about barbarian nations and idolatry?
Some writers spoke sharply about barbarian nations when they were describing idol worship or false religion. Aristides says barbarians went astray and worshiped created things, and Irenaeus says the gods of the nations were not gods at all but idols of demons. These are not general claims about every barbarian person, but strong attacks on pagan worship.
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Aristides, The Apology Direct teaching
So then, because the Barbarians did not understand God, they went astray among the elements and began to worship created things instead of their Creator. For this purpose they made images and shut them up in shrines, and look, they worship them while guarding them very carefully, so that robbers will not steal their gods. And the Barbarians did not see that what acts as a guard is greater than what is being guarded, and that everyone who creates is greater than what is created. If, then, their gods are too weak to protect their own safety, how will they care for the safety of men? Great, then, is the error into which the Barbarians wandered by worshipping lifeless images that can do nothing to help them. And I am led to wonder, O King, at their philosophers, how even they went astray and gave the name of gods to images that were made in honor of the elements, and how their wise men did not see that the elements also can be dissolved and perish. For if a small part of an element is dissolved or destroyed, the whole of it can be dissolved and destroyed. If then the elements themselves are dissolved and destroyed, and are forced to be subject to another thing more stubborn than they a
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
But they were obligated to teach the Gentiles that works of this kind were wicked, harmful, useless, and destructive to those who participated in them. Therefore, the one who received the apostolate to the Gentiles labored more than those who preached the Son of God among the Jews. The Jews were supported by the Scriptures, which the Lord confirmed and fulfilled by coming as He had been announced. However, in the case of the Gentiles, there was a different kind of learning and a new doctrine to be accepted. They had to understand that the gods of the nations were not gods at all, but idols of demons, and that there is one God who is above all principalities, dominion, power, and every name that is named. His Word, naturally invisible, was made tangible and visible among people and descended to death, even the death of the cross. Those who believe in Him will be incorruptible, free from suffering, and will receive the kingdom of heaven. These things were preached to the Gentiles by word of mouth, without the aid of the Scriptures, which is why those who preached among the Gentiles faced greater challenges. On the other hand, the faith of the Gentiles is shown to be more noble, as th
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Aristides, The Apology Background
3. Let us begin, then, with the Barbarians, and go on to the rest of the nations one after another, that we may see which of them hold the truth as to God and which of them hold error.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
But this is not so much a matter of surprise with respect to barbarians, whose religion agrees with their character.
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1 Corinthians 12:2 Background
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
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Philippians 3:2 Background
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Did early Christians use barbarian to mean a language outsider?
Yes. Irenaeus says some believers were barbarians only because of language, and Paul says a speaker can be a barbarian to another person if they do not understand the language. This use is about speech and culture, not just ethnic identity.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
Those who, in the absence of written documents, have believed this faith, are barbarians, so far as regards our language;
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1 Corinthians 14:11 Direct teaching
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
...by barbarian names, they will have power; but they will no longer have any if they are addressed in Greek or Latin." So let him clearly say whom we call on for help by barbarian names. Anyone will be convinced that this charge Celsus brings against us is false, when he considers that Christians in prayer do not even use the exact names that divine Scripture applies to God. Instead, the Greeks use Greek names, the Romans Latin names, and each person prays and sings praises to God as best he can, in his own mother tongue. For the Lord of all the languages of the earth hears those who pray to Him in every different tongue. He hears, if I may say so, only one voice expressing itself in different dialects. For the Most High is not like one of those who choose one language, whether barbarian or Greek, knowing nothing of any other and caring nothing for those who speak in other tongues.
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Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness
... has ever seen you do it? O Persian barbarian, you have never been able to know the language of the Greeks, or of the Egyptians, or of the Romans, or of any other nation. Only the Chaldean tongue has been known to you, and truly that is not a language used by any great number of people. You are not able to understand even one person of another nation when he speaks. But the Holy Spirit is not like that. God forbid. He gives to all, and knows every kind of language, and understands all things, and becomes all things to all people, so that even the thoughts of the heart cannot escape His knowledge. For what does the Scripture say? It says that every man heard the apostles speak in his own language through the Spirit, the Paraclete. But why should I say more about this? Barbarian priest and crafty helper of Mithras, you will only be a worshipper of the sun-god Mithras, who, as you think, gives light to places of mystical meaning and is a self-aware deity. That is, you will behave as his worshippers do, and you will celebrate his mysteries, though with less elegance, so to speak. But why should I take all this so angrily? Is it not fitting that you should multiply like the tares unt
Common Questions
Did early Christians think barbarians could become Christians?
Yes. Irenaeus, Origen, and Clement speak of barbarian peoples who believed in Christ, and Justin and Tertullian also treat them as people within the reach of the gospel.
Did early Christians always speak positively about barbarians?
No. Some texts describe barbarians as pagan, foreign, captive, or warlike, so the tone is mixed.
Which Bible verse is most related to barbarians?
Romans 1:14 is the clearest direct verse, since Paul says he is under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians.
Source Index for Barbarians
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 226 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 108
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 118
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.