Slain in the Spirit
The early Christian writings do not clearly teach the modern practice called being slain in the Spirit. The closest match is Tertullian, who says a person "loses his sensation" when "rapt in the Spirit." Other texts speak of the Spirit coming upon people, falling on their faces, or being filled with the Spirit, but most are about worship, prophecy, or death, not a special resting experience. The best Bible passages for this topic are Acts 4:31, Mark 9:26, Ezekiel 3:14, and 1 Corinthians 14:25.
150 early-church witnesses · 248 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about being slain in the Spirit?
The early Christian writings here give only a thin, indirect picture of what people today call being "slain in the Spirit." Tertullian says a person can lose sensation when "rapt in the Spirit," and a few other writers use language about the Spirit coming upon people, falling down, or being overcome, but most of the clear passages are about worship, prostration, prophecy, or death rather than a modern church experience.
The strongest related witness is Tertullian, with weaker supporting language in Hermas, Justin Martyr, and later writers like Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions. The Bible passages that fit best describe being filled with the Spirit, falling on one's face in worship, or being struck down, but they do not clearly describe the modern practice itself. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Tertullian gives the clearest early line about a person becoming insensible when "rapt in the Spirit."
- Most other early Christian texts are about worship, prophecy, or martyrdom, not a modern "slain in the Spirit" event.
- Bible passages most often tied to the topic describe being filled with the Spirit, falling down, or being struck helpless, but they do not spell out the later church practice.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did the early Christians teach being slain in the Spirit?
Not in a clear, named way. The closest early witness is Tertullian, who says a person may lose sensation when "rapt in the Spirit," but most other early texts are about worship, prophecy, or death, not a modern church event.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
Now, it is no difficult matter to prove the rapture of Peter.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
...the faithful, and he who sits on the chair is a false prophet, ruining the minds of the servants of God. It is the doubters, not the faithful, that he ruins. These doubters then go to him as to a soothsayer, and ask him what will happen to them. And he, the false prophet, not having the power of a Divine Spirit in him, answers them according to their questions and according to their wicked desires, and fills their souls with expectations according to their own wishes. For since he is empty himself, he gives empty answers to empty inquirers, for every answer is made to the emptiness of man. Some true words he does occasionally speak, for the devil fills him with his own spirit, hoping that he may be able to overcome some of the righteous. As many, then, as are strong in the faith of the Lord and are clothed with truth have no connection with such spirits, but keep away from them. But as many as are doubtful in mind and repent often turn to soothsaying, just like the heathen, and bring greater sin on themselves by their idolatry. For he who asks a false prophet about any action is an idolater, devoid of the truth, and foolish. For no spirit given by God needs to be asked. But such
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...has anointed me, He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor.” Similarly David says: “Therefore God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.” Of Him the Apostle Paul says: “For he who does not have the Spirit of Christ is none of His.” And, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” He it is who effects with water the second birth, as a certain seed of divine generation, and a consecration of a heavenly birth, the pledge of a promised inheritance, and as it were a kind of handwriting of eternal salvation. He can make us God’s temple, and fit us for His house. He pleads for us before the divine hearing with groanings that cannot be uttered, filling the offices of advocacy and showing the duties of our defense—an inhabitant given for our bodies and an effector of their holiness. Working in us for eternity, He can also raise up our bodies in the resurrection of immortality, accustoming them to be joined in Himself with heavenly power, and to be allied with the divine eternity of the Holy Spirit. For our bodies are trained both in Him and by Him to advance to immortality, by learning to govern themselves with moderation according to
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
but now that circumcision has begun to be of the spirit among God's faithful servants, the proud and contumacious are slain with the sword of the Spirit, in that they are cast out of the Church.
What Bible verses are connected to being slain in the Spirit?
The closest Bible passages are the ones about being filled with the Spirit, falling on one's face in worship, or being struck down and helpless. Acts 4:31, Ezekiel 3:14, Mark 9:20, Mark 9:26, and 1 Corinthians 14:25 are the main related texts here.
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Acts 4:31 Direct teaching
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
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Ezekiel 3:14 Direct teaching
The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.
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Mark 9:20 Direct teaching
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
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Mark 9:26 Direct teaching
Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”
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1 Corinthians 14:25 Supporting witness
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
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2 Chronicles 20:18 Supporting witness
Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
Did early Christian writers describe people falling or losing sense under the Spirit?
Yes, but only in a limited way. Tertullian says a person can "lose his sensation" when "rapt in the Spirit," and a few other writers speak of the Spirit coming upon people or people falling before God, but these texts still do not give a full description of the later practice.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
For when a man is rapt in the Spirit, especially when he beholds the glory of God, or when God speaks through him, he necessarily loses his sensation, because he is overshadowed with the power of God — a point concerning which there is a question between us and the carnally-minded.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching
...rit from the Lord troubled him, then he came, after the messengers whom he had carefully sent ahead before, intending to kill David. And they fell into the company of the prophets and prophesied, so that they were neither able nor willing to do what they had been commanded. And we believe that the Spirit who was upon them all did this with wonderful wisdom, by the will of God. This same Spirit also filled John the Baptist even from his mother's womb, and it fell upon those who were with Cornelius the centurion before they were baptized with water. Thus, in relation to the baptism of men, the Holy Spirit either goes before it or follows it; or, if the baptism of water is lacking, it falls upon those who believe. We are advised that either we ought rightly to maintain the full integrity of baptism, or, if by chance baptism is given by someone in the name of Jesus Christ, we ought to complete it, guarding the most holy invocation of the name of Jesus Christ, as we have set forth very fully, and also guarding the custom and authority that have for so long a time, and through such great men, rightly claimed our deep reverence.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
...ayer 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 following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and ac
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Asterius Urbanus, The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus Supporting witness
And this person was carried away in spirit;
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
He also offered this prayer Himself, falling on His face again and again. On both occasions, He urged this request: that He might not enter into temptation. He did so both when He prayed, "If it is possible, let this cup pass from me," and when He said, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." He spoke about not entering into temptation, and He made that His prayer. But He did not ask that He would have no trial at all in these circumstances, or that no kind of hardship would ever come upon Him. For in the broadest sense, it seems impossible for any person to live with no experience of evil at all. As one says, "The whole world lies in wickedness." And again, "Most of the days of man are labor and trouble," as people themselves also admit. "Short is our life, and full of sorrow." However, it was not fitting for Him to tell them to pray directly that the curse would not be fulfilled, the curse spoken in these words: "Cursed is the ground in your works: in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;" or in these words: "Earth you are, and to earth shall you return." For this reason, the Holy Scriptures, which show in many different ways the terrible misery of life, c
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
... during those hours or days when they go through such things, do they refuse to pray, or to touch a Bible, or to receive the Eucharist? If they admit that they do, then it is plain that they are without the Holy Spirit, who always remains with the faithful. For Solomon says about holy people, "So that each one may prepare himself, so that when he sleeps it may keep him, and when he rises it may speak with him," Proverbs 6:22. For if you think, woman, that when you are in your seven days of separation you are without the Holy Spirit, then if you were to die suddenly, you would depart without the Spirit and without sure hope in God. Or else you must understand that the Spirit is always inseparable from you, since He is not confined to a place. But you need prayer and the Eucharist and the coming of the Holy Spirit, because in this matter you have committed no sin. For neither lawful union, nor childbearing, nor menstrual cleansing, nor a nighttime emission can defile a person's nature or separate the Holy Spirit from him. Nothing can do that except impiety and unlawful conduct. For the Holy Spirit always remains with those who have Him, as long as they are worthy. And when He depa
Common Questions
Did the early Christians teach being slain in the Spirit?
Not clearly. The closest early line is Tertullian saying a person may lose sensation when "rapt in the Spirit," but most other texts are about worship, prophecy, or death.
Which early writer comes closest to this idea?
Tertullian comes closest with his line about a person being "rapt in the Spirit" and losing sensation.
Are there Bible verses connected to this topic?
Yes. The strongest related passages here are Acts 4:31, Mark 9:26, Ezekiel 3:14, and 1 Corinthians 14:25.
Source Index for Being slain in the Spirit
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 248 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 150
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 98
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:45
Related Resources
Course Lesson
Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
Open a related course lesson for more teaching connected with Being slain in the Spirit.