Early Christian Beliefs About War and Peace

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...when he was beaten back by both the faith and the strength of the united army, he realized that the soldiers of Christ are now watchful, and stand sober and armed for battle. They cannot be conquered, though they can die. And by this very fact they are invincible, because they do not fear death. They do not attack back those who attack them, since it is not lawful even for the innocent to kill the guilty. But they willingly give up both their lives and their blood, so that, since such evil and cruelty rage in the world, they may more quickly depart from what is evil and cruel. What a glorious sight that was before the eyes of God! What joy for His Church in the sight of Christ, when not single soldiers but the whole camp at once went out to the battle that the enemy had tried to begin! For it is clear that all would have come if they had been able to hear, since everyone who did hear ran quickly and came. How many of the lapsed were restored by a glorious confession! They stood bravely, and by the very suffering of repentance they were made braver for the battle. So it became clear that recently they had been caught off guard and had trembled in fear at something new and unfamil

Tertullian, Apology Direct teaching

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Direct teaching

...those who obey, and judgment to those who disobey. When the loud trumpet is sounded, it gathers the soldiers and announces war. And shall not Christ, breathing a song of peace to the ends of the earth, gather His own soldiers, the soldiers of peace? Indeed, by His blood and by the word, He has gathered the bloodless army of peace and given them the kingdom of heaven. The trumpet of Christ is His Gospel. He has sounded it, and we have heard. Let us put on the armor of peace. Let us put on the breastplate of righteousness, take up the shield of faith, fasten the helmet of salvation on our heads, and sharpen the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Ephesians 6:14-17. So the apostle commands in the spirit of peace. These are our weapons that cannot be pierced. Armed with these, let us stand against the evil one. Let us quench the fiery darts of the evil one with sword points dipped in water, since we have been baptized by the Word, returning grateful thanks for the benefits we have received, and honoring God through the Divine Word. For while you are still speaking, it is said, "Behold, I am beside you," Isaiah 58:9. Oh, this holy and blessed power, by which God has fellow

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... and fight bravely for the name of their Lord and for their own salvation. In these times, we grant peace not to those who sleep, but to those who keep watch. We grant peace not in the middle of indulgences, but in the middle of arms. We grant peace not for rest, but for the battlefield. If, according to what we hear, and desire, and believe about them, they stand bravely and overthrow the adversary with us in the conflict, we will not regret having granted peace to men so brave. Yes, it is the great honor and glory of our episcopate to have granted peace to martyrs, so that we, as priests who daily celebrate the sacrifices of God, may prepare offerings and victims for God. But if—which may the Lord avert from our brothers—any one of the lapsed should deceive us, seeking peace through trickery, and at the time of the coming struggle receiving peace without any intention of fighting, he betrays and deceives himself, hiding one thing in his heart and saying another with his voice. As far as we are allowed to see and judge, we look on each person's face; we are not able to search the heart and examine the mind. Concerning these people, the Discerner and Searcher of hidden things ju

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...gathered together in one place, and the Lord's army may be assembled for the battle of the heavenly warfare. For the repentance of those who mourned was rightly extended for a longer time, with help given only to the sick at their departure, as long as peace and calm continued. That allowed the tears of the mourners to be put off for a long time, and delayed aid in sickness for the dying. But now peace is needed, not for the sick, but for the strong. Communion must be given by us, not to the dying, but to the living, so that we may not leave unarmed and defenseless those whom we stir up and urge on to battle, but may strengthen them with the protection of Christ's body and blood. And since the Eucharist is appointed for this very purpose, that it may be a safeguard to those who receive it, it is necessary for us to arm with the protection of the Lord's abundance those whom we want to be safe against the adversary. For how do we teach or urge them to shed their blood in confessing His name if we deny the blood of Christ to those who are about to enter the warfare? Or how do we make them fit for the cup of martyrdom if we do not first allow them, in the Church, to drink the cup of

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...given, the soldiers of God are proven, and heaven is opened to martyrs. For we have not enlisted in warfare in such a way that we should think only about peace and draw back from war or refuse it, when in this very warfare the Lord Himself walked first—the Teacher of humility, endurance, and suffering. So what He taught should be done, He Himself first did. And what He urges us to suffer, He Himself first suffered for us. Let it be before your eyes, beloved brothers, that He who alone received all judgment from the Father, and who will come to judge, has already declared the decision of His judgment and of His future acknowledgment. He foretold and testified that He will confess before His Father those who confess Him, and will deny those who deny Him. If we could escape death, we might rightly fear dying. But since it is necessary for a mortal man to die, we should embrace the opportunity that comes by the divine promise and condescension, and complete the end appointed through death with the reward of immortality. Nor should we fear being killed, since we are certain that when we are killed, we are crowned.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

... the faith is pleasing to God Himself and also gives authority to religion. For if a man in earthly warfare keeps faith with his king in some notable deed, then, if he lives, he becomes more beloved and accepted; and if he falls, he gains the highest glory, because he has suffered death for his leader. How much more, then, should faith be kept toward God, the Ruler of all, who is able to reward virtue not only to the living but also to the dead! Therefore the worship of God, since it belongs to heavenly warfare, requires the greatest devotion and faithfulness. For how will God love the worshiper if He Himself is not loved by him? Or how will He grant the petitioner whatever he asks, when he comes to offer prayer without sincerity or reverence? But when these men come to offer sacrifice, they present to their gods nothing from within, nothing of their own: no uprightness of mind, no reverence, no fear. So when their worthless sacrifices are finished, they leave their religion entirely in the temple, together with the temple, just as they found it. They neither bring anything of it with them nor take anything back. That is why religious observances of this kind can neither make me

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

...ut Himself. In Isaiah 49:2-3, however, He said that His mouth had been set by His Father as a sharp sword, and that He was hidden under the shadow of His hand, made like a chosen shaft and kept close in the Father's quiver, called His servant by the God of all things, and Israel, and Light of the Gentiles. The mouth of the Son of God is a sharp sword, for Hebrews 4:12 says, "The word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." And indeed He came not to bring peace on the earth, that is, to bodily and visible things, but a sword. And, if I may say so, He came to cut through the disastrous friendship of soul and body, so that the soul, committing herself to the spirit which was against the flesh, may enter into friendship with God. Therefore, according to the prophetic word, He made His mouth as a sword, as a sharp sword. Can anyone see so many wounded by divine love, like her in the Song of Songs, who complained that she was wounded, "Song of Songs 2:5 I am wounded with love," and find the dart that wounded so many souls f

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

For God, who created men to this warfare, desired that they should stand prepared in battle array, and with minds keenly intent should watch against the stratagems or open attacks of our single enemy, who, as is the practice of skilful and experienced generals, endeavours to ensnare us by various arts, directing his rage according to the nature and disposition of each.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

... no king, because they were ruled by sin. But now, by believing God, they take part in the heavenly warfare.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

God looks upon us in the warfare, and fighting in the encounter of faith;

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness

And by war he means the war that is in the body, because its frame has been made out of hostile elements;

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...pany are eager to carry on the struggle with the same common zeal of courage, as is fitting for the soldiers of Christ in the divine camp. Let no attractions deceive the uncorrupted firmness of your faith, no threats terrify you, and no sufferings or tortures overcome you, because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Nor can earthly punishment do more to cast down than divine protection can do to lift up. This truth is proved by the glorious struggle of the brothers who, after becoming leaders for the rest by overcoming their tortures, gave an example of courage and faith. They fought in the contest until the contest itself gave way, being overcome. With what praises can I commend you, most courageous brothers? With what public proclamation can I exalt the strength of your hearts and the perseverance of your faith? You have endured the sharpest trial by torture, even to a glorious end. You have not yielded to sufferings, but rather the sufferings have yielded to you. The end of the torments, which the tortures themselves did not give, the crown has given. The trial by torture, growing more severe, continued for a long time toward this result: not to overthrow

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On All the Saints Direct teaching

...y the martyrs have shown their power. They leap for joy in the presence of death. They laugh at the sword. They make sport of the anger of princes. They seize death as the producer of deathlessness. By their fall they make victory their own. Through the body they take their leap to heaven. They let their limbs be scattered abroad so that they might keep their souls. And by bursting the bars of life, they open the gates of heaven. And if anyone does not believe that death has been abolished, that Hades has been trampled underfoot, that its chains are broken, and that the tyrant is bound, let him look at the martyrs sporting in the presence of death and raising the joyful song of Christ's victory. O what a wonder! From the hour when Christ plundered Hades, men have danced in triumph over death. "O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55. Hades and the devil have been plundered, stripped of their ancient armor, and driven out of their own power. And just as Goliath had his head cut off with his own sword, so also the devil, who has been the father of death, is put to flight through death. He finds that the very thing he used to use as the re

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

...d yet the general does not give what he does not have. He cannot preserve life, but he can make the warfare glorious. But God's soldier is neither forsaken in suffering, nor brought to an end by death. Thus the Christian may seem to be miserable; he cannot really be found to be so. You yourselves extol unfortunate men to the skies; Mucius Scaevola, for instance, who, when he had failed in his attempt against the king, would have perished among the enemies unless he had sacrificed his right hand. And how many of our people have borne that not their right hand only, but their whole body, should be burned—burned up without any cries of pain, especially when they had it in their power to be sent away! Do I compare men with Mucius or Aquilius, or with Regulus? Yet boys and young women among us treat with contempt crosses and tortures, wild beasts, and all the bugbears of punishments, with the inspired patience of suffering. And do you not perceive, O wretched men, that there is nobody who either is willing without reason to undergo punishment, or is able without God to bear tortures? Unless, perhaps, the fact has deceived you, that those who know not God abound in riches, flourish in

Tertullian, Scorpiace Supporting witness

...t ancient times perhaps may have had the sacrament as their own exclusively, to examine the present Christian system, as if, though it is also from God, it might be different from what came before, and besides, therefore opposed to it also in its rule of life, so that its Wisdom does not know how to murder her own sons. Evidently, in the case of Christ, both the divine nature and the will and the sect are different from anything previously known. He will either have commanded no martyrdoms at all, or else those that must be understood in a different sense from the ordinary. He would be such a person as to urge no one to a danger of this kind, and to promise no reward to those who suffer for Him, because He does not want them to suffer. And therefore He says, when setting forth His chief commands, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The next saying indeed applies first to all without restriction, then especially to the apostles themselves: "Blessed will you be when men revile you, and persecute you, and say every kind of evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, since very great is your reward

Isaiah 2:4 Background

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Micah 4:3 Background

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

... if you are willing and obey Me, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you do not obey Me, the sword shall devour you: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.” That expression, “The sword shall devour you,” does not mean that the disobedient will be slain by the sword, but the sword of God is fire, of which those who choose to do wickedly become the fuel. Therefore He says, “The sword shall devour you: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.” If He had referred to a sword that cuts and kills immediately, He would not have said, shall devour. Similarly, when Plato says, “The blame is his who chooses, and God is blameless,” he drew this from the prophet Moses and expressed it. For Moses is more ancient than all Greek writers. Whenever philosophers and poets speak of the immortality of the soul, or punishments after death, or contemplation of heavenly things, or other such doctrines, they have been influenced by the prophets, which has helped them understand and explain these matters. Therefore, there appear to be seeds of truth among all people; but they are charged with not understanding [the truth] accurately when they assert contradictions. So when we talk about future e

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” And that it did so come to pass, we can convince you.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

and He shall rebuke many people; and they shall break down their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, and they shall no longer learn to fight.” If therefore another law and word, going forth from Jerusalem, brought in such a [reign of] peace among the Gentiles which received it (the word), and convinced, through them, many a nation of its folly, then [only] it appears that the prophets spake of some other person.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

For we no longer take up sword against nation, nor do we learn war any more, having become children of peace, for the sake of Jesus, who is our leader, instead of those whom our fathers followed, among whom we were strangers to the covenant, and having received a law, for which we give thanks to Him that rescued us from the error (of our ways), saying, Our fathers honoured lying idols, and there is not among them one that causes it to rain.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

and we who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons,— our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage, —and we cultivate piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which we have from the Father Himself through Him who was crucified;

Luke 3:14 Background

And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Didache, Connection to Luke 3:14 Direct teaching

If a soldier come, let him be taught to "do no injustice, to accuse no man falsely, and to be content with his allotted wages: "

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...of. He must reprove, but not strike; bring them low so that they may be ashamed, but not ruin them; warn them so that they may be converted; and rebuke them so that they may be reformed and live better lives. He must watch over the strong, that is, keep firm in the faith the one who is already strong. He must feed the people peaceably. He must strengthen the weak, that is, confirm by exhortation the one who is being tempted. He must heal what is sick, that is, cure by instruction the one who is weak in the faith because of doubt. He must bind up what is broken, that is, bind up with comforting admonitions the one who has gone astray, or has been wounded, bruised, or broken by sins and put out of the way. He must free it from its offenses and give hope. In this way he must restore it in strength to the Church, bringing it back into the flock. Bring back what has been driven away. That is, do not allow the one who remains in sins and has been cast out as punishment to stay excluded. Instead, receive that one, bring him back, and restore him to the flock, that is, to the people of the undefiled Church. Seek what is lost. That is, do not allow the one who has despaired of salvation

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

... to God, and be reconciled to their brothers. For if, when we enter anyone’s house, we are to say, “Peace be to this house,” Matthew 10:12, like sons of peace giving peace to those who are worthy, as it is written, “He came and preached peace to you who are near and those who are far off,” whom the Lord knows to be His, how much more must those who enter the Church of God first of all pray for the peace of God. But if someone prays that others may have it, how much more should he himself be in that same peace, as a child of light. For he who does not have it within himself is not fit to give it to others. Therefore, before all things, it is our duty to be at peace in our own minds. For he who finds no disorder in himself will not quarrel with another, but will be peaceable, friendly, gathering the Lord’s people, and a fellow worker with Him, so that the number of those who will be saved may increase in unity. For those who stir up hatreds, strife, conflicts, and lawsuits are wicked and are strangers to God.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...e who curses you is cursed" (Genesis 27:29). But the Lord says: "When you enter into a house, say, 'Peace be to this house.' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon it; but if it is not worthy, your peace will return to you" (Luke 10:5-6; Matthew 10:12-13).