Early Christian Views on Stewardship and Profit

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

And he spoke a parable to his disciples: “There was a rich man who had a steward, and he was accused before him of squandering his property. So his master called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be my steward.’ “The steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not able to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ “And he called his master’s debtors, one after another, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said to him, ‘A hundred portions of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down, and quickly write fifty portions.’ Then he said to the next, ‘And you, how much do you owe my master?’ He said to him, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down, and write eighty cors.’ “And our Lord commended the sinful steward because he had acted wisely; for the children of this world are wiser in their own age than the children of the light. And I also say to you, Make friends for yourselves with the w

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

... rulers in peace, and your bishops in righteousness.” The Lord also spoke of them, “Who then is the faithful steward, good and wise, whom the Lord sets over His household to give them their food at the right time? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when He comes, shall find doing so.” Paul, teaching us where to find such people, says, “God has placed in the Church, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers.” Therefore, where the gifts of the Lord have been placed, we must learn the truth from those who possess the succession of the Church from the apostles, and among whom is found conduct that is sound and blameless, as well as speech that is unadulterated and incorrupt. For they also preserve our faith in one God who created all things, and they enhance our love for the Son of God, who accomplished such marvelous acts for our sake. They explain the Scriptures to us without danger, neither blaspheming God, nor dishonoring the patriarchs, nor despising the prophets.

Clement of Rome, Second Epistle (attributed) Supporting witness

...If we want to serve both God and mammon, it will do us no good. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? This world and the next are two enemies. The one urges adultery and corruption, greed and deceit. The other says farewell to these things. Therefore, we cannot be friends of both. By giving up the one, we must make sure of the other. Let us consider it better to hate the things that are present, since they are small, temporary, and corruptible, and to love the things that are to come, since they are good and incorruptible. For if we do the will of Christ, we will find rest. Otherwise, nothing will deliver us from eternal punishment if we disobey His commandments. For Scripture also says in Ezekiel, “If Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they would not deliver their children in captivity.” Now if men so exceptionally righteous cannot, by their righteousness, deliver their children, how can we hope to enter the royal residence of God unless we keep our baptism holy and undefiled? And who will be our advocate unless we are found to have works of holiness and righteousness?

Luke 16:2 Direct teaching

And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Luke 12:42 Direct teaching

And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

Luke 12:21 Direct teaching

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

1 Corinthians 4:2 Background

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Clement of Rome, Second Epistle (attributed) Direct teaching

But do not let it even trouble your mind that we see the unrighteous possessed of riches, and the servants of God in straits. Therefore, brothers, let us believe. In a trial of the living God, we strive and are trained in the present life, so that we may obtain the crown in the life to come. None of the righteous received fruit quickly, but waits for it. For if God gave the reward of the righteous at once, then what we practiced would immediately be commerce, and not godliness. For it would be as if we were righteous by pursuing not godliness but gain. For this reason, the divine judgment baffled the unrighteous spirit and heavily weighed the fetter.

Tertullian, Scorpiace Direct teaching

... than many sparrows," He promises that we will not fall to the ground in vain, that is, not without profit, if we choose to be killed by men rather than by God. "Whoever therefore will confess in me before men, in him I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven. And whoever will deny me before men, him I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Clear, as I think, are the words used in making this announcement, and also the way to explain both confession and denial, although the manner of expressing them is different. He who confesses that he is a Christian bears witness that he belongs to Christ. He who belongs to Christ must be in Christ. If he is in Christ, he certainly confesses in Christ when he confesses that he is a Christian. For he cannot be this without being in Christ. Besides, by confessing in Christ he also confesses Christ, since by being a Christian he is in Christ, while Christ Himself also is in him. For if you have mentioned day, you have also shown the element of light that gives us day, although you may not have mentioned light. So, although He has not expressly said, "He who will confess me," still the act involved in daily confession is n

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness

Let virtue alone please us. Its reward is immortal when it has conquered pleasure. But when the passions have been overcome and pleasures have been brought under control, the work of restraining other things is easy for the one who follows God and truth. He will never insult anyone, because he hopes for a blessing from God. He will not swear falsely, so that he may not mock God. In fact, he will not even swear at all, so that at some time, either from necessity or from habit, he may not fall into false swearing. He will say nothing deceitful and nothing with pretense. He will not refuse what he has promised, and he will not promise what he is unable to do. He will envy no one, since he is content with himself and with what he has. Nor will he take anything from another person, or wish harm to that person, on whom perhaps the gifts of God have been poured out more abundantly. He will not steal, and he will not desire anything that belongs to another. He will not lend his money at interest, because that is to seek profit from the troubles of others. However, he also will not refuse to lend if someone's need forces that person to borrow. He must not be harsh toward a son or toward a s

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...the tendency to make things up and speak falsely belongs to those who crave riches and eagerly want profit. That kind of attitude was far removed from those holy men. For they carried out the duty entrusted to them in such a way that they ignored even the things needed to support life. They were so far from storing up supplies for the future that they did not even work for that day, being content with the food God had provided without storing it up. And these men not only had no profit, but even endured torture and death. For the commands of righteousness are hateful to the wicked and to those who live unholy lives. Therefore, those whose sins were exposed and forbidden most cruelly tortured and killed them. So then, those who had no desire for profit had neither the tendency nor the reason to deceive. Why should I also say that some of them were princes, or even kings? On them, suspicion of greed and fraud could not possibly fall, and yet they proclaimed the one God with the same prophetic foresight as the others.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

...an has much wealth, but he is poor in matters relating to the Lord, because he is distracted by his riches. He offers very few confessions and intercessions to the Lord, and those that he does offer are small and weak, and have no power above. But when the rich man refreshes the poor and helps him in his needs, believing that what he does for the poor man will receive its reward from God, because the poor man is rich in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great power with God, then the rich man helps the poor in all things without hesitation. And the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for him, giving thanks to God for the one who gives him gifts. And he continues to care zealously for the poor man, so that his needs may always be supplied. For he knows that the intercession of the poor man is acceptable to God and has influence with Him. So both of them accomplish their work. The poor man makes intercession, a work in which he is rich, which he received from the Lord, and with which he repays the master who helps him. And the rich man, in the same way, without hesitation gives to the poor man the riches that he received from the Lord. And this is a

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

not being able to intercede with Him continuously on account that her mind and disposition run after money: for where the treasure is, there will the heart be also.

1 Timothy 6:17 Direct teaching

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:9 Direct teaching

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Proverbs 28:22 Direct teaching

He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Proverbs 1:19 Direct teaching

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

... gives food to all without grudging. And in the grape harvest, it forbade the gatherers to go back again for what had been left behind, and to pick up the grapes that had fallen. The same commands are given to those who gather olives. Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:20-21 Besides this, the tithes of the fruits and of the flocks taught both piety toward God and the duty not to grab everything greedily, but to share gifts of kindness with one’s neighbors. For I think it was from these, and from the firstfruits, that the priests were supported. So now we understand that by the law we are taught piety, generosity, justice, and humanity. For does it not command that the land be left uncultivated in the seventh year, and tell the poor to use without fear the fruits that grow by God’s working, while nature cultivates the ground for the benefit of all alike? Exodus 33:10-11; Leviticus 25:2-7 How, then, can anyone say that the law is not humane and a teacher of righteousness? Again, in the fiftieth year, it ordered the same things to be done as in the seventh year. In addition, it restored each person’s own land, if for some reason he had given it up in the meantime. In this way it set l

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

... him, how does the love of God dwell in him?" 1 John 3:17. For if by giving alms to the poor we are lending to God—and when it is given to the least, it is given to Christ—then there is no reason for anyone to put earthly things before heavenly things, or human things before divine things.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ly one husband and are well known by everyone for good works. They are truly widows: sober, chaste, faithful, and pious. They have brought up their children well and have welcomed strangers without blame. These are to be supported as women devoted to God. Besides this, bishop, remember the needy. Reach out your helping hand and provide for them as the steward of God, distributing the offerings at the proper time to each of them: to the widows, the orphans, the friendless, and those afflicted with trouble.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...onomy 5. And so on. These things must be kept, along with whatever else is commanded in reading the Bible. And by Isaiah He commands us: "Wash yourselves, and make yourselves clean. Put away wickedness from your souls before my eyes. Learn to do good. Seek judgment. Rescue the wronged. Judge for the orphan, and justify the widow. And come, and let us reason together," says the Lord. And we will find many examples in other places also. For example, about prayer, Scripture says, "Good works are an acceptable prayer to the Lord." And the manner of prayer is described: "If you see the naked, cover him, and do not overlook those who belong to your own seed. Then your light shall break forth early, and your healing shall spring up quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall surround you." What, then, is the fruit of such prayer? "Then you shall call, and God will hear you; while you are still speaking, He will say, 'I am here.'"

Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness

...s commanded that such especially should be fed. Consider this: when you feed the sick, you are also lending to the Most High. In this thing, the Lord has wished that you should stand before Him approved.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

No accusation can be brought against those who have given money so that they might be completely undisturbed by evil. For they accepted the loss and sacrifice of their goods so that they might not hurt or destroy their soul, which others, for the sake of filthy profit, have not done. And yet the Lord says, "What is a man profited, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" Matthew 16:26 And again, "You cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24 In these things, then, they have shown themselves to be servants of God, since they have hated, trodden under foot, and despised money, and have thus fulfilled what is written: "The ransom of a man's life is his riches." Proverbs 13:8 For we also read in the Acts of the Apostles that those who, in place of Paul and Silas, were dragged before the magistrates at Thessalonica, were released with a heavy fine. For after they had been very troublesome to them for his name, and had troubled the people and the rulers of the city, "having taken security," he says, "from Jason and the others, they let them go. And the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea." Acts 17:9-10

1 Timothy 6:18 Direct teaching

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

Proverbs 19:17 Direct teaching

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

Luke 12:33 Direct teaching

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

Proverbs 3:9 Direct teaching

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

Deuteronomy 15:10 Direct teaching

Thou shalt surely give to him, and thou shalt lend him as much as he wants, according as he is in need; and thou shalt not grudge in thy heart as thou givest to him, because on this account the Lord thy God will bless thee in all thy works, and in all things on which thou shalt lay thy hand.

Deuteronomy 15:8 Direct teaching

Thou shalt surely open thy hands to him, and shalt lend to him as much as he wants according to his need.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

...efore, "He has not given his money upon usury, nor will he take any increase"—meaning the excess of interest, which is usury. The first step was to remove the profit from the money lent. That way a man might more easily be trained to accept the loss, if it should happen, of the money itself, after he had learned to lose the interest. Now we affirm that this was the function of the law as a preparation for the gospel. It was forming the faith of those who would learn, by gradual steps, for the perfect light of Christian teaching. Through the best precepts of which it was capable, it was teaching a benevolence that as yet showed itself only falteringly. For in the passage of Ezekiel quoted above He says, "And you shall restore the pledge of the loan"—certainly to the man who is unable to repay. For of course He would not prescribe the return of a pledge to one who was able to pay. It is commanded much more clearly in Deuteronomy: "You shall not sleep upon his pledge; you shall be sure to return to him his garment about sunset, and he shall sleep in his own garment." Deuteronomy 24:12-13. Even clearer is an earlier passage: "You shall remit every debt which your neighbour owes you;

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

If he shall have lent any money, he will not receive interest, that the benefit may be unimpaired which succours necessity, and that he may entirely abstain from the property of another.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness

He will not give his money to usury, for that is to seek after gain from the evils of others;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

... Therefore, such widows are not attached to the altar of Christ. For there are some widows who make gain their business. Since they ask without shame and receive without being satisfied, they make people in general more unwilling to give. When they ought to be content with support from the Church, and to have moderate desires, instead they go from one neighbor's house to another and trouble them. They heap up plenty of money for themselves, lend at harsh interest, and care only about mammon, whose money bag is their god. They put eating and drinking before all virtue, saying, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." They value these things as though they were lasting and not perishing. For she who gives herself to nothing but talk about money worships mammon instead of God. That is, she is a servant to gain, but cannot be pleasing to God or devoted to His worship. She is not able to intercede with Him continually, because her mind and disposition run after money. For where the treasure is, there the heart will be also. In her mind she is thinking about where she may go to receive something, or that a certain woman, her friend, has forgotten her, and she has something to say

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

Let any bishop, presbyter, or deacon who charges interest to those he lends to either stop doing so or be removed from office.

Commodianus, Writings Direct teaching

...e gained a place. One gives gifts so that he may make another of no account. Or if you have lent at usury, taking twenty-four percent, you want to give charity so that you may purge yourself, as being evil, with what is evil. The Almighty absolutely rejects works such as these. You have given what has been wrung from tears. That candidate, oppressed with ungrateful usuries, and become needy, deplores it. Besides having obtained an opportunity for the exactors, your enemy for the present is the people. You who were consecrated have become wicked for reward. Also you want to atone for yourself by the gain of wages. O wicked one, you deceive yourself, but no one else.

Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness

or if you have lent on usury, taking twenty-four per cent, you wish to bestow charity that you may purge yourself, as being evil, with that which is evil.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...d duty must be expected from God alone. For if you expect it from man, then it is not kindness, but lending a benefit at interest. Nor can a person seem to have done well if what he gives is given, not to another, but to himself. And yet it comes to this: whatever a man gives to another, while hoping for no benefit from him, he really gives to himself, because he will receive a reward from God. God has also commanded that if we give a feast at any time, we should invite those who cannot invite us in return and so repay us, so that no action in our life should be without mercy. However, let no one think that he is forbidden to spend time with his friends or to show kindness to his neighbors. But God has made known to us what our true and just work is: we ought to live in this way with our neighbors, provided that we understand that one manner of living relates to man, and the other to God.

Leviticus 25:37 Direct teaching

You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.

Leviticus 25:36 Direct teaching

Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.

Deuteronomy 23:19 Direct teaching

“You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest.

Exodus 22:25 Direct teaching

“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

For when advising us to provide for ourselves the help of friends in worldly affairs, after the example of that steward who, when removed from his office, relieves his lord's debtors by lessening their debts with a view to their recompensing him with their help, He said, And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that is to say, of money, even as the steward had done.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

...al god. Accordingly, this will throw light on the sense in which it was said, "If you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you?" Luke 16:11. In the unrighteous mammon, that is, in unrighteous riches, not in the Creator, for even Marcion allows Him to be righteous. And, "If you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who will give you that which is mine?" For whatever is unrighteous ought to be foreign to the servants of God. But in what way was the Creator foreign to the Pharisees, since He was the proper God of the Jewish nation? Since, then, the words, "Who will entrust to you the truer riches?" and, "Who will give you that which is mine?" are suitable only to the Creator and not to mammon, He could not have spoken them as one alien to the Creator and in the interest of the rival god. He could only seem to have spoken them in this sense if, when noting their unfaithfulness to the Creator and not to mammon, He had drawn some distinctions between the Creator and the rival god, showing that the latter would not entrust his own truth to those who were unfaithful to the Creator. How then can He possibly seem to belong

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

When the letter of the law promises riches to the just, Celsus may follow the letter that kills and understand it as worldly riches, which blind men. But we say it refers to those riches that enlighten the eyes and enrich a man in all utterance and in all knowledge. In this sense, we charge those who are rich in this world not to be high-minded, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. For, as Solomon says, riches are the true good, which are the ransom of the life of a man. But the poverty that is the opposite of these riches is destructive, for by it the poor cannot bear rebuke. And what has been said of riches also applies to dominion, in regard to which it is said, "The just man shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight." Now if riches are to be taken in the sense we have just explained, consider whether it is not according to God's promise that he who is rich in all utterance, in all knowledge, in all wisdom, and in all good works, may, out of these treasures of utterance, of wisdom, and of knowledge, lend to

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

and by means of these same do we erect in ourselves the tabernacle of God: for God dwells in those who act uprightly, as the Lord says: “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that they, when ye shall be put to flight, may receive you into eternal tabernacles.” For whatsoever we acquired from unrighteousness when we were heathen, we are proved righteous, when we have become believers, by applying it to the Lord’s advantage.

Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection Supporting witness

...made with hands. As the Lord also showed when He said, “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations,” Luke 16:9. For what the Lord there called habitations, the apostle here calls clothing. And what He there calls friends of unrighteousness, the apostle here calls houses dissolved. So then, when the days of our present life come to an end, those good deeds of kindness that we have attained in this unrighteous life, and in this world which lies in wickedness, 1 John 5:19, will receive our souls. So when this perishable life is dissolved, we shall have the habitation that comes before the resurrection. That is, our souls shall be with God until we receive the new house that is prepared for us and will never fall. Therefore we also groan, not because we wish to be unclothed, as to the body, but to be clothed upon, 2 Corinthians 5:4, by it in the other life. For the house in heaven, with which we desire to be clothed, is immortality. When we are clothed with it, every weakness and mortality will be completely swallowed up in it, consumed by endless life. “For we walk by faith, not by sight,” 2 Co

Peter of Alexandria, The Genuine Acts of Peter Supporting witness

...hands. As the Lord also showed when He said, "Make for yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations," Luke 16:9. For what the Lord there called habitations, the apostle here calls clothing. And what He there calls friends of unrighteousness, the apostle here calls houses dissolved. So then, when the days of our present life fail, those good deeds of kindness that we have gained in this unrighteous life, and in this world which lies in wickedness, 1 John 5:19, will receive our souls. So also, when this perishable life is dissolved, we shall have the habitation that is before the resurrection. That is, our souls shall be with God until we receive the new house that is prepared for us, and that will never fall. Therefore also we groan, not because we want to be unclothed, as to the body, but clothed upon, 2 Corinthians 5:4, by it in the other life. For the house in heaven with which we desire to be clothed is immortality. And when we are clothed with it, every weakness and mortality will be completely swallowed up in it, being consumed by endless life. For we walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Cor

Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Supporting witness

Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when you fail, they may receive you into the everlasting habitations.

Peter of Alexandria, The Genuine Acts of Peter Supporting witness

As also the Lord showed, when He said: Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness;

Luke 16:9 Direct teaching

“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

Luke 16:10 Supporting witness

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Luke 16:11 Supporting witness

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Matthew 25:27 Supporting witness

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.