Early Christian Enemy Love and Nonresistance

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

...ayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience. Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies. Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and ac

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Direct teaching

...ot to think of us as atheists. What, then, are the teachings in which we are raised? I say to you, "Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, who makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust." Luke 6:27-28; Matthew 5:44-45 Allow me here to raise my voice boldly in a loud and clear cry, since I am pleading before philosophic princes. For which of those who construct syllogisms, clear up ambiguities, explain etymologies, or teach homonyms and synonyms, predicaments and axioms, and what is the subject and what is the predicate, and who promise by these and similar lessons to make their students happy—which of them has so cleansed his soul that, instead of hating his enemies, he loves them? Which of them, instead of speaking evil of those who have insulted him—although even holding back from that would itself be a sign of no small self-control—blesses them, and prays for those who plot against his life? On the contrary, they never stop skillfully searching out the secrets of their art with evil intent, and they are always set on doing some harm. Their bus

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...o the same to them." Luke 6:31. We can sum up the commandments in two, as the Lord says: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength; and your neighbor as yourself." Then from these He concludes, "On these hang the law and the prophets." Further, to the one who asked, "What good thing shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life?" He answered, "You know the commandments?" And when the man replied, "Yes," He said, "Do this, and you shall be saved." The love of the Instructor is especially clear in the different commands that bring salvation, so that discovery may be easier through the richness and arrangement of the Scriptures. We have the Ten Commandments given by Moses. By a basic principle, simple and of one kind, they identify sins in a way that leads to salvation: "You shall not commit adultery. You shall not worship idols. You shall not corrupt boys. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother." Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 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

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

And now He bids us love our enemies, bless them that curse us, and pray for them that despitefully use us.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

that you should love your enemies; that you should offer prayer for your adversaries and persecutors?

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them which persecute you;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies; for what thanks is it if you love those that love you?

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Direct teaching

Wherefore the Saviour also taught us to love our enemies, since, says He, what thank have ye?

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness

Isaiah 66:5 And the Gospel says: Love your enemies, and pray for them that despitefully use you.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

How great also is benignity! Love your enemies, it is said, bless them who curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, Matthew 5:44-45 and the like;

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good to them, and lend, and cut not off the hope of any man;

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

...not have an enemy. Keep away from fleshly and worldly desires. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him also, and you will be perfect. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. If someone takes away your cloak, give him your coat also. If someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back, for you are not able to do so. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for it back. For the Father wills that everyone should be given something from our own free gifts. Happy is the one who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to the one who receives. If a person receives because he has need, he is guiltless. But the one who receives without need will pay the penalty for why he received and for what purpose. And when he comes into straits, that is, confinement, he will be examined about the things he has done, and he will not escape from there until he pays back the last farthing. Matthew 5:26 But also concerning this, it has now been said, "Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give."

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...nd being free from anger, this is what He said: "To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well; and do not stop someone who takes away your cloak or coat. Whoever is angry is in danger of the fire. And anyone who forces you to go a mile with him, go two. Let your good deeds shine before others, so that when they see them, they may glorify your Father in heaven." We should not argue; neither has He wanted us to imitate wicked people, but He has encouraged us to lead all people away from shame and the love of evil through patience and gentleness. This is shown in the case of many who once shared your views but have changed their violent and oppressive ways, being influenced either by the consistent integrity they saw in their neighbors' lives, the remarkable patience observed in their fellow travelers when wronged, or the honesty of those with whom they conducted business.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

... But I say to you, do not stand in opposition to evil. But whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, leave him your cloak also. Matthew 5:41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Matthew 5:42 And to him who asks you, give. Luke 6:30 and from him who wants to borrow from you, do not withhold. And do not prosecute him who takes your possessions. Luke 6:31 And as you want men to do to you, do the same to them.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

... their opinions. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. Not that revenge is evil, but that patience is more honorable. For David says, If I have repaid those who repaid me evil. If anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two. And, He that will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Matthew 5:40; Luke 6:29 And from him who takes your goods, do not ask for them back. Luke 6:30 Give to him who asks you, and from him who would borrow from you do not shut your hand. Matthew 5:42 For the righteous man is pitiful, and lends. For your Father wants you to give to all, and He Himself makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends His rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 It is therefore reasonable to give to all from your own labors; for He says, Honor the Lord from your righteous labors, but in such a way that the saints are preferred. You shall not kill; that is, you shall not destroy a man like yourself, for you destroy what was well made. Not as if all killing were wicked, but only the killing of the innocent; for killing that is just is reserved to

Tertullian, On Patience Direct teaching

If one attempt to provoke you by manual violence, the monition of the Lord is at hand: To him, He says, who smites you on the face, turn the other cheek likewise.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

And concerning our being patient of injuries, and ready to serve all, and free from anger, this is what He said: “To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other;

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

but whosoever smites you on your right 8 cheek, turn to him also the other.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

And He says: If any one strike you on the one cheek, turn to him the other also;

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If someone gives you a blow upon your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If any one gives you a stroke on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

but that our Lord bade us offer the other cheek also to him who smote the one.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II Supporting witness

and not only not to strike, but even, when themselves struck, to present the other cheek [to those that maltreated them];

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...nly bread. He struggles with the devil who tempts Him, and, being content only to have overcome the enemy, He goes no further than words. He ruled over His disciples not as servants under a master's power, but, kind and gentle, He loved them with a brotherly love. He even chose to wash the apostles' feet, so that, since the Lord is such among His servants, He might teach by His example what a fellow servant ought to be among his peers and equals. Nor should it be wondered at that He showed Himself this way among the obedient, since He could endure Judas even to the end with great patience. He could eat with His enemy. He could know the enemy within His own household and not openly point him out, nor refuse the traitor's kiss. Moreover, in bearing with the Jews, how great was His calmness and how great His patience: in persuading the unbelieving to faith, in soothing the unthankful by yielding, in answering the contradictors gently, in bearing with the proud in clemency, in giving way with humility to the persecutors, and in wishing to gather together the killers of the prophets, and those who were always rebellious against God, even to the very hour of His cross and passion!

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

Let those who have love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the blessed bond of the love of God? What person is able to tell the excellence of its beauty as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love allows no schisms; love gives rise to no seditions; love does all things in harmony. By love, all the elect of God have been made perfect; without love, nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love, the Lord has taken us to Himself. Out of the Love He bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...ompting of the Holy Spirit and the warning of the Lord, conveyed by many clear visions, because the enemy is foretold and shown to be near at hand, to gather the soldiers of Christ within the camp, to examine each person's case, and to grant peace to the lapsed, yes, rather to provide arms to those who are about to fight. And we trust that this will please you as you consider fatherly mercy. But if any one of our colleagues, now that the struggle is urgent, thinks that peace should not be granted to our brothers and sisters, he will give an account to the Lord on the day of judgment, either for his grievous rigor or for his inhuman hardness. We, as was fitting for our faith and love and care, have set before you what was in our own mind: that the day of struggle has drawn near, that a violent enemy will soon rise up against us, and that a conflict is coming, not such as it has been, but much more serious and fierce. This is frequently shown to us from above. Concerning this, we are often warned by the providence and mercy of the Lord. Because of His help and love, we who trust in Him may be secure, because He who foretells to His soldiers in peace that the battle will come will

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

19. Considering His love and mercy, we should not be so bitter, cruel, or inhuman in caring for the brothers. Instead, we should mourn with those who mourn, weep with those who weep, and lift them up as much as we can by the help and comfort of our love. We should not be too harsh and stubborn in rejecting their repentance. But neither should we be too loose and easy in rashly granting communion. Look, a wounded brother lies struck down by the enemy on the battlefield. There the devil is trying to kill the one he has wounded. Here Christ is urging that the one He has redeemed should not perish completely. Which of the two are we helping? On whose side are we standing? Do we favor the devil, so that he may destroy, and pass by our fallen, lifeless brother, as the priest and Levite did in the Gospel? Or rather, as priests of God and Christ, do we imitate what Christ both taught and did, and snatch the wounded man from the jaws of the enemy, so that we may preserve him, healed, for God the judge?

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Background

...the Romans, “For there is no power but from God; the powers that exist are ordained by God. Whoever resists the power resists God’s ordinance, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Will you not be afraid of the power? Do good, and you will receive praise, for he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: he is God's minister, the avenger for wrath upon the one who does evil. Therefore, you must be subject, not only for wrath but for conscience's sake. For this reason, you also pay taxes; for they are God’s ministers, attending continually to this very task.” Thus, both the Lord and the apostles proclaim God the Father as the one who gave the law, sent the prophets, and made all things; hence He says, “He sent His armies,” for every person, as a person, is His creation, even if they do not know their God. He gives existence to all; He “makes His sun rise upon the evil and the good and sends rain upon the just and unjust.”

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

... incredible that the same God should seem to require a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye in return for an injury, and yet forbid not only all reprisals, but even a revengeful thought or recollection of an injury, it becomes plain to us in what sense He required an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It was not for the purpose of permitting the repetition of the injury by retaliating it. That was virtually forbidden when He forbade vengeance. Rather, it was for the purpose of restraining the injury in the first place, since He had forbidden it under pain of retaliation or reciprocity. So each man, seeing the permission to inflict a second, or retaliatory, injury, might refrain from committing the first, or provoking, wrong. For He knows how much easier it is to repress violence by the prospect of retaliation than by the promise of vengeance at some undefined time. Yet it was necessary to provide both results, because of the nature and the faith of men. The man who believed in God might expect vengeance from God, while the man who had no faith to restrain him might fear the laws that required retaliation. This purpose of the law, which was hard to understand, Christ, as

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Yet, because God hears not those which are at enmity with their brethren by unjust quarrels, even though they should pray three times an hour, it is our duty to compose all our enmity and littleness of soul, that we may be able to pray with a pure and unpolluted heart.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Direct teaching

For since we, a numerous band of men as we are, have learned from His teaching and His laws that evil ought not to be requited with evil,Matthew 5:39 that it is better to suffer wrong than to inflict it, that we should rather shed our own blood than stain our hands and our conscience with that of another, an ungrateful world is now for a long period enjoying a benefit from Christ, inasmuch as by His means the rage of savage ferocity has been softened, and has begun to withhold hostile hands from the blood of a fellow-creature.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching

We therefore act rightly. For when those defenders of false gods, who are rebellious against the true God, persecute His name in us, we resist not either in deed or in word, but with meekness, and silence, and patience, we endure whatever cruelty is able to contrive against us.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

which is to offer the other cheek; which is not only not to return railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing;

Romans 12:17 Supporting witness

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

1 Peter 3:9 Supporting witness

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.