Early Christians on Scripture and the Bible

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...aking in Attic Greek?" This Moses was a theologian and prophet, and, as some say, an interpreter of sacred laws. His family, his deeds, and his life are related by the Scriptures themselves, which are completely trustworthy. But we must also tell them ourselves as well as we can.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II Direct teaching

and all Scripture, which has been given to us by God, shall be found by us perfectly consistent;

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching

And both of these positions will be confirmed by the authority of holy Scripture.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

2. The Holy Spirit speaks in the sacred Scriptures, and says, By almsgiving and faith sins are purged.

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Direct teaching

and the writings or volumes that consist of those holy letters and syllables, the same apostle consequently calls inspired of God, being profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

For the prophecies were recorded and preserved by men living at the time, that those who came after might read and admire them as the oracles of God, and that they might profit not only by the warnings and admonitions, but also by the predictions, which, being shown by events to have proceeded from the Spirit of God, bind men to the practice of piety as set forth in the law and the prophets.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

But among the Hebrews the prophets were moved by the power and inspiration of God.

2 Timothy 3:16 Direct teaching

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2 Peter 1:21 Supporting witness

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 Supporting witness

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II Direct teaching

But that I may not be thought to avoid that series of proofs which may be derived from the Scriptures of the Lord (since, indeed, these Scriptures do much more evidently and clearly proclaim this very point), I shall, for the benefit of those at least who do not bring a depraved mind to bear upon them, devote a special book to the Scriptures referred to, which shall fairly follow them out [and explain them], and I shall plainly set forth from these divine Scriptures proofs to [satisfy] all the lovers of truth.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

they are the Scriptures of the Creator. For as I shall have to prove that Christ was from the Creator, according to these (Scriptures), which were afterwards accomplished in the Creator's Christ, I find it necessary to set forth the form and, so to speak, the nature of the Scriptures themselves, that they may not distract the reader's attention by being called into controversy at the moment of their application to subjects of discussion, and by their proof being confounded with the proof of the subjects themselves.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Direct teaching

Why shall the truth of faith hesitate in that wherein the authority of Scripture has never hesitated?

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

... Christ is provided, from which the heavenly work is carried out. I do not guarantee this on my own authority. I promise it on the faith of the Holy Scriptures and on the authority of the divine promise. The Holy Spirit speaks through Solomon and says, “He that gives to the poor shall never lack, but he that turns away his eye shall be in great poverty,” showing that the merciful and those who do good works cannot be in need, but rather that the stingy and barren later come to want. Moreover, the blessed Apostle Paul, filled with the grace of the Lord’s inspiration, says, “He that ministers seed to the sower shall also minister bread for your food, and shall multiply your seed sown, and shall increase the growth of the fruits of your righteousness,” that in all things you may be enriched. 2 Corinthians 9:10 And again, “The administration of this service shall not only supply the needs of the saints, but shall also abound through many thanksgivings to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:12 Because, while thanks are offered to God for our almsgivings and labors, by the prayer of the poor, the wealth of the giver is increased by the repayment of God. And the Lord in the Gospel, already seeing th

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

And, indeed, I do not make this statement on the bare authority of my own words, but I confirm it by the authority of that Scripture which has been our instructor.

Hippolytus, Against the Heresy of Noetus Supporting witness

Whatever things, then, the Holy Scriptures declare, at these let us took;

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

...have answered well enough the charges of the many crimes on which these fierce demands are made for Christian blood. We have fully presented our case. We have shown how we can prove that what we say is true, from the trustworthiness and antiquity of our sacred writings, and also from the confession of the powers of spiritual wickedness themselves. Who will dare to refute us, not with skill in words, but, as we have made our demonstration, on the basis of reality? But while the truth we hold is made clear to all, unbelief meanwhile, even at the very time when it is convinced of the worth of Christianity, now well known both for its benefits and from the intercourse of life, takes up the idea that it is not really something divine, but rather a kind of philosophy. "These are the very things," it says, "that the philosophers advise and profess: innocence, justice, patience, sobriety, and chastity." Why then are we not allowed the same freedom and immunity for our teachings that they have, when we are compared with them in what we teach? Or why are they not also forced to the same acts, by refusing which our lives are put in danger, if they are so much like us? For who forces a phil

1 Corinthians 14:37 Supporting witness

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

Didache, Connection to John 5:39 Direct teaching

For the Lord Jesus says: "Search the Scriptures; for they are those which testify of me."

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

"And the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In the section before this, my revered brother Ambrosius, brother formed according to the Gospel, we discussed, as far as we are able at present, what the Gospel is, and what the beginning is in which the Word was, and what the Word is that was in the beginning. Now we come to consider the next point before us: how the Word was with God. For this purpose, it will help to remember that what is called the Word came to certain persons. For example, "The Word of the Lord," in Hosea 1:1, came to Hosea the son of Beeri; and "The Word," in Isaiah 2:1, came to Isaiah the son of Amos, concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem; and "The Word which came to Jeremiah," in Jeremiah 14:1, was concerning the drought. We must ask how this Word came to Hosea, and how it also came to Isaiah the son of Amos, and again to Jeremiah concerning the drought. The comparison may help us find out how the Word was with God. Most people will simply look at what the prophets said, as if that were the Word of the Lord, or the Word, that came to them. But perhaps, just as we say that one person comes to another, the Son, the Word, of whom we are now speaking theol

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

...the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Moreover, His name is called the Word of God in Revelation 19:13, and not without reason. "My heart has emitted a good word." Afterward he then calls that word by the name of the King by implication: "I will tell my works to the King." For by Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made, as John 1:3 says. Whether they are thrones or dominions, or powers, or mights, visible things or invisible, all things subsist by Him, as the apostle says in Colossians 1:16. Moreover, this is that Word which came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. For the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him, as John 1:10-11 says. Moreover, this Word was in the beginning with God, and God was the Word, as John 1:1 says. Who then can doubt, when it is said in the last clause, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," that Christ, whose birth is being described, is man because He was made flesh? And because He is the Word of God, who can shrink from declaring without hesitation that He is God, especially when he considers the Gospel, that it has joined both of these substantial natures into one harmony of the

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

...the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” For His name is also called “the Word of God,” in Revelation 19:13, and not without reason. “My heart has uttered a good word.” He then afterward calls this word by the name of the King indirectly: “I will tell my works to the King.” For by Him all works were made, and without Him nothing was made, as John 1:3 says. “Whether,” says the apostle, “they are thrones or dominions, or powers, or mights, visible things and invisible, all things subsist by Him,” as Colossians 1:16 says. Moreover, this is that Word which came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. For the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him, as John 1:10-11 says. Moreover, this Word was in the beginning with God, and God was the Word, as John 1:1 says. Who then can doubt, when in the last clause it is said, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” that Christ, whose birth is being described, is man because He was made flesh? And because He is the Word of God, who can shrink from declaring without hesitation that He is God, especially when he considers the Gospel, that it has joined both of these substantial natures into one harmony o

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Supporting witness

...to show how the Father created all, establishes a certain principle—that is, what was first-born by God, which he called both the only-begotten Son and God, in whom the Father, in a seminal way, brought forth everything. Through him, the Word was produced, and in him the entire substance of the Æons, which the Word later gave form to. Since he addresses the first origin of things, he rightly begins his teaching from the start, that is, from God and the Word. And he expresses himself like this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God.” Having first distinguished these three—God, the Beginning, and the Word—he again unites them, to show the production of each, that is, of the Son and the Word, and at the same time show their union with one another, and with the Father. For “the beginning” is in the Father and from the Father, while “the Word” is in the beginning and from the beginning. Very appropriately, then, did he say, “In the beginning was the Word,” for He was in the Son; “and the Word was with God,” for He was the beginning; “and the Word was God,” naturally, for what is begotten of God is God.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Oration to Origen Supporting witness

...me whom I have known myself, or heard about from others, he alone has studied the clear and shining oracles of God so deeply that he could both receive their meaning into his own mind at once and pass it on to others. For the Leader of all people, who inspires God's beloved prophets and gives them all their prophecies and their hidden and heavenly words, honored this man as a friend and made him an interpreter of those same oracles. Things that He only hinted at through others, He made into full teaching through this man's service. And in matters that He, who is worthy of all trust, either commanded in kingly fashion or simply declared, He gave this man the gift of searching them out, unfolding them, and explaining them. So, if there happened to be anyone with a dull and unbelieving mind, or again someone eager to be taught, that person might learn from this man and in some way be compelled to understand, to decide in favor of belief, and to follow God. Moreover, in my judgment, he gives these things out only by sharing in the Divine Spirit, and truly so. For the same power is needed both for those who prophesy and for those who hear the prophets. No one can rightly hear a proph

John 2:22 Direct teaching

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Luke 24:27 Supporting witness

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

that you are to make use of the sacred Scriptures, the law, and the prophets;

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

Well, on the other hand, not only did we establish the law of Moses, and all things which are written in it, by the same Scripture;

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness

... if you mention the lawgivers Lycurgus, Draco, or Minos, Josephus tells us in his writings that the sacred books are older than they are. This is because the writings of the divine law given to us through Moses already existed even before the reign of Jupiter over the Cretans, and before the Trojan War. And so that we may give a more exact presentation of eras and dates, we will now, with God's help, give an account not only of the dates after the flood, but also of those before it. We will do this in order to count, as far as possible, the total number of all the years, tracing back to the very beginning of the creation of the world, which Moses, the servant of God, recorded through the Holy Spirit. For after first speaking about the creation and beginning of the world, and of the first man, and of everything that happened afterward in the order of events, he also made known the years that passed before the flood. And I pray for favor from the only God, that I may speak the whole truth accurately according to His will, so that you and everyone who reads this work may be guided by His truth and favor. I will begin, then, first with the recorded genealogies, and I begin my accoun

Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Supporting witness

...ovenant is theirs and ours.” But they ultimately lost it, even after Moses had received it. For the Scripture says, “And Moses was fasting on the mountain forty days and forty nights, and received the covenant from the Lord, stone tablets written with the finger of the Lord;” but by turning to idols, they lost it. For the Lord said to Moses: “Moses, go down quickly; for the people you brought out of Egypt have transgressed.” And Moses understood, and threw the two tablets from his hands; and their covenant was broken, so that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our hearts, in the hope that comes from believing in Him. Now, wishing to write many things to you, not as your teacher, but out of love, I have taken care not to fail to write to you from what I possess, for your purification. We must be careful in these last days; for the entire past time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also resist coming sources of danger, as befits the children of God. To prevent the Black One from entering, let us flee from every vanity, let us completely hate the works of wickedness. Do not live a solitary life, as if already justified; but

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

Since the Scriptures have been interpreted with such faithfulness, by the grace of God, and because of this, God has prepared and renewed our faith in His Son and preserved for us the pure Scriptures in Egypt—where the house of Jacob thrived, escaping the famine in Canaan, and where our Lord was preserved when He fled from Herod's persecution—and because this interpretation of these Scriptures was made before our Lord's descent to earth, and before the Christians appeared (for our Lord was born around the forty-first year of Augustus's reign, but Ptolemy lived much earlier, during whose time the Scriptures were interpreted)—truly, these people are shown to be brazen and audacious, who now wish to create different translations, when we refute them using these Scriptures and lead them to believe in the coming of the Son of God. But our faith is steadfast, sincere, and the only true one, having clear proof from these Scriptures, which were interpreted as I have described, and the preaching of the Church is unaltered. For the apostles, being older than all these heretics, agree with this mentioned translation; and the translation aligns with the tradition of the apostles. For Peter, Jo

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...ering what fully belongs to and fits the Sovereign God, and by establishing each point shown in the Scriptures again from other similar Scriptures. So then, they are not willing to turn to the truth, because they are ashamed to give up the claims of self-love. Nor are they able to support their opinions without forcing the Scriptures. But after they have first published false teachings to people, openly fighting against almost the whole of Scripture, and being constantly refuted by us who oppose them, they then do the following. On the one hand, even now they refuse to accept the prophetic Scriptures. On the other hand, they speak badly of us as if we were of a different nature and unable to understand what is special to them. Sometimes they even deny their own teachings when those teachings are refuted, because they are ashamed to admit openly what they glory in teaching in private. This can be seen in all the heresies, when you examine the evil in their teachings. For when they are overthrown by our clearly showing that they are opposed to the Scriptures, one of two things can be seen in those who defend the teaching. Either they despise the consistency of their own teachings,

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...total will be completed, those who have written about the times teach this by gathering it from the sacred writings and from various histories, showing how great the number of years is from the beginning of the world. And although they differ, and the total number they calculate varies considerably, still all expectation does not go beyond the limit of two hundred years. The matter itself shows that the fall and ruin of the world will happen soon, except that as long as the city of Rome remains, it seems that nothing of this kind is to be feared. But when that capital of the world has fallen, and has begun to be a street, which the Sibyls say will happen, who can doubt that the end has now come upon the affairs of men and of the whole world? It is that city, and that city alone, which still upholds all things. And the God of heaven must be asked and pleaded with by us, if indeed His arrangements and decrees can be delayed, so that, sooner than we think, that hateful tyrant may not come, who will undertake so great a deed and dig out that eye, by the destruction of which the world itself is about to fall. Now let us return to set forth the other things that are then about to foll

Romans 1:2 Direct teaching

which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Romans 15:4 Supporting witness

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Timothy 3:15 Supporting witness

and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

Ye understand, beloved, ye understand well the Sacred Scriptures, and ye have looked very earnestly into the oracles of God.

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.'"

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

... during those hours or days when they go through such things, do they refuse to pray, or to touch a Bible, or to receive the Eucharist? If they admit that they do, then it is plain that they are without the Holy Spirit, who always remains with the faithful. For Solomon says about holy people, "So that each one may prepare himself, so that when he sleeps it may keep him, and when he rises it may speak with him," Proverbs 6:22. For if you think, woman, that when you are in your seven days of separation you are without the Holy Spirit, then if you were to die suddenly, you would depart without the Spirit and without sure hope in God. Or else you must understand that the Spirit is always inseparable from you, since He is not confined to a place. But you need prayer and the Eucharist and the coming of the Holy Spirit, because in this matter you have committed no sin. For neither lawful union, nor childbearing, nor menstrual cleansing, nor a nighttime emission can defile a person's nature or separate the Holy Spirit from him. Nothing can do that except impiety and unlawful conduct. For the Holy Spirit always remains with those who have Him, as long as they are worthy. And when He depa

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

For the Lord Jesus says: Search the Scriptures;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

What Books of Scripture We Ought to Read.

Acts 17:11 Supporting witness

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

John 5:39 Supporting witness

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.