Early Christian Views on Partiality and Bias

James 2:9 Direct teaching

but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

...d who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge? For you did all things without favoritism, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who led you, and giving all appropriate honor to the elders among you. You instructed young men to be of a sober and serious mind; you taught your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as was their duty; and you taught them that, living by the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs properly, and be marked by discretion in every respect.

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching

It is sufficient only to know this much, in order to demonstrate the impartiality and righteousness of God, that, conformably with the declaration of the Apostle Paul, there is no acceptance of persons with Him, who rather disposes everything according to the deserts and moral progress of each individual.

Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Direct teaching

...he day of judgment and repayment, and what all of us must believe and firmly hold: that there is no favoritism with God. Romans 2:11 For in Deuteronomy He commanded that no person must be favored in judgment: "You shall not accept the person," He says, "nor shall you judge according to the least nor according to the greatest." Deuteronomy 1:17 He also said similar words through Ezekiel: "All souls," He said, "are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also is the soul of the son. The soul that has sinned, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4 Therefore, He is the One who must be revered by us. He must be held fast. He must be appeased by our full and worthy confession, He who has the power to send both soul and body into the Gehenna of fire, Matthew 10:28 as it is written: "Behold, He comes with many thousands of His messengers, to execute judgment on all, and to destroy all the wicked, and to condemn all flesh for all the wicked deeds that they have wickedly done, and for all the impious words which sinners have spoken against God."

Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Supporting witness

Let us have in contemplation especially the day of judgment and retribution, and what must be believed by all of us, and firmly maintained, that there is no acceptance of persons with God;

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you.

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness

You shall judge righteously, you shall not respect persons in reproving for transgressions.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

To the judges He says, You shall not show partiality in judgment.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...pinions of His questioners but according to the doctrine leading to salvation, without hypocrisy or favoritism.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

to whom Peter, coming in, said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to Him.” He thus clearly indicates, that He whom Cornelius had previously feared as God, of whom he had heard through the law and the prophets, for whose sake also he used to give alms, is, in truth, God.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

A bishop must not show favoritism. He must not honor or flatter a rich man against what is right, and he must not ignore or rule harshly over a poor man. For God says to Moses, "You shall not accept the person of the rich, nor shall you pity a poor man in his cause; for the judgment is the Lord's." Leviticus 19:15; Exodus 23:3 And again: "You shall follow with exact justice what is right." A bishop should be frugal and content with little in food and drink, so that he may always be sober-minded and ready to instruct and warn the ignorant. He must not be extravagant in his diet, pampering himself, given to pleasure, or fond of delicacies. Let him be patient and gentle in his warnings, well taught himself, meditating on and carefully studying the Lord's books, and reading them often. Then he will be able to interpret the Scriptures carefully, explaining the Gospel in agreement with the prophets and with the law; and let the explanations from the law and the prophets agree with the Gospel. For the Lord Jesus says, "Search the Scriptures; for they are those which testify of me." John 5:39 And again: "For Moses wrote of me." John 5:46 But above all, let him carefully distinguish between

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

For the bishop must not only give no offense himself, but also must not show favoritism. He must gently instruct those who offend. But if he himself does not have a good conscience, and shows favoritism for the sake of shameful gain, and takes bribes, and spares the open offender, and allows him to remain in the Church, he disregards the voice of God and of our Lord, which says, "You shall carry out exactly right judgment. You shall not show partiality in judgment. You shall not justify the ungodly. You shall not receive gifts against anyone's life, for gifts blind the eyes of the wise and twist the words of the righteous." Exodus 23:8 And elsewhere He says, "Take away from among yourselves that wicked person." And Solomon says in his Proverbs, "Cast out a pestilent fellow from the congregation, and strife will go out with him." Proverbs 22:10

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...u are speaking the word of God, nor if you are listening to the one who sings or reads, should show partiality so far as to leave the ministry of the word in order to assign him a chief seat. Instead, remain calm, without interrupting your speaking or your attention. But let the brothers receive him through the deacons. And if there is no place, let the deacon, by speaking but not in anger, ask a younger person to rise and seat the stranger there. It is only reasonable that one who loves the brothers should do this of his own accord. But if he refuses, let the deacon raise him up by force and set him behind everyone else, so that the rest may be taught to give place to those who are more honorable. No, if a poor man, or one from a humble family, or a stranger, comes to you, whether old or young, and there is no place, the deacon shall find a place even for these, and do it with all his heart, so that instead of showing partiality before men, his service toward God may be well-pleasing. Let the deaconess do the very same thing for those women, whether poor or rich, who come to them.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...Lord's day. Let the deacons and presbyters also be present at your courts, to judge without showing favoritism, as men of God, with righteousness. Therefore, when both parties have come, as the law says in Deuteronomy 19:17, those who have the dispute shall stand separately in the middle of the court. After you have heard them, give your votes in a holy way, trying to make them both friends before the bishop gives his sentence, so that judgment against the offender may not spread abroad into the world. For you know that in the court he has the Christ of God as the witness of, and the one confirming, his judgment. But if any persons are accused by someone, and their reputation suffers as though they did not walk uprightly in the Lord, you shall in the same way hear both parties, the accuser and the accused. Do not judge with prejudice, or by listening to only one side, but with righteousness, as those passing sentence concerning eternal life or death. For God says, in Deuteronomy 16:20, "You shall pursue what is right, justly." For he who is justly punished and separated by you is rejected from eternal life and glory. He becomes dishonorable among holy men, and one condemned by G

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...nd as you condemn, you will be condemned." Matthew 7:2; Luke 6:37. If, therefore, you judge without respect of persons, you will uncover that accuser who bears false witness against his neighbor, and will prove him to be a sycophant, a spiteful person, and a murderer. He causes confusion by accusing the man as if he were wicked, is inconsistent in his words, contradicts himself in what he says, and is caught by the words of his own mouth, for his own lips are a dangerous snare to him. When you have convicted him of speaking falsely, you shall judge him severely and deliver him to the fiery sword, and you shall do to him as he wickedly intended to do to his brother. For, as far as it depended on him, he killed his brother by getting to the ears of the judge first. Deuteronomy 19:19. Now it is written that he who sheds man's blood, his own blood shall be shed. Genesis 9:6. And, "You shall take away that innocent blood, which was shed without cause, from you." Deuteronomy 19:13.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

..., and Your righteousness to the king's son. He shall judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, and shall save the children of the needy, and shall abase the slanderer; He shall endure with the sun, and before the moon, throughout all generations;’ and so on until, ‘His name endures before the sun, and all tribes of the earth shall be blessed in Him. All nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things: and blessed be His glorious name forever and ever: and the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. Amen, Amen.’ You might also remember from other words spoken by David, which I mentioned before, how it is declared that He would come forth from the highest heavens, and return there, so that you may recognize Him as God coming from above, and as a man living among men; and it is declared that He will come again, and those who pierced Him will see and mourn Him. The words are: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky shows His handiwork. Day speaks today, and night shows

Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness

...evelations to the blessed prophets long ago? The Word shows His compassion and His complete lack of favoritism to all the saints. He enlightens them and prepares them for what is useful for us, like a skillful physician who understands human weakness. He loves to teach the ignorant, and He turns those who go astray back to His own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith. And to those with pure eyes and holy hearts, who want to knock at the door, He opens at once. For He casts away none of His servants as unworthy of the divine mysteries. He does not value the rich man more highly than the poor man, nor does He despise the poor man because of his poverty. He does not look down on the barbarian, nor does He set the eunuch aside as not being a man. He does not hate the woman because of the woman's act of disobedience in the beginning, nor does He reject the man because of the man's transgression. Instead, He seeks all and desires to save all. He wants to make all people children of God, and He calls all the saints to one perfect man. For there is also one Son, or Servant, of God. Through Him, we too, receiving regeneration through the Holy Spirit, desire to come, al

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...o others except our people. Someone may say, "Are there not some among you who are poor, and others rich; some servants, and others masters? Is there not some difference between individuals?" There is none. Nor is there any other reason why we give one another the name of brothers, except that we believe ourselves to be equal. For since we measure all human things not by the body, but by the spirit, although the condition of bodies is different, we have no servants. Instead, we regard them and speak of them as brothers in spirit, and in religion as fellow servants. Riches also do not make men distinguished, except that they can make them more noticeable by good works. For men are rich not because they possess riches, but because they use them for works of justice. And those who seem to be poor are, for this reason, rich, because they are not in need and desire nothing.

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Supporting witness

...ways "providing for that which is becoming in the sight of God and man;" abstaining from all wrath, favoritism, and unjust judgment; keeping far from all covetousness, not quickly believing an evil report against anyone, not severe in judgment, as knowing that we are all under a debt of sin. If then we ask the Lord to forgive us, we ought also to forgive; for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and "we must all appear at the judgment seat of Christ, and must each one give an account of himself." Let us then serve Him in fear, and with all reverence, just as He Himself has commanded us, and as the apostles who preached the Gospel to us, and the prophets who announced beforehand the coming of the Lord have similarly taught us. Let us be zealous in the pursuit of what is good, keeping ourselves from causes of offense, from false brethren, and from those who in hypocrisy bear the name of the Lord, and lead vain people into error.

Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Supporting witness

... shall not corrupt youth. You shall not speak the word of God with any impurity. You shall not show favoritism when you reprove someone for transgression. You shall be meek; you shall be peaceable. You shall tremble at the words you hear. You shall not hold grudges against your brother. You shall not doubt whether something will happen or not. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. You shall love your neighbor more than your own soul. You shall not kill a child by procuring abortion; nor shall you destroy it after it is born. You shall not withhold guidance from your son or daughter, but teach them the fear of the Lord from infancy. You shall not covet your neighbor’s possessions, nor be greedy. You shall not associate with the haughty, but shall be counted with the righteous and lowly. Accept the trials that come to you as good. You shall not be double-minded or use double-talk, for double-talk is a snare of death. You shall be subject to the Lord and to other masters as the image of God, with modesty and fear. You shall not issue orders bitterly to your servant, who trusts in the same God, lest you fail to show reverence to God who is above both; for He came to call

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...d, along with five presbyters of his faction. They not only granted peace to the lapsed without any discrimination, but also stirred up sedition and schism against him.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...with deep darkness and shadowed by night, so you do not see the needy and poor. You are wealthy and rich, and do you think that you celebrate the Lord's Supper? Not at all. You do not consider the offering. You come to the Lord's Supper without a sacrifice, and yet you take part in the sacrifice that the poor man has offered. Consider in the Gospel the widow who remembered the heavenly commands. Even in the troubles and tightness of poverty, she did good by putting two mites, which were all that she had, into the treasury. When the Lord noticed and saw her, He looked not at the amount of her gift, but at her purpose. He considered not how much she had given, but out of how much she had given it. He answered and said, "Truly I say to you, that widow has put more than all of them into the offerings of God. For all these have put into the offerings of God out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, has put in all the living that she had," Luke 21:3-4. A greatly blessed and glorious woman, who even before the day of judgment deserved to be praised by the voice of the Judge! Let the rich be ashamed of their barrenness and unbelief. The widow, the widow poor in resources, is

James 2:1 Direct teaching

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Acts 10:34 Direct teaching

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

Romans 2:11 Direct teaching

For God shows no partiality.

1 Timothy 5:21 Direct teaching

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Leviticus 19:15 Direct teaching

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Deuteronomy 16:19 Direct teaching

Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 1:17 Direct teaching

Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Exodus 23:3 Direct teaching

You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

Ephesians 6:9 Supporting witness

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.