Early Christian Beliefs About Assurance of Salvation

Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Long Version) Direct teaching

...u beforehand, so that you do not fall into the traps of false doctrine, but instead may attain full assurance in Christ. Christ was begotten by the Father before all ages, and was later born of the Virgin Mary without any human intervention. He lived a holy life, healed every kind of sickness and disease among the people, and performed signs and wonders for humanity's benefit. To those who had fallen into the error of polytheism, He revealed the one and only true God, His Father. He underwent the passion, endured the cross at the hands of the Christ-killing Jews, under Pontius Pilate the governor and Herod the king. He died, rose again, ascended into the heavens to Him who sent Him, and is seated at His right hand. He shall come at the end of the world, with His Father’s glory, to judge the living and the dead, and to reward each person according to their deeds. Whoever knows these things with full assurance, and believes them, is happy; just as you are now the lovers of God and of Christ, in the full assurance of our hope, from which may none of us ever be turned aside!

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...dead, but to Christians He is risen: to the former, by their unbelief; to the latter, by their full assurance of faith. For the hope in Him is immortal and eternal life. After eight days let another feast be observed with honor, the eighth day itself, on which He gave Thomas, who was hard of belief, full assurance, by showing him the print of the nails, and the wound made in His side by the spear. John 20:25. And again, from the first Lord's Day count forty days, from the Lord's Day to the fifth day of the week, and celebrate the feast of the ascension of the Lord. On that day He finished all His divine arrangement and constitution, and returned to that God and Father that sent Him, and sat down at the right hand of power, and remains there until His enemies are put under His feet. He also will come at the consummation of the world with power and great glory, to judge the living and the dead, and to recompense each one according to his works. And then they shall see the beloved Son of God whom they pierced, Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37, and when they know Him, they shall mourn for themselves, tribe by tribe, and their wives apart.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...ecutions, and deaths. Otherwise, we would endure such things for no reason, if we did not have full assurance of these promises, of which we declare ourselves to be the preachers. So then, just as we believe Moses when he says, "In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth," Genesis 1:1, and we know that He did not need matter, but by His will alone brought into being those things that Christ was commanded to make—we mean the heaven, the earth, the sea, the light, the night, the day, the lights, the stars, the birds, the fish, the four-footed beasts, the creeping things, the plants, and the herbs—so also He will raise up all men by His will, since He does not need any help. For it belongs to the same power both to create the world and to raise the dead. And then He made man, who was not a man before, out of different parts, giving him a soul made out of nothing. But now He will restore the bodies that have been dissolved to the souls that still exist. For rising again belongs to things that have been laid down, not to things that have no being. Therefore, He who made the first bodies out of nothing and formed their different shapes will also bring back to life and raise up

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...nt Him. Whoever has believed these things, not casually or irrationally, but with judgment and full assurance, has received the gift of God. So also has the one who has been delivered from every heresy. Therefore, let no one who works signs and wonders judge any of the faithful who has not been granted the same. For the gifts of God, which He gives through Christ, are various. One man receives one gift, and another, another. For perhaps one has the word of wisdom, another the word of knowledge, another discernment of spirits, another foreknowledge of things to come, another the word of teaching, another long-suffering, another self-control according to the law. For even Moses, the man of God, when he worked signs in Egypt, did not exalt himself over his equals. And when he was called a god, he did not proudly despise Aaron his own prophet. Nor did Joshua the son of Nun, who was leader of the people after him, insult Phineas or Caleb, though in the war with the Jebusites he had made the sun stand still opposite Gibeon, and the moon opposite the valley of Ajalon, because the day was not long enough for their victory. Nor did Samuel, who had done so many astonishing things, disrega

Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version) Direct teaching

...n advance so that you do not fall into the traps of false doctrine. Instead, I hope you attain full assurance regarding the birth, passion, and resurrection that occurred during the governance of Pontius Pilate, truly and certainly accomplished by Jesus Christ, who is our hope, from which may none of you ever be turned aside.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

...assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. Thus, preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits of their labors, having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who would later believe. Nor was this a new thing, since many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture in a certain place, “I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.”

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

...gifts of God! Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence, faith in assurance, self-control in holiness! And all these are within our understanding now; what then shall those things be which are prepared for those who wait for Him? The Creator and Father of all worlds, the Most Holy, alone knows their extent and their beauty. Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found among those who wait for Him, so that we may share in His promised gifts. But how, beloved, shall this be done? If our understanding is fixed by faith towards God; if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which align with His blameless will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and arrogance, vanity and ambition. For those who do such things are hateful to God; and not only they who do them, but also those who take pleasure in those who do them. For the Scripture says, “But to the sinner God said, Why do you proclaim my statutes, and take my covenant into your m

Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Long Version) Supporting witness

He who knows these things with a full assurance, and believes them, is happy;

Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Long Version) Supporting witness

even as ye are now the lovers of God and of Christ, in the full assurance of our hope, from which may no one of us ever be turned aside!

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

to the latter, by their full assurance of faith.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...f the promise, secured for eternity. Now the Lord Himself has most clearly revealed the equality of salvation when He said, "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in Him, should have everlasting life; and I will raise him up in the last day." John 6:40 As far as possible in this world, which is what he means by the last day, and which is preserved until the time when it will end, we believe that we are made perfect. Therefore He says, "He that believes in the Son has everlasting life." John 3:36 If, then, those who have believed have life, what remains beyond the possession of eternal life? Nothing is lacking in faith, since it is perfect and complete in itself. If anything is lacking in it, it is not wholly perfect. But faith is not lame in any respect. Nor after our departure from this world does it make us who have believed, and who have received without distinction the earnest of future good, wait. But having in anticipation grasped by faith what is future, after the resurrection we receive it as present, so that what was spoken may be fulfilled: "Be it according to your faith." Matthew 9:29 And where faith is, there is the promise.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Direct teaching

If Christ was only man, how is it that He Himself says, “And everyone who believes in me shall never die”? Yet the one who believes in man alone is called accursed. But the one who believes in Christ is not accursed, and is said not to die forever. Therefore, if on the one hand He is only man, as the heretics claim, how will anyone who believes in Him not die eternally, since the one who trusts in man is regarded as accursed? Or on the other hand, if he is not accursed, but rather, as we read, is appointed to receive everlasting life, then Christ is not only man, but also God. In Him, the one who believes both puts aside all danger of curse and gains the fruit of righteousness. If Christ was only man, how does He say that the Paraclete will take what is His, the things that He will declare? For the Paraclete does not receive anything from man, but gives knowledge to man. Nor does the Paraclete learn future things from man, but teaches man about what is to come. Therefore, either the Paraclete has not received from Christ, as man, what He should declare, since man could give nothing to the Paraclete, seeing that man himself ought to receive from Him, and Christ in this case is both

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

If Christ was only man, how is it that He Himself says, “And everyone who believes in Me shall not die forevermore?” And yet he who believes in man by himself alone is called accursed. But he who believes in Christ is not accursed, and is said not to die forevermore. Therefore, if on the one hand He is only man, as the heretics want, how will anyone who believes in Him not die eternally, since he who trusts in man is held to be accursed? Or on the other hand, if he is not accursed, but rather, as it is read, is destined to attain everlasting life, Christ is not only man, but also God. In Him, he who believes both lays aside all risk of curse and attains the fruit of righteousness. If Christ was only man, how does He say that the Paraclete shall take of His, those things which He shall declare? For the Paraclete does not receive anything from man. Rather, the Paraclete offers knowledge to man. Nor does the Paraclete learn future things from man, but instructs man concerning the future. Therefore, either the Paraclete has not received from Christ, as man, what He should declare, since man could give nothing to the Paraclete, seeing that man himself ought to receive from Him, and Chri

Tertullian, Against Praxeas Direct teaching

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my words, and believes in Him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

and that when you have believed, you may have in his name eternal life.

Hebrews 6:11 Direct teaching

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,

1 John 5:13 Direct teaching

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 5:24 Direct teaching

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:47 Direct teaching

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

1 John 5:12 Supporting witness

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1 John 5:11 Supporting witness

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 3:21 Supporting witness

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

...do not be far from me," He taught that all men should hope in God, who created everything, and seek salvation and help from Him alone; and should not think, like others do, that salvation comes from birth, wealth, strength, or wisdom. Such have been your practices: you made a calf and consistently showed yourselves ungrateful, murderers of the righteous, and proud of your ancestry. For if the Son of God clearly states that He relies not on being a son, nor on strength or wisdom for salvation, but that without God He cannot be saved, even though He is sinless, as Isaiah declares that He committed no sin, including in His speech (for He did no wrong or deceit with His mouth), how can you or others hope to be saved without this hope, and not realize you are deceiving yourselves?

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

...But if someone despises the present life because of my word, which has persuaded him to contend for eternal life, even to death, for the sake of truth, and so loses his own life by surrendering it, for the sake of piety, to what is commonly called death, then that man, since he has lost his life for my sake, will rather save it and keep possession of it. And we may also interpret the saying in a second way, like this. If someone has grasped what salvation really is, and wishes to obtain the salvation of his own life, let that man say farewell to this life, deny himself, take up his own cross, and follow me, losing his own life to the world. For having lost it for my sake and for the sake of all my teaching, he will gain the result of such a loss: salvation.

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Supporting witness

... of the soul; and the soul is the house of the spirit. These three, in all those who hold a sincere hope and unquestioning faith in God, will be saved. Even when considering arguments suited to this world, we find it is not impossible for the flesh to be regenerated; and seeing that, in addition to all these proofs, the Saviour in the entire Gospel shows that there is salvation for the flesh, why do we endure those unbelieving and dangerous arguments, failing to realize that we are regressing when we listen to claims that the soul is immortal, but the body is mortal and incapable of being revived? For this is what we heard from Pythagoras and Plato, even before we learned the truth. If then the Saviour said this and proclaimed salvation only to the soul, what new message, beyond what we heard from Pythagoras and Plato and all their followers, did He bring us? But now He has come proclaiming the good news of a new and strange hope to humanity. For indeed, it was a strange and new thing for God to promise that He would not keep incorruption in incorruption, but would transform corruption into incorruption. As the prince of wickedness could corrupt the truth in no other way, he sen

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...nts to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life." Romans 6:22 And viewing hope as twofold, that which is expected and that which has been received, he now teaches that the end is the restoration of hope. For, he says, "patience works experience, and experience hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that is given to us." Romans 5:4-5 Because of this love and the restoration to hope, he says in another place that this rest is laid up for us. You will find something similar in Ezekiel, as follows: "The soul that sins, it shall die. And the man who shall be righteous, and shall do judgment and justice, who has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, and has not defiled his neighbor's wife, and has not approached to a woman in the time of her uncleanness (for he does not wish the seed of man to be dishonored), and will not injure a man; will restore the debtor's pledge, and will not take usury; will turn away his hand from wrong; will do true judgment between a man and his neighbor; will walk in my ordinances, and keep my commandments, so as to do

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...free,” John 8:31-32. We must endure and persevere, beloved brothers, so that, being admitted to the hope of truth and liberty, we may attain to truth and liberty itself. For the very fact that we are Christians is the substance of faith and hope. But for that hope and faith to attain their result, there is need of patience. For we are not following after present glory, but future glory, according to what Paul the apostle also warns us and says: “We are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he hope for? But if we hope for that which we do not see, then by patience we wait for it,” Romans 8:24-25. Therefore, waiting and patience are needful, so that we may fulfill what we have begun to be, and may receive what we believe and hope for, according to God's own showing. Moreover, in another place, the same apostle instructs the righteous and the doers of good works, and those who lay up for themselves treasures in heaven with the increase of the divine usury, that they also should be patient. He teaches them, saying, “Therefore, while we have time, let us labor in that which is good to all men, but especially to them who are of the household o

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Background

The virgins said to me, "The Shepherd is not coming here today." "Then what am I to do?" I said. They replied, "Wait for him until he comes. If he comes, he will speak with you. If he does not come, you will stay here with us until he does come." I said to them, "I will wait for him until it gets late. If he does not arrive, I will go away into the house and come back early in the morning." They answered and said to me, "You were entrusted to us. You cannot go away from us." "Then where am I to stay?" I said. "You will sleep with us," they replied, "as a brother, and not as a husband. For you are our brother. And from now on we intend to stay with you, because we love you very much!" But I was ashamed to stay with them. And she who seemed to be the first among them began to kiss me. And the others, seeing her kiss me, also began to kiss me, and to lead me around the tower, and to play with me. I too became like a young man and began to play with them. Some of them formed a chorus, others danced, and others sang. And I, keeping silent, walked with them around the tower and was joyful with them. When it grew late, I wanted to go into the house. But they would not let me, and they kep

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...ful grain. And do not say that these troubles happen because your gods are not worshiped by us. But know that this is the judgment of God's anger, so that He who is not acknowledged because of His benefits may at least be acknowledged through His judgments. Seek the Lord, even late, for long ago God warned beforehand through His prophet, and urges us, saying, "Seek the Lord, and your soul shall live." Amos 5:6 Know God, even late, for Christ at His coming warns and teaches this, saying, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." John 17:3 Believe Him who does not deceive at all. Believe Him who foretold that all these things would come to pass. Believe Him who will give to all who believe the reward of eternal life. Believe Him who will bring down on those who do not believe eternal punishments in the fires of Gehenna.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...easures, which are the enemies of virtue. Therefore this temporary life ought to be subject to that eternal life, just as the body is subject to the soul. Whoever, then, chooses the life of the soul must despise the life of the body. In no other way will he be able to strive for what is highest, unless he has despised the things that are lowest. But he who has embraced the life of the body and has turned his desires downward to the earth is unable to reach that higher life. But he who chooses to live well for eternity will live badly for a time, and will be subject to all troubles and labors as long as he is on earth, so that he may have divine and heavenly comfort. And he who chooses to live well for a time will live badly for eternity. For he will be condemned by the judgment of God to eternal punishment, because he has chosen earthly goods over heavenly ones. For this reason, then, God seeks to be worshipped and honored by man as a Father, so that man may have virtue and wisdom, which alone bring immortality. For since no one but God Himself is able to give that immortality, because He alone possesses it, He will give this reward to the piety of the man by which he has honore

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

...Christ, since everyone who knows does not know Him in the same way. From the words in John, “If you abide in My word, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” John 8:31-32 it is clear that belief without knowledge is lower than knowing. But that there is a difference in the knowledge of Jesus as the Christ, since all who know Him do not know Him equally, is a fact obvious to anyone who gives even a little thought to the matter. For who would not admit, for example, that Timothy, though he knew that Jesus was the Christ, had not been enlightened in the knowledge of Him to the same extent as the Apostle had been enlightened? And who would not also admit this: though many, speaking the truth, say about God, “He has given to me a true knowledge of things that are,” yet they will not say this with equal insight and understanding of the things known, nor as knowing the same number of things. But the difference is not only in the degree of knowing, so that those who know do not know equally; it is also according to the source of the knowledge. So, in this respect, the one who knows the Son by the revelation of the Father, Matthew 16:16 as Peter is testified to have

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

John 14:6 Wherefore, if we are in Christ, and have Christ in us, if we abide in the truth, and the truth abides in us, let us keep fast those things which are true.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

And if a branch cannot bear fruit except it abide in the vine, it is evident that the disciples also of the Word, who are the rational branches of the Word's true vine, cannot produce the fruits of virtue unless they abide in the true vine, the Christ of God, who is with us locally here below upon the earth, and who is with those who cleave to Him in all parts of the world, and is also in all places with those who do not know Him.