Did Early Christians Teach Universal Salvation?

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...on leads to faith, and faith with baptism is trained by the Holy Spirit. That this faith is the one universal salvation of humanity, and that there is the same equality before the righteous and loving God, and the same fellowship between Him and all, the apostle showed most clearly when he spoke in this way: "Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed, so that the law became our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Do you not hear that we are no longer under that law which came with fear, but under the Word, the master of free choice? Then he added the statement, free from all partiality: "For you are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26-28 There are not, then, in the same Word some illuminated people, that is, gnostics, and some natural men. But all who have abandoned the desires of the

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness

...nding that prays and sings with the spirit, and if it is the same that receives both perfection and salvation, how is it that Peter says, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls”? If the soul neither prays nor sings with the spirit, how can it hope for salvation? Or when it attains blessedness, will it no longer be called a soul? Let us see if perhaps an answer may be given in this way: just as the Savior came to save what was lost, that which formerly was said to be lost is not lost when it is saved; so also, perhaps, this which is saved is called a soul, and when it has been placed in a state of salvation, it will receive a name from the Word that denotes its more perfect condition. But it appears to some that this also may be added: just as the thing that was lost undoubtedly existed before it was lost, at which time it was something other than destroyed, so also will be the case when it is no longer in a ruined condition. In like manner also, the soul that is said to have perished will appear to have been something at one time, when it had not yet perished, and on that account would be called a soul; and being again freed from destruction, it may b

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness

And by the grace of His compassion He provides for all men, and encourages all to the use of whatever remedies may lead to their cure, and incites them to salvation.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Background

... the Son of the Most High God, who promised through the law and the prophets that He would make His salvation visible to all flesh; that He would become the Son of man so that humankind might also become the sons of God? Mary, rejoicing over this, exclaimed, prophesying on behalf of the Church, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever." Through these passages, the Gospel shows that it was God who spoke to the fathers; that it was He who, through Moses, established the legal system, through the giving of the law. We know that He spoke to the fathers. This same God, in His great goodness, poured His compassion upon us. Through this compassion, "the Dayspring from on high has looked upon us and appeared to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, and has guided our feet into the way of peace." As Zacharias, recovering from a state of muteness due to unbelief, was filled with a new spirit, he blessed God in a new way. All things had entered a new phase, the Word arranging the coming in the flesh in a new way, to

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Background

... struck the Egyptians while saving the obedient, will repeat themselves in the Lord. He judges eternally, condemning those He judges and freeing those He sets free for eternity. According to their words, He becomes responsible for their most grievous sin, as those who laid hands on Him and pierced Him. For if He had not come, these men could not have become the killers of their Lord. If He had not sent prophets to them, they certainly could not have killed them or the apostles. To those who argue, "If the Egyptians had not suffered plagues and been drowned in the sea while pursuing Israel, God could not have saved His people," this response may be given: Unless the Jews had become the killers of the Lord—which indeed took eternal life from them—and by killing the apostles and persecuting the Church, fell into deep anger, we could not have been saved. Just as the blindness of the Egyptians led to salvation, so are we saved by the blindness of the Jews, if the death of the Lord is the condemnation of those who crucified Him and did not believe in His coming, but the salvation of those who believe in Him. For the apostle also says in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians: “For we a

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness

...ained, and have had no desire to see heaven and the Maker of heaven. Nor, by setting your choice on salvation, have you sought to hear the Creator of the universe and learn from Him. For no hindrance stands in the way of the one who is set on the knowledge of God. Neither childlessness, nor poverty, nor obscurity, nor want can hinder the person who eagerly strives after the knowledge of God. Nor does anyone who has gained true wisdom for himself by brass or iron choose to trade it away, for it is far better than everything else. Christ is able to save in every place. For the one who burns with zeal and admiration for righteousness, being a lover of the One who needs nothing, himself needs very little. He has stored up his blessedness in nothing but himself and God, where there is neither moth, nor robber, nor pirate, but the eternal Giver of good. Matthew 6:20-21. So you have rightly been compared to those serpents that shut their ears against charmers. For, says the Scripture, "Their mind is like the serpent, like the deaf adder, which stops her ear, and will not hear the voice of the charmers." But let yourselves feel the influence of the charming songs of holiness. Receive th

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

In the end, the agreement and harmony of both forms of faith lead to one goal: salvation. We have the apostle as a sure witness: "For I desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, in order that you may be strengthened; that is, that I may be comforted among you by the mutual faith of you and me." Romans 1:11-12 And a little later he adds, "The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith." Romans 1:17 So the apostle clearly declares a twofold faith, or rather one faith that allows growth and perfection, for the common faith lies underneath as a foundation. Therefore, to those who desired to be healed and were moved by faith, He added, "Your faith has saved you." Matthew 9:22 But what is built excellently on that foundation is completed in the believer, and is further perfected by the faith that comes from instruction and the word, so that the commandments may be carried out. Such were the apostles, of whom it is said that faith removed mountains and transplanted trees. From this, seeing how great its power was, they asked that faith might be added to them, Luke 17:5 a faith that helpfully grips the soil like a grain of mustard seed and grows splendidly

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

For were not all things made for the sake of good men, for their possession and advantage, or rather salvation?

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness

The Saviour has many tones of voice, and many methods for the salvation of men;

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

The Word, when His flesh was lifted up, after the manner of the brazen serpent in the wilderness, drew all men to Himself for their eternal salvation.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...ne will. And assimilation, as far as possible, in accordance with right reason, is the end. And the restoration to perfect adoption by the Son is what ever glorifies the Father through the great High Priest, who has deigned to call us brothers and fellow-heirs. And the apostle, briefly describing the end, writes in the Epistle to the Romans: "But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life." Romans 6:22 And viewing hope as twofold, that which is expected and that which has been received, he now teaches that the end is the restoration of hope. For, he says, "patience works experience, and experience hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that is given to us." Romans 5:4-5 Because of this love and the restoration to hope, he says in another place that this rest is laid up for us. You will find something similar in Ezekiel, as follows: "The soul that sins, it shall die. And the man who shall be righteous, and shall do judgment and justice, who has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, and has n

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Background

Third, wisdom is called the brightness of eternal light. We explained the force of this expression in the earlier pages, when we used the example of the sun and the brightness of its rays, and showed as best we could how this should be understood. To what we said there, we will add only this remark. That is properly called everlasting or eternal which neither had a beginning of existence nor can ever cease to be what it is. And this is the idea John conveys when he says that God is light. Now His wisdom is the brightness of that light, not only because it is light, but also because it is everlasting light, so that His wisdom is eternal and everlasting brightness. If this is fully understood, it clearly shows that the existence of the Son is derived from the Father, but not in time, nor from any other beginning, except, as we have said, from God Himself.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Trinity Supporting witness

... eternal with Himself, and is inseparable from Him, and can never fall away, but shall remain in an everlasting union. This Word created heaven and earth, and in Him all things were made. He is the arm and the power of God, never to be separated from the Father, by virtue of an indivisible nature, and together with the Father He is without beginning. This Word took our substance of the Virgin Mary. And in so far as He is spiritual indeed, He is indivisibly equal with the Father. But in so far as He is bodily, He is in like manner inseparably equal with us. And again, in so far as He is spiritual, He supplies in the same equality the Holy Spirit, inseparably and without limit. Neither were there two natures, but only one nature of the Holy Trinity before the incarnation of the Word, the Son. And the nature of the Trinity remained one also after the incarnation of the Son. But if anyone, moreover, believes that any increment has been given to the Trinity by reason of the assumption of humanity by the Word, he is an alien from us, and from the ministry of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is the perfect, holy, Apostolic faith of the holy God. Praise to the Holy Trinity foreve

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Background

He is the brightness of the eternal Light, and so He Himself is completely eternal. For since light always exists, it is clear that its brightness also exists. Light is known to exist because it shines, and it is impossible for light not to shine. Let us again use examples. If the sun exists, there is also day. If none of this is seen, it is impossible for the sun to be there. If the sun were eternal, the day would never end. But that is not actually the case. The day begins when the sun begins, and ends when it ends. But God is the eternal Light, which has had no beginning and will never fail. Therefore the eternal brightness shines forth before Him and coexists with Him. Since He exists without beginning and is always begotten, He always shines before Him. And He is that Wisdom which says, "I was that in which He delighted, and I was daily His delight before His face at all times."

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

...d with the Holy Spirit. And in Jesus, which is the only name given under heaven by which we must be saved, death is rightly despised. Yet if they continue as they are, they cannot be saved, because they have not sought the Lord after the invocation of His name upon them. It is the same with those who, because of false christs, perhaps have refused to believe. Of them the Lord says, “Take heed that no man lead you into error. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall lead many into error.” And again He says, “Then if any man shall say to you, Look, here is Christ, or look, there; do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall show great signs and wonders, so that, if it were possible, even the very elect shall be deceived.” Matthew 24:23-24. And without doubt they shall then do these miracles under the name of Christ. In that name, even now, some appear to do certain miracles and to prophesy falsely. But it is certain that, because they themselves are not of Christ, they therefore do not belong to Christ. In the same way, if someone should depart from Christ, abiding only in His name, he would not be greatly advantaged. No; rat

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

... the name of Jesus, invoked upon any man in baptism, might give no small advantage toward obtaining salvation for the one being baptized, as Peter says in the Acts of the Apostles: "For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved," Acts 4:12. The Apostle Paul also explains this, showing that God has exalted our Lord Jesus and given Him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord, in the glory of God the Father. And if, when a man was baptized, invocation was made in the name of Jesus over him, then even if he received baptism while in some error, he still would not be prevented from at some time coming to know the truth, correcting his error, coming to the Church and to the bishop, and sincerely confessing our Jesus before men. So then, when hands were laid on him by the bishop, he might also receive the Holy Spirit, and he would not lose that earlier invocation of the name of Jesus. None of us may disallow this, although that invocation, if it stood bare and by itself, could not be enough to give salvation. O

Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness

...hing the prophet had announced before in the words: "No ambassador, nor angel, but the Lord Himself saved them; because He loved them, and spared them, and He took them up, and exalted them." And all this was not of works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:5), nor because we loved You. For our first earthly forefather, who was honorably entertained in the delightful dwelling of Paradise, despised Your divine and saving commandment, and was judged unworthy of that life-giving place. And, mingling his seed with the bastard offshoots of sin, he made it very weak. But You, O Lord, of Yourself, and of Your love toward the creature of Your hands, a love beyond words, have confirmed Your mercy toward us. And, pitying our estrangement from You, You were moved at the sight of our degradation to take us into compassion. Therefore, from now on, a joyous festival is established for us, the race of Adam, because the first Creator of Adam has of His own free will become the Second Adam. And the brightness of the Lord our God has come down to dwell with us, so that we see God face to face and are saved. Therefore, O Lord, I ask You to let me depart. I have seen Your salvation. Let me

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...pleasure of those cruel eyes, in the persecutions they carried out against us, will be repaid by an everlasting sight, according to the truth of Holy Scripture, which says, "Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched; and they shall be for a vision to all flesh," Isaiah 66:24. And again: "Then shall the righteous stand with great boldness before the face of those who afflicted them and took away their labors. When they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation. And they, repenting and groaning in anguish of spirit, shall say within themselves, 'These are the ones whom we once held in derision and used as a proverb of reproach. We fools counted their life madness, and their end to be without honor. How are they numbered among the children of God, and why is their lot among the saints? Therefore we have strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness has not shined on us, and the sun did not rise on us. We wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and destruction. We have gone through deserts where there was no path, but we have not known the way of the Lord. What has pr

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...tous, the conspirators, and even the virtuous to escape God's notice. Each person faces everlasting punishment or salvation based on their actions. If everyone knew this, no one would choose wickedness, even briefly, knowing they'd face everlasting punishment in fire. Instead, they would strive to control themselves and embrace virtue to receive the good gifts of God and avoid punishment. Those who try to avoid detection when they offend because of your laws and punishments—assuming they can escape your notice since you are just humans—would, if they understood that nothing, whether done or intended, escapes God's knowledge, choose to live decently because of the threatened penalties, as you would also admit. Yet, you seem to fear that if everyone became righteous, you would have no one to punish. This concern might be fitting for executioners but not for good leaders. As we said before, we believe these fears come from evil spirits seeking sacrifices and service even from unreasonable individuals. However, we hope that you, striving for a reputation of piety and philosophy, will not act unreasonably. But if, like the foolish, you prefer custom over truth, do what you have the p

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Direct teaching

But who does not hold that the judgment of God consists in the twofold sentence, of salvation and of punishment?

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

...se, if you continue in unbelief now, you will be convinced later, when you are being tormented with eternal punishments. These punishments were foretold by the prophets. Later poets and philosophers stole this teaching from the holy Scriptures so that their doctrines might seem believable. Yet they too have spoken beforehand about the punishments that will come upon the profane and unbelieving, so that no one would be left without a witness or be able to say, "We have not heard, nor have we known." But you too, if you are willing, should give reverent attention to the prophetic Scriptures. They will make your path clearer, so that you may escape the eternal punishments and obtain the eternal rewards of God. For He who gave the mouth for speech, formed the ear for hearing, and made the eye for seeing will examine all things and will judge with righteous judgment, giving to each person what he deserves. To those who by patient continuance in doing good, Romans 2:7, seek immortality, He will give everlasting life, joy, peace, rest, and an abundance of good things, which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has imagined. 1 Corinthians 2:9 But to the unbelieving and

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...n it the soul receives the divine and unspeakable fruits of its immortality, its death also must be eternal. In that death, it suffers unending punishments and endless torments for its faults. Therefore, things stand in this way: those who are happy in this life, in things belonging to the body and the earth, are going to be miserable forever, because they have already enjoyed the good things they preferred. This happens to those who worship false gods and neglect the true God. Next, those who, by following righteousness, have been miserable, despised, and poor in this life, and have often been troubled with insults and injuries for the sake of righteousness itself, because virtue cannot be gained in any other way, are going to be happy forever. Since they have already endured evils, they may also enjoy good things. This plainly happens to those who, having despised the gods of the earth and fragile goods, follow the heavenly religion of God, whose good things are everlasting, just as He Himself who gave them is everlasting. What shall I say about the works of the body and soul? Do they not show that the soul is not subject to death? For as to the body, since it is itself weak a

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

...ever you will burn daily in flames, forever ashamed of your useless gods. But those who worship the eternal God will inherit everlasting life, living in the blooming regions of blessedness and feeding on sweet food from the starry heaven.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Background

Setting aside the fables and figments of heretics, the Church knows and worships this God. The universal and complete nature of all things, visible and invisible, bears witness to Him. Angels adore Him. Stars wonder at Him. Seas bless Him. Lands revere Him. And all things under the earth look up to Him. The whole mind of man is conscious of Him, even if it does not express itself. At His command all things are set in motion. Springs gush forth. Rivers flow. Waves rise. All creatures bring forth their young. Winds are compelled to blow. Showers descend. Seas are stirred up. And all things everywhere spread their fruitfulness. He appointed a certain beautiful paradise in the east, specially for the protoplasts of eternal life. He planted the tree of life. And likewise He placed near it another tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He gave a command and decreed a judgment against sin. He preserved the most righteous Noah from the dangers of the flood, because of the merit of his innocence and faith. He translated Enoch. He chose Abraham into the fellowship of His friendship. He protected Isaac. He increased Jacob. He gave Moses as a leader to the people. He delivered the g

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

... delivered a fitting punishment upon those who try to avoid submission to Him. Submission to God is eternal rest, so those who flee the light have a place worthy of their escape; and those who escape eternal rest have a dwelling that matches their flight. Since all good things are with God, those who choose to flee from God deprive themselves of all good things; and having been deprived of all good things in relation to God, they will consequently fall under God's just judgment. Those who avoid rest will rightfully face punishment, and those who shun light will rightfully dwell in darkness. Just as in the case of this temporal light, those who avoid it lead themselves into darkness, making themselves the cause of their lack of light, and thus dwell in darkness. As I have already noted, the light is not the cause of such an unfortunate condition for them. Similarly, those who flee the eternal light of God, which contains all good things, become the cause for themselves of living in eternal darkness, lacking all good things, having made themselves the cause of their existence in such an abode.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...e, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into everlasting burning, but the righteous into eternal life." What more could Christ declare to us? How could He urge the works of our righteousness and mercy more strongly than by saying that whatever is given to the needy and poor is given to Himself, and by saying that He is wronged when the needy and poor are not helped? So that the man who in the Church is not moved by concern for his brother may at least be moved by thinking of Christ; and the man who does not think of his fellow servant in suffering and poverty may at least think of his Lord, who remains in that very man whom he despises.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

We call that punishment the second death, and it is also everlasting, just as immortality is everlasting. We define the first death in this way: death is the breaking apart of the nature of living beings. Or, to put it another way, death is the separation of body and soul. But we define the second death in this way: death is the suffering of eternal pain. Or, to put it another way, death is the sentencing of souls, according to what they deserve, to eternal punishments. This does not apply to dumb animals, whose spirits are not made from God but from the common air, and so are dissolved by death. Therefore, in this union of heaven and earth, the image of which is shown in man, the things that belong to God hold the higher place, namely the soul, which rules over the body. But the things that belong to the devil hold the lower place, plainly the body. For the body, being earthly, ought to be subject to the soul, just as the earth is subject to heaven. For it is like a vessel that this heavenly spirit may use as a temporary dwelling. The duties of both are these: the latter, which is from heaven and from God, is to command; but the former, which is from the earth and the devil, is to

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

and since they are of no avail in this matter, and do not convert individuals to God by such terror of destructions, there remains after all the eternal dungeon, and the continual fire, and the everlasting punishment;

Hippolytus, Against Plato Direct teaching

And the fire which is un-quenchable and without end awaits these latter, and a certain fiery worm which dies not, and which does not waste the body, but continues bursting forth from the body with unending pain.