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The First Apology
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Chapter 15: What Christ Himself Taught.
CONCERNING CHASTITY: He expressed these views: “Whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart before God.” And, “If your right eye causes you to sin, remove it; for it is better for you to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into everlasting fire.” And, “Whoever marries a woman who is divorced from another husband commits adultery.” And, “There are some who have been made eunuchs by others, some who were born eunuchs, and some who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake; but not everyone can accept this saying.” Therefore, all who, by human law, marry twice are deemed sinners in the eyes of our Master, as well as those who look at a woman to lust after her.
For He rejects not only those who commit adultery in action but also those who desire to commit adultery: since both our deeds and our thoughts are open before God. Many, both men and women, who have followed Christ from childhood, remain pure even at the age of sixty or seventy; and I boast that I could find such individuals from every race. What shall I say of the countless number of those who have reformed from intemperate habits and learned these principles? For Christ did not call the just or the chaste to repentance, but the ungodly, the licentious, and the unjust; His words being, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” For the heavenly Father desires the repentance of the sinner more than their punishment.
Regarding our love for all, He taught, “If you love those who love you, what new thing are you doing? Even fornicators do this.
But I say to you, Pray for your enemies, and love those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” He also said that we should give to the needy and do nothing for glory: “Give to him who asks, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow; for if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what new thing are you doing? Even the tax collectors do this.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where robbers break in; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for it? Lay up treasure, therefore, in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt.” And, “Be kind and merciful, as your Father is kind and merciful, and makes His sun rise on sinners, the righteous, and the wicked.
Do not worry about what you shall eat, or what you shall wear: are you not better than the birds and the beasts? And God feeds them.
Therefore, do not worry about what you shall eat, or what you shall wear; for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things.
But seek the kingdom of heaven, and all these things shall be added to you. For where your treasure is, there also is the mind of a man.” And, “Do not do these things to be seen by others; otherwise, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
Hear the Scriptures cited in The First Apology
The First Apology quotes or alludes to these Bible chapters more than any others. Each link opens the free audio Bible, where the chapter is read aloud alongside the text, cross-references, and what other early Christian writers said about it.
- Hear Isaiah 52 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 5 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 6 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 49 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Numbers 21 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 22 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Isaiah 65 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 19 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 14 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 18 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 32 (audio Bible)
- Hear Exodus 3 (audio Bible)