Early Christian Beliefs About Poverty

Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Direct teaching

The man, then, who is truly and rightly rich is the one who is rich in virtues and able to use every fortune devoutly and faithfully, while the false rich man is the one who is rich according to the flesh and has shifted his life into outward possession — the kind that passes away and decays and now belongs to one and now to another, and in the end to no one whatever. Again, in the same way, there is also a genuine poor man and another spurious one, poor in name only. The one is poor according to spirit — that is, in what is his own; the other is poor according to the world — that is, in what is foreign to him. To the man not poor according to the world but rich in passions, the one not poor according to spirit but rich according to God says: "Stand off from the foreign possessions present in your soul, so that, becoming pure in heart, you may see God" — which by another voice is to enter into the kingdom of the heavens. "And how shall you stand off from them? By selling." What then? Will you receive money in place of possessions, making an exchange of wealth for wealth, by turning your visible substance into silver? By no means. Rather, in place of what was formerly within the sou

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Supporting witness

be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;” and once more, “Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

...to their soul! They have devised evil counsel against themselves, saying, Let us bind the righteous man, for he is distasteful to us. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own actions. Woe to the wicked! Evil, according to the works of his hands, shall befall him. O my people, your exactors glean you, and those who extort from you shall rule over you. O my people, those who call you blessed cause you to err, and disorder the way of your paths. But now the Lord shall assist His people to judgment, and He shall enter into judgment with the elders of the people and their princes. But why have you destroyed my vineyard? And why is the spoil of the poor found in your houses? Why do you wrong my people, and put to shame the face of the humble?’ Again, in other words, the same prophet spoke similarly: ‘Woe to those who draw their iniquity as with a long cord, and their transgressions as with the harness of an ox’s yoke: who say, Let His speed come near, and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel come, that we may know it. Woe to those that call evil good, and good evil! That put light for darkness, and darkness for light! That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to

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

Methodius, Oration on the Psalms Supporting witness

...God the King of Glory, who for our sake became poor, though in His own proper state He did not know poverty, so that by His bounty He might make us rich.” Blessed is He who once came in humility and who will later come again in glory. The first time, He was lowly, seated on a donkey’s colt, and praised by infants, so that what was written might be fulfilled: “Your goings have been seen, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.” But the second time, He will be seated on the clouds in fearful majesty, attended by angels and powers. Oh, the sweet tongue of the children! Oh, the sincere teaching of those who are pleasing to God! David in prophecy hid the Spirit under the letter. Children, opening their treasures, brought out riches on their tongues, and in grace-filled words clearly invited all people to enjoy them. Therefore let us, with them, draw out the unfading riches. In our never-satisfied hearts, and in treasure houses that cannot be filled, let us store up the divine gifts. Let us cry out without ceasing, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” True God in the name of the True God, the Almighty from the Almighty, the Son in the name of the Fat

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

It is not the poor simply, but those that have wished to become poor for righteousness' sake, that He pronounces blessed — those who have despised the honours of this world in order to attain the good;

Matthew 5:3 Background

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 6:20 Background

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.

James 2:5 Background

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Matthew 5:10 Background

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

... question and understanding nothing? These are the people who do have faith, but they also have the riches of this world. Therefore, when tribulation comes, they deny the Lord because of their riches and their business. I answered and said to her, When then will they be useful for the building, Lady? When the riches that now lead them astray have been cut back, then they will be useful to God. For just as a round stone cannot become square unless parts of it are cut off and thrown away, so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to the Lord unless their riches are cut down. Learn this first from your own case. When you were rich, you were useless. But now you are useful and fit for life. Be useful to God, for you also will be used as one of these stones.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

...k for what he knew would be pleasing to God, that is, wisdom. So he further deserved to receive the riches that he had not preferred. Indeed, giving a man riches is not unfitting for God, because by the help of riches even rich men are comforted and helped. Also, many works of justice and charity are done by means of riches. Yet there are serious faults that go along with riches. It is because of these that woes are pronounced against the rich, even in the Gospel. “You have received your consolation,” He says. That means, of course, from their riches, in the pomp and vanities of the world that these buy for them. So in Deuteronomy, Moses says, “Lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, as well as your silver and your gold, your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 8:12-14 In similar words, when King Hezekiah became proud of his treasures, and boasted in them rather than in God before those who had come from Babylon as envoys, the Creator breaks out against him through Isaiah: “Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up,

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

...Similarly, the saying "You cannot serve two masters" is explained by Him: "You cannot serve God and mammon," recognizing God as God but mentioning mammon as something that exists. He does not call mammon Lord when He says, "You cannot serve two masters," but He teaches His disciples, who serve God, not to be subject to mammon, nor to be ruled by it. For He says, "He that commits sin is the slave of sin." Since He calls those who serve sin "the slaves of sin" but does not call sin itself God, He also calls those who serve mammon "the slaves of mammon," not calling mammon God. For mammon, in the Jewish language, also used by the Samaritans, means a covetous person who wants more than they should have. In Hebrew, with the addition of a syllable, it is called Mamuel and means insatiable. Therefore, by both meanings, we cannot serve God and mammon.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

For the root of all evil is the love of money, which, while some have coveted, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

...uers reckless impulses, repels drunkenness, checks avarice, drives away luxurious revellings, joins love, binds together affections, keeps down sects, orders the rule of truth, overcomes heretics, turns out the wicked, and guards the Gospel. Of this the same apostle says, “We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God.” Concerning Him he says with joy, “And I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” Of Him he says, “The Spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets.” Of Him also he says, “Now the Spirit speaks plainly, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, who speak lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience cauterized.” Established in this Spirit, no one ever calls Jesus anathema. No one has ever denied Christ to be the Son of God, or rejected God the Creator. No one utters words of his own contrary to the Scriptures. No one ordains other and sacrilegious decrees. No one draws up different laws. Whoever blasphemes against Him has no forgiveness, not only in this world, but also not in the world to come. This is He who in the apostles gives testimony to Christ; in the

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

And the source of all these evils was lust, which indeed broke out from contempt for true majesty. For not only did those who had more than enough fail to give a share to others, but they even seized other people's property, pulling everything toward their own profit. And things that formerly even individuals worked to obtain for the common use of mankind were now carried into the houses of a few. For, so that they might bring others under slavery, they especially began to take away and gather together the necessities of life, and to keep them tightly shut up, so that they might claim the gifts of heaven as their own. They did this not out of kindness, a feeling that did not exist in them, but so that they might gather up all the means of lust and greed. They also, under the name of justice, passed very unequal and unjust laws, by which they could defend their plunder and greed against the force of the crowd. Therefore they prevailed as much by authority as by strength, or resources, or malice. And since there was in them no trace of justice, whose duties are humanity, fairness, and pity, they now began to delight in proud and swollen inequality. They made themselves higher than ot

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

..., which is earth. For they do not aim to obtain life for man, but either the gaining or increase of riches, honor, glory, and power. These are completely mortal things, just as mortal as the man who has labored to obtain them. From this comes that saying: "It is virtue to know the end of an object to be sought, and the means of obtaining it." For they teach by what means and by what practices property should be sought, because they see that it is often sought unjustly. But virtue of this kind is not set before the wise man. For it is not virtue to seek riches, since neither finding them nor possessing them is in our power. Therefore, they are more easily gained and kept by the bad than by the good. Virtue, then, cannot consist in seeking those things in despising which the force and purpose of virtue are seen. Nor will virtue turn to those very things which, with its great and lofty mind, it desires to trample on and crush under foot. Nor is it right for a soul that is earnestly fixed on heavenly goods to be called away from its immortal pursuits so that it may gain these fragile things for itself. But the course of virtue especially consists in obtaining those things that neith

Victorinus, On the Creation of the World Supporting witness

... he also gave himself as an example of what he had written. Then, not without reason, he added that avarice is the root of all evils, in 1 Timothy 6:10, for it follows in the footsteps of luxury. Whatever luxury has wasted through vice, avarice restores through crime. So the cycle of crimes is walked again, in order that luxury may once more consume whatever avarice had piled up. Yet even among such matters there are some who, although they have claimed for themselves the name of Christian, provide examples and teachings of lack of self-control. Their vices have gone so far that, while fasting, they drink early in the morning. They do not think it Christian to drink after food, unless the wine poured into their empty and idle veins has gone down immediately after sleep. For they seem to enjoy what they drink less if food is mixed with the wine. So you may see such people in a new condition: still fasting, and already drunk; not running to the tavern, but carrying the tavern around with them. And if one of them offers a greeting, he gives not a kiss, but drinks a health. What can they do after food, when food finds them already drunk? Or in what condition does the setting sun lea

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Background

... of Caesar. Since Callistus was a believer, Carpophorus entrusted him with a considerable amount of money and told him to earn profitable returns from banking. After receiving the money, he set up a bank in the place called the Piscina Publica. In time, quite a few widows and brothers also entrusted their deposits to him, on the stated pretext that their money was being placed with Carpophorus. Callistus, however, ran through all the money entrusted to him and fell into financial trouble. After he had behaved in this way, someone informed Carpophorus, and Carpophorus said that he would demand an account from him. When Callistus realized this and suspected danger from his master, he secretly escaped and fled toward the sea. There he found a ship at Portus ready to sail, and he went on board, intending to go wherever it was bound. But not even in this way could he avoid being discovered, because someone informed Carpophorus of what had happened. So Carpophorus, acting on the report he had received, immediately went to the harbor, Portus, and tried to get onto the ship after Callistus. The ship, however, was anchored in the middle of the harbor, and since the ferryman was slow, Cal

Clement of Rome, Second Epistle (attributed) Direct teaching

Now the Lord says, “No servant can serve two masters.” 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?

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

In like manner also, that [text] which says, “Ye cannot serve two masters,” He does Himself interpret, saying, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon;” acknowledging God indeed as God, but mentioning mammon, a thing having also an existence.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

He does not call mammon Lord when He says, “Ye cannot serve two masters;” but He teaches His disciples who serve God, not to be subject to mammon, nor to be ruled by it.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

And what the saying, No man can serve two masters, God and Mammon?— the Lord so terming the love of money.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...e set over the affairs of this world. For no man can serve two masters, and we cannot serve God and mammon, whether that name is used for one or for more than one. Moreover, if anyone dishonors the lawgiver by breaking the law, then it seems clear to us that if the two laws, the law of God and the law of mammon, are completely opposed to each other, it is better for us to dishonor mammon by breaking the law of mammon, so that we may honor God by keeping His law, than to dishonor God by breaking the law of God, so that by obeying the law of mammon we may honor mammon.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

...their money rather than their souls. In this way, they showed that they wanted to serve God and not mammon, that is, riches. He also brings forward the words of Scripture and the example found in the Acts of the Apostles, of the blessed apostle Paul and others. Now, when it is said that they "have been undisturbed by all evil," this should be understood in one of two ways. Either it means that they were left undisturbed as far as denying the faith is concerned, since denial of the faith is what brings in every evil. Or he means the sufferings of persecutions.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

...e 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

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...uble 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 to her. A woman who thinks about such things will no longer pay attention to her prayers, but to that thought which comes to her. So even if at times she would pray for someone, she will not be heard, because she does not offer her petition to the Lord with her whole heart, but with a divided mind. But she who gives attention to God will stay inside and care for the things of the Lord d

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ard, for from such things come whoredoms and adulteries. Do not be a lover of money, lest you serve mammon instead of God, as in Matthew 6:24. Do not be vainglorious, or haughty, or high-minded. For arrogance springs from all these things. Remember him who said, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. I have not occupied myself with great matters, nor with things too high for me. But I was humble."

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...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

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

11. You say that you are wealthy and rich, and you think you should use the things that God has willed you to possess. Certainly, use them, but use them for the things of salvation. Use them for good purposes. Use them for the things that God has commanded and that the Lord has set forth. Let the poor feel that you are wealthy. Let the needy feel that you are rich. Lend your estate to God. Give food to Christ. By the prayers of many, move Him to grant that you may carry out the glory of virginity and succeed in coming to the Lord's rewards. Entrust your treasures there, where no thief digs through and no crafty plunderer breaks in. Prepare possessions for yourself, but let them be heavenly ones instead, where neither rust wears them out, nor hail damages them, nor the sun burns them, nor rain spoils your fruits. Let them be lasting and unending, and free from every touch of worldly harm. For in this very matter you are sinning against God if you think that He gave you riches for this purpose: that you should fully enjoy them without any concern for salvation. For God also gave man a voice, and yet because of that, love songs and indecent things should not be sung. And God willed ir

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

Our holy Savior applied poverty and riches, and similar things, both to spiritual matters and to physical things. For when He said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake," Matthew 5:10, He clearly taught us in every situation to look to the martyr. If that person is poor for righteousness' sake, he bears witness that the righteousness he loves is a good thing. If he hungers and thirsts for righteousness' sake, he testifies that righteousness is the best thing. In the same way, the one who weeps and mourns for righteousness' sake testifies that the best law is beautiful. So then, just as those who are persecuted are called blessed, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness' sake are also called blessed by Him who approves true desire, a desire that not even famine can stop. And if they hunger for righteousness itself, they are blessed. And blessed are the poor, whether in spirit or in outward circumstances, that is, if it is for righteousness' sake. He does not simply call the poor blessed, but those who have chosen to become poor for righteousness' sake. These are the people who have despised the honors of this world in order to gain the good. In the sam

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

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.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

In the psalm he cries out, "Defend the fatherless and the needy. Do justice to the humble and the poor. Deliver the poor, and rescue the needy out of the hand of the wicked." In the seventy-first Psalm he says in the same way, "In righteousness shall He judge the needy among the people, and shall save the children of the poor." And in the words that follow he says of Christ, "All nations shall serve Him." Now David reigned only over the Jewish nation, so that no one can suppose this was spoken of David. But He had taken upon Himself the condition of the poor, and of those who were oppressed with want, because "He should deliver the needy out of the hand of the mighty man. He shall spare the needy and the poor, and shall deliver the souls of the poor. From usury and injustice shall He redeem their souls, and in His sight their name shall be honored." Again: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, even all the nations that forget God. Because the needy shall not always be forgotten; the endurance of the poor shall not perish forever." Again: "Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, and yet looks on the humble things that are in heaven and on earth!" He is the one "who raises

Peter of Alexandria, The Genuine Acts of Peter Supporting witness

...made with 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 si

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

And He says again by David: Blessed is he that has regard to the poor and needy;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

...refore minister with a kind mind, not murmuring or rebelling, for you do not do it for man, but for God, and you shall receive from Him the reward of your ministry in the day of your visitation. It is your duty, you who are deacons, to visit all those who need visitation. And tell your bishop about all those who are in affliction, for you ought to be like his soul and senses, active and attentive in all things to him as to your bishop, and father and master.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

But there are some rich women, rich in abundant resources, who prefer their own wealth and argue that they ought to use these blessings. First of all, let them know that she is rich who is rich in God. She is wealthy who is wealthy in Christ. Those things are blessings which are spiritual, divine, and heavenly, which lead us to God, and which remain with us forever in our possession with God. But whatever things are earthly, and have been received in this world, and will remain here with the world, ought to be despised just as the world itself is despised. For we have already renounced its pomp and pleasures when, through a blessed passage, we came to God. John urges and exhorts us, bearing witness with a spiritual and heavenly voice: "Do not love the world, or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not from the Father, but is from the lust of the world. And the world passes away, and its lust: but he who does the will of God abides forever, just as God also abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17 Therefore eternal and

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Background

...uers reckless impulses, repels drunkenness, checks avarice, drives away luxurious revellings, links love, binds affections together, keeps down sects, orders the rule of truth, overcomes heretics, turns out the wicked, and guards the Gospel. Of this the same apostle says, “We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God.” Concerning Him he says with joy, “And I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” Of Him he says, “The Spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets.” Of Him also he tells us, “Now the Spirit speaks plainly, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, who speak lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience cauterized.” Established in this Spirit, no one ever calls Jesus anathema. No one has ever denied Christ to be the Son of God, or rejected God the Creator. No one utters words of his own contrary to the Scriptures. No one ordains other and sacrilegious decrees. No one draws up different laws. Whoever blasphemes against Him has no forgiveness, not only in this world, but also not in the world to come. This is He who in the apostles gives testimony to Christ; in

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Background

...ny," Luke 14:16. But I see where the attractive name for suppers came from: from throats and a wild love of suppers, as the comic poet says. For truly, to many people, many things exist for the sake of supper. For they have not yet learned that God has given His creature, meaning man, food and drink for support, not for pleasure, since the body gains no benefit from costly foods. On the contrary, those who use the plainest food are the strongest, healthiest, and best. Servants are healthier and stronger than their masters, and farmers than landowners. They are not only more vigorous, but also wiser, just as philosophers are wiser than rich men. For they have not buried the mind under food or deceived it with pleasures. But love, agape, is truly heavenly food, the banquet of reason. "It bears all things, endures all things, hopes all things. Love never fails," 1 Corinthians 13:7-8. "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God," Luke 14:15. But the worst thing of all is for love, which never fails, to be cast down from heaven to the ground into the middle of sauces. Do you think I am speaking of a supper that will pass away? For, it is said, "If I give away all my good