Early Christians on the Book of Daniel
Early Christians treated Daniel as a real prophecy book that pointed to Christ, the kingdom of God, the end times, and the resurrection. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Hippolytus, and Lactantius all quoted Daniel as Scripture. They often focused on Daniel 7, 8, 9, and 12. Some uses are direct, while others are background or typology tied to later Christian reading.
109 early-church witnesses · 186 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the Book of Daniel?
Early Christian writers treated Daniel as a true prophet and a key witness to Christ, the last days, the resurrection, and the final judgment. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Hippolytus, and Lactantius all used Daniel as Scripture and often quoted Daniel 7 to describe the Son of Man, the kingdom of Christ, and the defeat of evil rulers. They also pointed to Daniel 8, 9, and 12 to explain sealed prophecy, the seventy weeks, and the resurrection of the dead.
The witness is broad and early, though some cards are more about Daniel’s visions, typology, or later commentary than direct statements about the book itself. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians read Daniel as Scripture, not as a minor story book.
- Daniel 7 was a major text for the Son of Man, Christ’s rule, and final judgment.
- Daniel 8, 9, and 12 were used for prophecy, the sealed book, and the resurrection.
- The evidence is broad across multiple writers in the 1st to 3rd centuries.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians read Daniel as prophecy about Christ?
Early Christian writers repeatedly cite Daniel as a prophecy of Christ, especially Daniel 7:13-14. They use it to argue that Jesus is the Son of Man who receives dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching
...t will it be that follows His glorious advent! For He will come on the clouds as the Son of man, as Daniel foretold, and His angels will come with Him. Here are the words: ‘I watched until the thrones were set; and the Ancient of days sat, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was like a fiery flame, His wheels like burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. Thousands upon thousands ministered to Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The books were opened, and the judgment was set. I then watched the voice of the great words which the horn speaks: and the beast was defeated, and its body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. The rest of the beasts were taken away from their dominion, and some life was given to the beasts for a season and time. I saw in the vision of the night, and, behold, one like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven; and He came to the Ancient of days, and stood before Him. And those who stood by brought Him near; and He was given power and kingly honor, and all nations of the earth by their families, and all glory, serve Him. His dominion is an everlas
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
...He also named a human being? Unless it was because, by means of that very title Son of man from the book of Daniel, He wanted so to lead them to reflect as to show them that He who remitted sins was God and man—that one Son of man indeed, in the prophecy of Daniel, who had obtained the power of judging, and thereby, of course, of forgiving sins likewise, for He who judges also absolves. So when their objection had been shattered to pieces by their remembrance of Scripture, they might more easily acknowledge Him to be that very Son of man by His actual forgiveness of sins. I make one more observation: up to this point He has nowhere yet professed Himself to be the Son of God—but for the first time in this passage, in which for the first time He has remitted sins, that is, in which for the first time He has used His function of judgment, by the absolution. All that the other side has to bring as an argument against these things—please weigh carefully what it amounts to. For it must strain itself to such a pitch of madness as, on the one hand, to maintain that their Christ is also Son of man, in order to save Him from the charge of falsehood; and, on the other hand, to deny that He
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching
...one that becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth. Daniel says of it, "I saw in the night visions, and look, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of Days, and was brought near before Him. And there was given to Him dominion, glory, and a kingdom, and all peoples, tribes, and languages shall serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:13-14 He showed that all power was given by the Father to the Son, Matthew 28:18 who was appointed Lord of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth, and Judge of all. Philippians 2:10 He is Lord of things in heaven because He was born, the Word of God, before all ages; and of things on earth because He became man among men, to re-create our Adam through Himself; and of things under the earth because He was also counted among the dead, preaching the Gospel to the souls of the saints, 1 Peter 3:19 and by death overcoming death.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
... of the only true God, which was taken away from the faithless people who often sinned against God. Daniel also foretold similar things in Daniel 7:13-14: "I saw," he said, "in a vision of the night, and behold, one like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven, and He came even to the Ancient of days. And they who stood by brought Him near before Him. And there was given to Him a kingdom, and glory, and dominion; and all people, tribes, and languages shall serve Him. And His dominion is everlasting, which shall never pass away, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed." How then do the Jews both acknowledge and expect the Christ of God? They rejected Him for this reason, because He was born of man. For since it is arranged by God that the same Christ should come to the earth twice, once to announce the one God to the nations, and then again to reign, why do those who did not believe in His first coming believe in the second?
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching
...ich has been spoken of by Daniel the prophet," and the angel Gabriel gave the interpretation of the visions to Daniel and he is the archangel of the Creator, who also announced to Mary the visible coming and incarnation of Christ, then one and the same God is clearly indicated, who sent the prophets, promised the Son, and called us to know Him.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
and all peoples, tribes, and languages shall serve Him: and His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed.
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Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness
The prophet Daniel Daniel 7:13 had long before shown this, saying, I saw in the night vision, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days;
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
Daniel also foretold similar things: Daniel 7:13-14 I saw, he said, in a vision of the night, and, behold, one like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven, and He came even to the Ancient of days.
Did early Christians use Daniel to teach the resurrection and final judgment?
Several early sources appeal to Daniel 7 and 12 when discussing judgment, the opening of the books, and the resurrection of the dead. These witnesses present Daniel as a major scriptural basis for future judgment and the hope of the saints.
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Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching
In the book of Daniel, also, the following prophecies are found relating to those who are to share in the resurrection: And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that has been written in the book.
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Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching
The prophecy also regarding Antichrist is stated in the book of Daniel, and is fitted to make an intelligent and candid reader admire the words as truly divine and prophetic;
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Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Direct teaching
... thousands ministered to Him, and thousand thousands stood before Him. He sat for judgment, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10 And John declares even more plainly, both about the day of judgment and the end of the world, saying: “And when,” he said, “He had opened the sixth seal, look, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black like sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became like blood. And the stars fell to the earth, just as a fig tree, shaken by a mighty wind, casts its unripe figs. And the heaven departed like a book when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved from their places. And the kings of the earth, and all the great men, and the tribunes, and the rich men, and the strong men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the caverns of the mountains. They said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall upon us, and hide us from the sight of the Father who sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Because the day of destruction comes, and who shall be able to stand?’” Revelation 6:12-17 Also in the same Apocalypse John says that this too was revealed to him: “I saw a great throne, and one in w
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Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Supporting witness
Daniel 7:9-10 And John still more plainly declares, both about the day of judgment and the consummation of the world, saying, And when, said he, He had opened the sixth seal, lo, there was a great earthquake;
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching
and he whom Daniel foretells would have dominion for a time, and times, and an half, is even already at the door, about to speak blasphemous and daring things against the Most High.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
Now, if we place Daniel’s own visions alongside this, we will have one explanation for both together. We will also be able to show how fully they agree with each other, and how true they are. For he speaks this way: “I, Daniel, saw, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lioness, and had wings like an eagle. I watched until its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on its feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold, a second beast, like a bear, and it was made to stand on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth. I looked, and there was a beast like a leopard, and it had on its back four wings of a bird, and the beast had four heads. After this I saw, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong. It had iron teeth and claws of bronze. It devoured and broke in pieces, and it trampled what was left with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered its horns, and behold, another little horn came up among them, an
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Background
19. These words then being thus presented, let us observe somewhat in detail what Daniel says in his visions.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness
... will arise. The existing empire will be divided among them. He explains what the ten horns seen by Daniel are, telling us this is what was said to him: “The ten horns you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom but will receive power as kings for one hour with the beast. They have a single purpose and give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings.” It is clear that among these rulers, the one who is to come will kill three and bring the rest under his control, and he will be the eighth among them. They will lay Babylon waste, burn her with fire, give their kingdom to the beast, and drive the Church into exile. Afterward, they will be destroyed by the coming of our Lord. The Lord states that the kingdom must be divided and thus come to ruin: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” Therefore, the kingdom, the city, and the house must be divided into ten. For this reason, He has already foreshadowed the coming partition and division. Daniel also specifies that t
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness
3. Daniel too, looking forward to the end of the last kingdom, i.e., the ten last kings, amongst whom the kingdom of those men shall be partitioned, and upon whom the son of perdition shall come, declares that ten horns shall spring from the beast, and that another little horn shall arise in the midst of them, and that three of the former shall be rooted up before his face.
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Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Supporting witness
... a little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue three of the kings under one.” Similarly, Daniel speaks of this, “And I saw the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more savage than all earthly beasts, and how ten horns sprang from it, and from them a small budding horn that subdued three of the great horns under one.” You ought to understand this. I further ask of you, as one of you and loving you more than my own soul, to take heed now to yourselves, and not be like some, adding greatly to your sins and saying, “The covenant 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
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Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Supporting witness
and He will come to the inheritance.” And the prophet also speaks thus: “Ten kingdoms shall reign upon the earth, and a little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue under one three of the kings.” In like manner Daniel says concerning the same, “And I beheld the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more savage than all the beasts of the earth, and how from it sprang up ten horns, and out of them a little budding horn, and how it subdued under one three of the great horns.” Ye ought therefore to understand.
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Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Background
17. Like things to these also says Daniel: I beheld a throne placed, and the Ancient of days sat upon it, and His clothing was as it were snow, and the hairs of His head as it were white wool: His throne was a flame of fire, its wheels were burning fire.
Did early Christians think Daniel predicted Antichrist and the end times?
Early Christian interpreters often read Daniel’s beasts, horns, little horn, and sealed visions as end-time prophecy. They especially connected these passages with Antichrist and the final conflict before the kingdom of Christ.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...rning the resurrection of the dead, and the recompense of reward for the martyrs, Gabriel speaks to Daniel: "And many of them that sleep shall arise out of the dust of the earth, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that understand shall shine as the sun, and as the firmament, and as the stars." Daniel 12:2-3 Therefore the most holy Gabriel foretold that the saints should shine like the stars. For His sacred name did witness to them, that they might understand the truth. Nor is a resurrection declared only for the martyrs, but for all men, righteous and unrighteous, godly and ungodly, so that every one may receive according to his desert. For God, says the Scripture, "will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14 This resurrection was not believed by the Jews, when of old they said, "Our bones are withered, and we are gone." To them God answered and said, "Behold, I open your graves, and will bring you out of them. And I will put My Spirit into you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it." And He says by Isaiah, "T
Did early Christians treat Daniel as a true prophet and Scripture?
The supplied sources repeatedly call Daniel a prophet and a witness to Christ, and they treat his writings as Scripture worth careful interpretation. Some writers also emphasize that Daniel’s visions were given by the Spirit and are meant to be searched by believers.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Background
And therefore it was said to Daniel the prophet: “Shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of consummation, until many learn, and knowledge be completed.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
...an enigma and ambiguous to people. But when the time arrives, and the prediction comes to pass, the prophecies have a clear and certain explanation. For this reason, when the law is read to the Jews today, it's like a fable; they don't have the explanation of everything related to the coming of the Son of God, who came in human form. But when Christians read it, it is a treasure, hidden in a field but revealed by the cross of Christ. It enriches the understanding of people, shows forth the wisdom of God, and declares His plans for humanity. It shapes the kingdom of Christ ahead of time, anticipates the inheritance of the holy Jerusalem, and proclaims in advance that the person who loves God will reach the greatness of seeing God, hearing His word, and being so glorified by His discourse that others can’t look upon the glory of their face. As Daniel said: "Those who understand will shine like the brightness of the sky, and many of the righteous like the stars forever and ever." Thus, as I have shown, if anyone reads the Scriptures in this way, this is what they will find. This was how the Lord talked with the disciples after His resurrection, proving to them from the Scriptures t
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Origen, On Prayer Background
Now, in the first place, it is always in some other way that Daniel prophesies — by visions, and dreams, and an angel appearing to him, never by prophetic inspiration.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
From the captivity at Babylon, which took place in the time of Jeremiah the prophet, was fulfilled what was spoken by Daniel the prophet as follows: Seventy weeks are determined upon your people, and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to seal sins, and to wipe out and make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal the vision and the prophet, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
which things shall be determined within 2300 days. Daniel 8:13-14 For if we take the day as a month, just as elsewhere in prophecy days are taken as years, and in different places are used in different ways, reducing the period in the same way as has been done above to Hebrew months, we shall find the period fully made out to the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes, from the capture of Jerusalem.
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Daniel 12:4 Background
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
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Daniel 12:9 Background
And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
...the whole matter briefly. Its opening words are, "In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar," in Daniel 8:1. There Daniel prophesies that the Greek power will overthrow the Persian power. In the prophecy, those kingdoms are represented by the ram and the goat respectively, in Daniel 8:13-14. He says, "The sacrifice shall be abolished, and the holy places shall be made desolate, so as to be trampled under foot." These things, he says, will be determined within 2300 days, in Daniel 8:13-14. For if we take the day as a month, just as in other places in prophecy days are taken as years, and are used in different ways in different places, and if we reduce the period in the same way as was done above to Hebrew months, we will find that the period reaches fully to the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes, counting from the capture of Jerusalem. For in this way there are 185 years given, and one more year must be added to them, the year in which Nehemiah built the wall of the city. Therefore, in 186 years, we find 230 Hebrew months, since 8 years have 3 additional intercalary months. Again, from Artaxerxes, in whose time the command went out that Jerusalem should be built, there are
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Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness
especially seeing that the preceding section about the vision seems to state the whole matter shortly, its first words being, In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, Daniel 8:1 where he prophesies of the subversion of the Persian power by the Greeks, which empires are symbolized in the prophecy under the figures of the rain and the goat respectively.Daniel 8:13-14 The sacrifice, he says, shall be abolished, and the holy places shall he made desolate, so as to be trodden under foot;
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Daniel 7:1 Background
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Background
Daniel 7:1 And he wrote the dream. The things, therefore, which were revealed to the blessed prophet by the Spirit in visions, these he also recounted fully for others, that he might not appear to prophesy of the future to himself alone, but might be proved a prophet to others also, who wish to search the divine Scriptures.
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Tertullian, On Fasting Background
Daniel is honoured; destined as he was to receive, even subsequently also, no less a favour of God in the first year, of King Darius, when, after careful and repeated meditation upon the times predicted by Jeremiah, he set his face to God in fasts, and sackcloth, and ashes.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Background
The interpretation by Hippolytus, (bishop) of Rome, of the visions of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, taken in conjunction.
Common Questions
Did early Christians see Daniel as prophecy about Jesus?
Yes. Writers like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, and Lactantius used Daniel to speak about the Son of Man, Christ’s kingdom, and his rule.
Which Daniel passage did early Christians quote most?
Daniel 7:13-14 was one of the most used passages, especially for the Son of Man coming with the clouds and receiving an everlasting kingdom.
Did early Christians use Daniel for the resurrection?
Yes. Origen and the Apostolic Constitutions linked Daniel 12:2-3 to the resurrection and the reward of the saints.
Source Index for the Book of Daniel
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 157 ranked source links from 186 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 157 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 109
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 77 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 80 1:27
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Book 80 1:14
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Book 80 1:32
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Book 80 1:9
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Book 80 1:37
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Book 80 1:2
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Book 80 1:39
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Book 80 1:34
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Book 79 1:45
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Book 79 1:55
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Book 80 1:38
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Book 80 1:22
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Book 80 1:4