Early Christian Beliefs About Church Unity

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

...righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not all one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that “we are members one of another?” Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, “Woe to that man by whom offences come! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yes, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about his neck, and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.” Your schism has subverted the faith of many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to John 17:21 Direct teaching

how much more do I reckon you happy who are so joined to him as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father, that so all things may agree in unity!

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

He will also judge those who cause divisions, who lack the love of God, and who seek their own personal gain rather than the unity of the Church. These people, for trivial reasons or any reason they come up with, tear apart and divide the great and glorious body of Christ, and, as much as they can, destroy it—people who talk about peace while causing conflict and who, in reality, focus on insignificant details but ignore major issues. No reform they achieve can be significant enough to outweigh the harm caused by their division. He will also judge all those who are outside the truth, meaning those who are outside the Church; but no one will judge him. For everything is consistent with him: he has complete faith in one God Almighty, from whom all things come; and in the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom all things exist, and in the plans associated with Him, through which the Son of God became man; and a solid belief in the Spirit of God, who provides us with the knowledge of the truth and has shown the plans of the Father and the Son, by which He dwells with every generation of people, according to the will of the Father.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...ation? But you, brothers, who have been taught from the Scriptures, should be careful not to create divisions in belief or divisions in unity. For those who set up unlawful opinions are signs of destruction to the people. In the same way, you of the laity should not go near those who teach doctrines contrary to the mind of God, nor should you share in their impiety. For God says, "Separate yourselves from the midst of these men, lest you perish together with them." And again: "Depart from the midst of them, and separate yourselves, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you."

1 Corinthians 1:10 Background

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Ephesians 4:3 Background

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:13 Background

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Ephesians 4:4 Background

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

John 17:21 Background

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you?

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Direct teaching

But avoid all divisions, as the beginning of evils.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

But those who cleave asunder, and separate the unity of the Church, [shall] receive from God the same punishment as Jeroboam did.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching

Moreover, when he blames divisions and schisms, which are clearly evils, he immediately adds heresies as well. Now, when he adds something to evil things, he of course admits that it is itself an evil. In fact, it is even greater, because he tells us that he believed their schisms and divisions existed because he knew that heresies also had to exist, as 1 Corinthians 11:19 says. For he shows that it was because he expected the greater evil that he readily believed the lesser ones existed. So he was very far from thinking that heresies were good, even in matters of this kind. Instead, his purpose was to warn us beforehand that we should not be surprised at temptations of an even worse kind, since, he says, they tend to make manifest those who are approved, as 1 Corinthians 11:18 says. In other words, they make known those whom the heresies were not able to corrupt. In short, since the whole passage points to preserving unity and stopping divisions, and since heresies separate people from unity no less than schisms and divisions do, there is no doubt that he places heresies under the same condemnation as schisms and divisions. And by doing this, he shows that those who have fallen in

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

Their very unity, however, is schism. I am greatly in error if they do not among themselves swerve even from their own regulations, forasmuch as every man, just as it suits his own temper, modifies the traditions he has received after the same fashion as the man who handed them down did, when he moulded them according to his own will.

Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Direct teaching

...less heretic neither move nor trouble us. Although he stands in such great guilt for dissension and schism, and is separated from the Church, with sacrilegious boldness he still does not hesitate to throw his accusations back on us. For although he has now made himself unclean and is defiled with the filth of sacrilege, he argues that we are the ones who are unclean. And although it is written that dogs should remain outside, and the apostle has taught that these same dogs must be avoided, as we read when he says, "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers," Philippians 3:2, he does not stop stirring up his madness with his barking. Like wolves looking for gloomy darkness, he seeks places where, with brutal cruelty, he may easily tear apart in his dark dens the sheep snatched away from the Shepherd. He certainly says that he and the companions he gathers are gold. We do not doubt that deserters from the Church, who have become apostates, could now easily be turned into gold, but it would have to be that gold by which the first sins of the people of Israel were represented. But the gold and silver vessels taken from the Egyptians remain in the Lord's power, that is, in Christ's Chur

Romans 16:17 Background

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Jude 1:19 Background

It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 11:19 Background

for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

...that which agrees with itself and is one in itself. Because of their inner divisions and conflicts, unity has departed from them. They have become numbers, perhaps infinite numbers. We are required, therefore, to say that whoever speaks what is foreign to religion is using many words. But he who speaks the words of truth, even if he goes over the whole field and leaves nothing out, is always speaking the one word. Nor are the saints guilty of much speaking, since they always keep in view the aim that is connected with the one word. It appears, then, that the much speaking which is condemned is judged to be such more from the nature of the ideas being taught than from the number of words spoken. Let us see whether we may conclude in the same way that all the sacred books are one book, but that those outside are the many books of the Preacher. The proof of this must be drawn from Holy Scripture. It will be established most clearly if I can show that it is not only one book, taking the word in its more common meaning, that we find written about Christ. Christ is written about even in the Pentateuch. He is spoken of in each of the Prophets, and in the Psalms, and, in a word, as the

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

and without Him was nothing made;” and the Apostle Paul [says] in like manner, “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father, who is above all, and through all, and in us all”—this man will first of all “hold the head, from which the whole body is compacted and bound together, and, through means of every joint according to the measure of the ministration of each several part, maketh increase of the body to the edification of itself in love.” And then shall every word also seem consistent to him, if he for his part diligently read the Scriptures in company with those who are presbyters in the Church, among whom is the apostolic doctrine, as I have pointed out.

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Ephesians 4:4 Background

And ye are, as Paul wrote to you, "one body and one spirit, because ye have also been called in one hope of the faith. Since also "there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all."

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...e Church, since the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 12:27 that we are all members of His body. On the one hand, someone might think it is hopeless to connect everything said about the temple properly with the body, in whatever sense the body is understood. He may then turn to a simpler explanation and say that the body, in either of these senses, is called the temple because, just as the temple had the glory of God dwelling in it, so He who was the image and glory of God, the firstborn of every creature, could rightly be called, with respect to His body or the Church, the temple containing the image. For our part, we see that it is a difficult task to explain every detail of what is said about the temple in the third Book of Kings, and it is far beyond our power of expression. So we put it off for now, as something beyond the scope of the present work. We are also strongly convinced that in such matters, which go beyond human nature, it must be the work of divine wisdom to make clear the meaning of inspired Scripture, of that wisdom which is hidden in a mystery, which none of the rulers of this world knew. We are well aware too that we need the help of that excellent Spirit of wis

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

After these have been cast away, the Church of God shall be one body, of one mind, of one understanding, of one faith, of one love.

1 Corinthians 12:12 Background

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Romans 12:5 Background

so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:25 Background

that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:20 Background

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Background

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... has been handed down to us: there is one God, and one Christ, and one hope, and one faith, and one Church, and one baptism appointed only in the one Church. Whoever departs from this unity must be found among heretics. And while he supports them against the Church, he attacks the sacred mystery of the divine tradition. We also see the sacred mystery of this unity expressed in the Song of Songs, in the person of Christ, who says, "My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed, a well of living water, a garden with the fruit of apples." Song of Songs 4:12-13 But if His Church is a garden enclosed, and a fountain sealed, how can someone who is not in the Church enter that garden or drink from its fountain? Moreover, Peter himself, showing and defending unity, has commanded and warned us that we cannot be saved except by the one baptism of the one Church. "In the ark of Noah," he says, "few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water; baptism will likewise save you also." 1 Peter 3:20-21 In a very short and spiritual summary, he has set forth the sacred mystery of unity. For just as, in that baptism of the world, when its ancient wickedness was washed away, the perso

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...unity. Whoever he may be, and whatever he may be, if he is not in the Church of Christ, he is not a Christian. Even if he boasts about himself and proclaims his philosophy or eloquence with lofty words, yet if he has not kept brotherly love and ecclesiastical unity, he has lost even what he once had. Unless, perhaps, he seems to you to be a bishop who, after a bishop had been appointed in the Church by sixteen fellow bishops, strives through bribery to be made a corrupt and outsider bishop by the hands of deserters. And although there is one Church, which Christ has spread throughout the whole world into many members, and also one episcopate spread abroad through the united number of many bishops, he still tries, in spite of God's tradition and in spite of the joined and firmly connected unity of the Catholic Church everywhere, to make a merely human church. He also sends his new apostles through very many cities, so that he may set up some new foundations of his own choosing. And although in every city and throughout all the provinces bishops have already been ordained—men advanced in years, sound in faith, proved in trial, and condemned in persecution—this man dares to create

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...-baptize those whom they lure away from us. It does not matter to us at all what the enemies of the Church do, as long as we ourselves keep respect for our authority and for the firmness of reason and truth. For Novatian, like apes, which are not men and yet imitate human actions, wants to claim for himself the authority and truth of the Catholic Church, though he himself is not in the Church. No, more than that, up to now he has come forward as a rebel and enemy against the Church. For although he knows that there is one baptism, he claims this one for himself, so that he may say that the Church is with him and make us heretics. But we, who hold to the head and root of the one Church, know and confidently trust that nothing is lawful there outside the Church, and that the one baptism is among us, where he himself also was formerly baptized, when he still held to both the wisdom and truth of divine unity. But if Novatian thinks that those who have been baptized in the Church must be re-baptized outside the Church, he ought to begin with himself, so that he might first be re-baptized with a foreign and heretical baptism, since he thinks that after the Church, yes, and against the

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... he come to the heretics, where there is no fountain or river of living water at all, or to the one Church, which is founded upon the one who received its keys by the Lord's word? She alone holds and possesses all the power of her spouse and Lord. In her we preside. For her honor and unity we fight. Her grace, as well as her glory, we defend with faithful devotion. By God's permission, we give water to the thirsty people of God. We guard the boundaries of the living fountains. If, therefore, we hold the right of our possession, if we acknowledge the sacrament of unity, why are we considered false to the truth? Why are we judged betrayers of unity? The faithful, saving, and holy water of the Church cannot be corrupted or adulterated, just as the Church herself also is uncorrupted, chaste, and modest. If heretics are devoted to the Church and established in the Church, they may use both her baptism and her other saving benefits. But if they are not in the Church, no, more than that, if they act against the Church, how can they baptize with the Church's baptism?

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

11. For it has been delivered to us, that there is one God, and one Christ, and one hope, and one faith, and one Church, and one baptism ordained only in the one Church, from which unity whosoever will depart must needs be found with heretics;

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

All which arises from the divine unity. For even as the Lord who dwells in us is one and the same, He everywhere joins and couples His own people in the bond of unity, whence their sound has gone out into the whole earth, who are sent by the Lord swiftly running in the spirit of unity;

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

God is one, and Christ is one, and His Church is one, and the faith is one, and the people is joined into a substantial unity of body by the cement of concord.

Cyprian, Epistles Background

John 10:30 To which unity reducing His Church, He says again, And there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

By the sacrament and sign of His garment, He has declared the unity of the Church.

Ephesians 4:5 Background

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,