Early Christian Views on Usury
Early Christians generally taught that charging interest was wrong, especially when lending to fellow believers or people in need. Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Cyprian, and Lactantius all connect righteous living with lending without interest. Bible passages from Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Ezekiel, Psalms, Luke, and Matthew give the main scriptural basis for this view.
121 early-church witnesses · 174 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about usury?
Early Christian writers mostly treated usury as wrong for Christians, especially when it was charged to fellow believers or the poor. Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Lactantius, and Cyprian all repeat Bible teaching that links lending without interest to righteous life and mercy. The clearest Bible texts behind this view are Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Ezekiel, and Psalms, with Luke 6:34-35 and Matthew 5:42 shaping Christian lending language as well.
The evidence is broad and consistent in the second and third centuries, though some texts focus on moral teaching and almsgiving more than a formal rule about every kind of loan. A few passages also leave room to lend when need requires it, so the main early Christian line is against gain from another person’s need, not against helping by lending. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Most early Christian writers who mention usury reject taking interest from a needy borrower.
- Clement, Tertullian, Cyprian, and Lactantius all connect faithful living with lending without profit from another person's trouble.
- The Bible texts most often used are Exodus 22, Deuteronomy 23, Leviticus 25, Ezekiel 18, Psalms 15, Luke 6, and Matthew 5.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians say believers should not charge interest?
The strongest witnesses repeatedly say Christians should not give money on usury or take interest. They present this as part of Christian righteousness and as a practical moral command.
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
... plunder. He will give his bread to the hungry, and clothe the naked. He will not give his money on usury, and will not take interest. He will turn away his hand from wrong, and will carry out righteous judgment between a man and his neighbor. He has walked in my statutes, and kept my judgments to do them. This is a righteous man. He shall surely live, says the Lord." Ezekiel 18:4-9 These words describe the conduct of Christians. They are a remarkable call to the blessed life, which is the reward of a life of goodness—everlasting life.
-
Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
... words of Ezekiel. There He says of the just man mentioned before, "He has not given his money upon usury, nor will he take any increase"—meaning the excess of interest, which is usury. The first step was to remove the profit from the money lent. That way a man might more easily be trained to accept the loss, if it should happen, of the money itself, after he had learned to lose the interest. Now we affirm that this was the function of the law as a preparation for the gospel. It was forming the faith of those who would learn, by gradual steps, for the perfect light of Christian teaching. Through the best precepts of which it was capable, it was teaching a benevolence that as yet showed itself only falteringly. For in the passage of Ezekiel quoted above He says, "And you shall restore the pledge of the loan"—certainly to the man who is unable to repay. For of course He would not prescribe the return of a pledge to one who was able to pay. It is commanded much more clearly in Deuteronomy: "You shall not sleep upon his pledge; you shall be sure to return to him his garment about sunset, and he shall sleep in his own garment." Deuteronomy 24:12-13. Even clearer is an earlier passage
-
Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
If he shall have lent any money, he will not receive interest, that the benefit may be unimpaired which succours necessity, and that he may entirely abstain from the property of another.
-
Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
44. Let a bishop, or presbyter, or deacon who requires usury of those he lends to, either leave off to do so, or let him be deprived.
-
Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...bor's house to another and trouble 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 car
What Bible verses did early Christians use against usury?
The supplied Bible cards give direct Bible passages against taking interest from a brother or from the poor, and they also describe the righteous man as one who does not lend at usury. These are the main scriptural texts echoed by the early Christian writers in the set.
-
Exodus 22:25 Direct teaching
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
-
Deuteronomy 23:19 Direct teaching
Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
-
Leviticus 25:37 Direct teaching
You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.
-
Ezekiel 18:8 Direct teaching
He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
-
Ezekiel 18:13 Direct teaching
Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
-
Psalms 15:5 Direct teaching
He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
-
Luke 6:34 Supporting witness
And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
-
Matthew 5:42 Supporting witness
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
How did early Christians connect lending with mercy?
Several sources describe proper lending as generous help to those in need, not as a way to seek gain from another person's distress. Jesus' teaching on lending without expecting return is used alongside Christian moral instruction about almsgiving and compassion.
-
Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching
... money in hoards. They seized estates by crafty deceit. They increased their profits by multiplying usury. What do people like us not deserve to suffer for sins of this kind, when the divine rebuke has already warned us and said, "If they forsake my law and do not walk in my judgments, if they profane my statutes and do not keep my commandments, I will visit their offenses with a rod, and their sins with scourges"?
-
Commodianus, Writings Direct teaching
... heaven? The Most High says, "He does not approve of the gifts of the wicked." You will break forth upon the wretched when you have gained a place. One gives gifts so that he may make another of no account. Or if you have lent at usury, taking twenty-four percent, you want to give charity so that you may purge yourself, as being evil, with what is evil. The Almighty absolutely rejects works such as these. You have given what has been wrung from tears. That candidate, oppressed with ungrateful usuries, and become needy, deplores it. Besides having obtained an opportunity for the exactors, your enemy for the present is the people. You who were consecrated have become wicked for reward. Also you want to atone for yourself by the gain of wages. O wicked one, you deceive yourself, but no one else.
-
Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness
or if you have lent on usury, taking twenty-four per cent, you wish to bestow charity that you may purge yourself, as being evil, with that which is evil.
Common Questions
Did early Christians forbid usury?
Most early Christian writers who address it say Christians should not take interest, especially from brothers or people in need.
Which Bible verses did early Christians use against usury?
They most often used Exodus 22:24-25, Deuteronomy 23:19-20, Leviticus 25:36-37, Ezekiel 18:8-13, Psalms 15:5, Luke 6:34-35, and Matthew 5:42.
Did early Christians allow lending money at all?
Yes. Some writers still speak of lending to those in need, but they reject taking gain or interest from the loan.
Source Index for Usury
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 133 ranked source links from 174 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 133 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 121
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 53 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
