Early Christian Views on Gluttony and Self-Control

Novatian, On the Jewish Meats Direct teaching

...as restrained lack of self-control as much as the Gospel. No one has given such strict laws against gluttony as Christ. He is said even to have called the poor blessed, and those who hunger and thirst happy, but the rich miserable. For those who obey the rule of their belly and their palate would never lack material for their lusts, so their slavery could never end. They think it is a sign of their happiness to desire as much as they can, except that in this way they are able to gain less than they desire. Moreover, by preferring Lazarus in his hunger, in his sores themselves, and with the rich man's dogs, He restrained the destroyers of salvation, the belly and the palate, by examples. The apostle also, when he said, "Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content," 1 Timothy 6:8, laid down the law of frugality and self-control. And thinking it would be of little advantage merely to have written this, he also gave himself as an example of what he had written. So he added, not without reason, that avarice is the root of all evils, 1 Timothy 6:10, for it follows in the footsteps of luxury. Whatever the latter has wasted through vice, the former restores through crime. The c

Novatian, On the Jewish Meats Direct teaching

...mned in themselves, but so that the Jews might be held to the service of the one God. Frugality and self-control in appetite were fitting for those who had been chosen for this purpose. And this kind of self-control is always found to be close to religion, or rather, so to speak, related and akin to it. For luxury is hostile to holiness. How can religion be left unharmed by luxury, when even modesty is not left unharmed? Luxury does not keep the fear of God, because while pleasures drive it on, it is carried along into the mere boldness of its desires. For when the reins are loosened, it grows without limit in spending, as if expense were its food, and it exceeds its inheritance along with its modesty. Or it is like a torrent rushing down from mountain peaks. It not only leaps over what stands against it, but also carries away those very obstacles, to destroy other things. Therefore these remedies were sought to restrain the people's lack of self-control, so that as luxury was reduced, virtuous behavior might increase. For what else did they deserve except to be kept from using every kind of rich food, when they dared to prefer the lowest meats of the Egyptians to the divine ban

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching

...hen, if there were no devil, would it be possible for human experience to show such self-control in eating that no one would ever go beyond proper limits? That is, would no one ever take food otherwise than the case required, or more than reason allowed? If that were so, then people, keeping due measure and moderation in eating, would never go wrong. I do not think that such great moderation could be found in people, even if there were no urging from the devil, so that no one in eating would go beyond proper limits and self-control, until he had learned this by long practice and experience. What then is the case? In eating and drinking, it was possible for us to go wrong even without any urging from the devil, if we happened to be less temperate or less careful than we ought to be. And should we suppose, then, that in our desire for sexual intercourse, or in restraining our natural desires, our condition is not similar? I think the same line of reasoning must also be understood to apply to other natural movements, such as covetousness, anger, sorrow, and generally all those things that, through the vice of intemperance, go beyond the natural bounds of moderation. There are there

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

For we are to avoid eating for gluttony, or for the mere gratification of the appetite, without regard to the health and sustenance of the body.

Justin Martyr, The Second Apology Supporting witness

she herself, too, having formerly been intemperate. But when she came to the knowledge of the teachings of Christ she became sober-minded, and endeavoured to persuade her husband likewise to be temperate, citing the teaching of Christ, and assuring him that there shall be punishment in eternal fire inflicted upon those who do not live temperately and conformably to right reason.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

...ur Father who is in heaven." And, "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with overeating, drunkenness, and the worries of this life." And, "Keep your waist belted and your lamps burning, and be like people waiting for their Lord to return from a wedding, so when He comes and knocks, they can open the door for Him immediately. Blessed is the servant whom his Lord finds doing so when He arrives." And again, "The servant who knows his Lord's will and does not do it will be punished with many blows." And, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" And again, "But if the servant says in his heart, 'The Lord is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, his Lord will come on a day when he does not expect Him, and will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites." All these passages demonstrate the independent will of man and, at the same time, the counsel which God gives to him, urging us to submit to Him and trying to turn us away from the sin of unbelief against Him, without, however, forcing us in any way.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

And therefore the Lord said to His disciples, to make us become good workers: “Be careful, and constantly be alert in every situation, so that your hearts are not burdened with excessive eating, drinking, and the worries of this life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly; for like a trap, it will come upon everyone living on the earth.” “Therefore, keep your loins girded and your lamps burning, and be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding.” “For as it was in the days of Noah, they ate and drank, they bought and sold, they married and were given in marriage, and they didn’t know until Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all; likewise, in the days of Lot, they ate and drank, they bought and sold, they planted and built, until Lot left Sodom; it rained fire from heaven and destroyed them all: so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man.” “Therefore, watch, for you don’t know on what day your Lord will come.” In these passages, He declares the same Lord, who in the times of Noah brought the flood because of man’s disobedience, and who also in the days of Lot rained fire from heaven because of the multitude of sinners among

Tertullian, On Fasting Supporting witness

First, the belly; and then immediately the materials of all other species of lasciviousness are laid subordinately to daintiness: through love of eating, love of impurity finds passage.

Tertullian, On Modesty Supporting witness

Not seeing into the fact that its very foundations have been dug out by the apostle, when he puts restraints upon drunkennesses and revellings, as withal here: And be not inebriated with wine, in which is voluptuousness.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

that while they refuse wholesome food and beneficial drink as bitter and distasteful, and crave those things which seem to please them and to be sweet for the present, they are inviting to themselves mischief and death by their recklessness and intemperance.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

Therefore, human self-control, that is, the kind taught according to the judgment of the Greek philosophers, claims to fight against desire and not to serve it in actions. But the self-control according to our teaching is not to desire at all. It is not merely that a person, while desiring, should act bravely, but that he should hold himself back even from desiring. This self-control cannot be gained in any other way except by the grace of God. And therefore He said, "Ask, and it will be given to you," Matthew 7:7. Moses also received this grace. Though he was clothed with a body that needed food, for forty days he neither hungered nor thirsted. And just as it is better to be healthy than, while sick, to talk about health, so also it is better to be light than to speak about light, and better to have the self-control that comes from truth than the kind taught by philosophers. For where light is, there darkness is not. But where desire alone has settled, even if it rests from bodily action, still in memory it struggles over what is not present. In general, my discussion will proceed about marriage, food, and other matters, so that we may do nothing from desire, but may want only the

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

But marriage, when by agreement it gives time to prayer, is a teaching of self-control. For he added the words “by agreement,” so that no one might dissolve a marriage. And he added “for a time,” in 1 Corinthians 7:5, so that a man who has taken a wife, if he practices self-control by necessity, may not slip into sin, and while sparing his own marriage, may desire another’s. For this reason, in the case of the man who thinks he is behaving improperly because he keeps his virgin unmarried, he rightly says that if she marries, he does not sin. But each person, whether he has chosen chastity, or whether he has joined himself in marriage for the begetting of children, must firmly remain in his own purpose and not turn aside to what is worse. For if he is able to increase and intensify the pattern of life he has chosen, he gains greater honor with God because of pure self-control that comes from reason. But if he goes beyond the rule he chose, he will then fall back into a lesser hope of glory. For just as chastity has its own duties and ministries, marriage also has its own duties and ministries that belong to the Lord. I mean the care of children and of a wife. For what properly occup

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Direct teaching

...ted with these, or the suffering that comes from them? And what shall we say about self-control and temperance, when no desire pulls it toward food, sexual relations, or other pleasures and enjoyments, and when nothing else urges it from within or stirs it from without? And what about practical wisdom, when no matters are set before it that may or may not be done, and no things are set before it to be chosen or avoided? Or rather, what about it when there is in it no movement at all, and no natural impulse toward doing anything? And how could fairness in any sense be an attribute of souls, either in relation to one another or to anything else, whether of the same kind or a different kind, when they are not able, from any source, by any means, or in any way, to give what is equal, whether according to merit or according to analogy? The only exception is the honor given to God. Also, they have no impulse or movement toward using what is their own, or toward keeping away from what belongs to others. For the use of things according to nature, or abstaining from them, is considered in relation to beings that are made to use them. But the soul neither needs anything, nor is made to us

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

... the subject of their dramas. But far be it from Christians even to imagine such deeds. Among them, temperance lives, self-control is practiced, monogamy is observed, chastity is protected, wickedness is destroyed, sin is rooted out, righteousness is practiced, law is administered, worship is performed, and God is acknowledged. Truth rules, grace guards, peace protects them, the holy word guides, wisdom teaches, life leads, and God reigns. Therefore, although we have much to say about our way of life and the commands of God, the maker of all creation, we think that for now we have reminded you enough to lead you to examine these things, especially since you can now read our writings for yourself. So, as you have been eager to gain knowledge, may you also continue to study in this direction.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

But you are saved, because you did not depart from the living God, and on account of your simplicity and great self-control.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

Life in immortality, splendour in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence, faith in assurance, self-control in holiness!

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...rd-working life often collapse into pleasures as soon as they taste them, and the firmness of their temperance is broken. Such people are restrained by law and fear. When they find a good opportunity, they cheat the law by slipping away from what is good. But self-control, which is desirable for its own sake, and is made complete through knowledge, remains always. It makes a person lord and master of himself. So the Gnostic is temperate and free from passions, unable to be dissolved by pleasures and pains, just as they say adamant cannot be dissolved by fire.

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Direct teaching

And what shall we say of self-control and temperance, when there is no desire drawing it to food or sexual intercourse, or other pleasures and enjoyments, nor any other thing soliciting it from within or exciting it from without?

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...y define manliness as knowledge of what is fearful, what is not fearful, and what lies between, and temperance as a state of mind that preserves the judgments of wisdom by choosing and avoiding rightly, and since patience, which is called endurance, is joined with manliness and is the knowledge of what can be endured and what cannot be endured, and magnanimity is the knowledge that rises above circumstances. With temperance also is joined caution, which is avoidance according to reason. And observance of the commandments, which is the harmless keeping of them, is the attaining of a secure life. And there is no endurance without manliness, nor self-restraint in action without temperance. These virtues follow one another, and whoever has this succession of virtues also has salvation, which is the preserving of a state of well-being. Therefore, in speaking about these virtues, we will examine them all. For he who has one virtue in the gnostic sense, because they accompany one another, has them all. Self-restraint is the quality that does not go beyond what seems to agree with right reason. A person exercises self-restraint when he holds back impulses that are contrary to right reas

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Oration to Origen Supporting witness

...sible method for attaining a kind of apotheosis. And with this there also correspond the virtues of temperance and fortitude. Temperance preserves this very prudence, which must be in the soul that knows itself, if that is ever its lot. For this temperance surely means simply sound prudence. And fortitude means holding firmly to all the duties that have been spoken of, without falling away from them either willingly or under any force, and keeping and holding fast to everything that has been laid down. For he teaches that this virtue also acts as a kind of preserver, maintainer, and guardian.

Lactantius, On the Anger of God Background

It follows that I should show for what purpose God made man himself. Just as He arranged the world for the sake of man, so He formed man himself for His own sake, as if man were a priest in a divine temple, a watcher of His works and of heavenly things. For man is the only being who, because he is intelligent and able to reason, can understand God, admire His works, and recognize His activity and power. For this reason, he has been given judgment, understanding, and prudence. For this reason, he alone, above the other living creatures, has been made with an upright body and posture, so that he seems to have been raised up to look upon his Parent. For this reason, he alone has received speech, and a tongue that interprets his thoughts, so that he may be able to declare the majesty of his Lord. Finally, for this reason all things were placed under his authority, so that he himself might be under the authority of God, their Maker and Creator. If, therefore, God intended man to be His worshiper, and for this reason gave him so much honor, so that he might rule over all things, then it is plainly most just that man should worship Him who gave him such great gifts, and love man, who is j

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

In this he has placed justice, temperance, patience, faith, chastity, self-restraint, concord, knowledge, truth, wisdom, and the other virtues;

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness

... the dead. We rebuke those who are too hasty and stop even before midnight, as careless and lacking self-control, as if they were almost leaving the course too quickly. For it is a wise saying: "What is within a little is not little in life." But those who continue and endure a very long time, and persevere even until the fourth watch, which is also the time when our Savior showed Himself walking on the sea to those who were then out on the deep, we receive as noble and hard-working disciples. As for those who stop and refresh themselves on the way, as they are moved to do or as they are able, let us not press them too hard. For not all keep the six days of fasting equally or in the same way. Some spend all the days fasting, remaining without food the whole time. Others keep only two days, others three, others four, and others not even one. And those who have struggled painfully through these long fasts, and afterward have become worn out and nearly undone, should be pardoned if they are somewhat hasty in taking food. But if there are any who not only avoid such long fasting, but refuse from the beginning to fast at all, and instead live luxuriously during the first four days, a

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

8. Wanting to keep the moderation of this middle course in these matters, we have for a long time thought this—indeed many of us have, and also some of the bishops near us and within reach, and some who were far away, whom the heat of the persecution had driven out from other provinces—that nothing new should be done before a bishop is appointed. But we believe that the care of the fallen should be handled with moderation. So, in the meantime, while God has withheld from us the appointment of a bishop, the case of those who are able to bear the delay should be left undecided. But as for those whom approaching death does not allow to bear the delay, if they have repented and often declared their hatred of what they did, if with tears, with groans, and with weeping they have shown the signs of a grieving and truly penitent spirit, when there seems, as far as man can tell, to be no hope of living, then careful and cautious help should finally be given to them. God Himself knows what He will do with such people, and in what way He will weigh them in the balance of His judgment. Meanwhile, we take anxious care that ungodly men should not praise our easy leniency, and that truly penitent

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness

...eal they praise God with hymns. Next, they set aside as sacred the garments they were wearing while eating together in the house. These garments are linen. Then they put on again the clothes they had left in the entryway, and they hurry to pleasant occupations until evening. They eat supper, doing all things in the same way as already described. No one ever cries out loudly, nor is any other disorderly voice heard. Instead, each one speaks quietly, and with proper behavior one yields the conversation to another, so that the silence of those inside the house seems like a kind of mystery to those outside. And they are always sober, eating and drinking everything in moderation.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes Supporting witness

And when I perceived that the soul is able to arrest the body in its disposition to intoxication and wine-bibbing, and that temperance makes lust its subject, I sought earnestly to observe what object of true worth and of real excellence is set before men, which they shall attain to in this present life.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Background

Excess, which in all things is an evil, is very highly reprehensible in the matter of food.