Early Christian Belief in Christ’s Two Comings
Early Christians taught that Jesus came first in humility and will come again in glory. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, Lactantius, and Cyprian all say this in different ways. They also tie the teaching to Bible passages about the Son of Man, the second coming, and final judgment.
114 early-church witnesses · 199 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about christ First and Second Coming?
Early Christians widely taught that Christ has two comings: first in humility, suffering, and obscurity, and later in glory, power, and judgment. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, Lactantius, and Cyprian all repeat this pattern, often linking it to prophecy and to passages like Matthew 24:30, Mark 14:62, 1 Thessalonians 2:1, Hebrews 9:28, and Revelation 1:7.
Their agreement is broad and strong across the 2nd and 3rd centuries, even though some writers focus more on the first coming and others more on the return. The main evidence is direct and consistent, and the weakest cards are mostly simple Bible cross-references or titles with little extra teaching. A few cards about Advent language or liturgical wording are secondary, but they still fit the same basic two-coming belief.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers commonly taught two comings of Christ: first in lowliness, then in glory.
- Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, Lactantius, and Cyprian all support this theme.
- The teaching is strongest when writers connect Christ’s first suffering with his future return and judgment.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians teach that Christ would come twice?
The core witness is that Christ’s coming was understood as twofold: a first coming in humility and a second coming in glory and power. Multiple writers say the prophets foretold both advents and that Christians should not mistake the hidden first coming for the only coming.
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Tertullian, Apology Direct teaching
For two comings of Christ having been revealed to us: a first, which has been fulfilled in the lowliness of a human lot;
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Caius, Fragments Direct teaching
And hence, although different points are taught us in the several books of the Gospels, there is no difference as regards the faith of believers, inasmuch as in all of them all things are related under one imperial Spirit, which concern the Lord's nativity, His passion, His resurrection, His conversation with His disciples, and His twofold advent, — the first in the humiliation of rejection, which is now past, and the second in the glory of royal power, which is yet in the future.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
For since it is so arranged by God that the same Christ should twice come to the earth, once to announce to the nations the one God, then again to reign, why do they who did not believe in His first advent believe in the second?
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Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching
Now it escaped the notice of Celsus, and of the Jew whom he has introduced, and of all who are not believers in Jesus, that the prophecies speak of two advents of Christ: the former characterized by human suffering and humility, in order that Christ, being with men, might make known the way that leads to God, and might leave no man in this life a ground of excuse, in saying that he knew not of the judgment to come;
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Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching
For although He came first shrouded in humility, yet He shall come manifest in power.
How did early Christians describe Christ's first coming?
These sources describe the first coming as lowly, hidden, suffering, and in the flesh. Several writers explicitly contrast Christ’s humble first advent with his later glorious appearing.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
...wed two conditions belonging to Christ, they also foretold the same number of advents. One, and the first, was to be in lowliness. In it, He had to be led like a sheep to be slain as a victim, and to be like a lamb silent before the shearer, not opening His mouth, and not fair to look upon. For, says the prophet, "We have announced concerning Him: He is like a tender plant, like a root out of thirsty ground. He has no form nor comeliness. And we beheld Him, and He was without beauty. His form was disfigured, marred more than the sons of men, a man stricken with sorrows, and knowing how to bear our infirmity." He was placed by the Father as "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense," Isaiah 8:14, made by Him "a little lower than the angels," and declaring Himself to be "a worm and not a man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people." Now these signs of degradation fit His first coming well, just as the tokens of His majesty fit His second advent. Then He will no longer remain a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. Instead, after His rejection, He will become the chief corner-stone, accepted and raised to the highest place of the temple, that is, His church. He is that
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
For when they read with what great power and glory the Son of God was about to descend from heaven, but on the other hand saw Jesus humble, peaceful, of low condition, without comeliness, they did not believe that He was the Son of God, being ignorant that two advents on His part were foretold by the prophets: the first, obscure in humility of the flesh;
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
But His advent being signified to them as twofold — the one which should discharge the office and example of a man, the other which should avow Him as God — they did not understand the first advent which preceded, as being hidden in His passion, but believe in the one only which will be manifest in power.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching
“If therefore Scripture compels you to admit that two advents of Christ were predicted to take place,—one in which He would appear suffering, and dishonoured, and without comeliness;
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
For the prophets have proclaimed two advents of His: the one, that which is already past, when He came as a dishonoured and suffering Man;
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Acts 26:23 Supporting witness
that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
More related quotations from this section 8 shown
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
...ely look toward His light. Their actions were recorded for our instruction, so we might understand, first, that our God and theirs is one, and that sins are not pleasing to Him, even when committed by famous individuals; and second, that we should avoid wickedness. For if those men of ancient times, who were ahead of us in gifts bestowed upon them, and for whom the Son of God had not yet suffered, were disgraced when they sinned and indulged in lusts of the flesh, what will happen to the people of today who have disregarded the Lord's coming and become slaves to their own desires? Truly, the death of the Lord became a means of healing and forgiveness of sins for the former, but Christ will not die again for those who commit sins now, for death will no longer have power over Him. Instead, the Son will come in the glory of the Father, demanding from His stewards and managers the resources He entrusted to them, with interest; and from those to whom He gave much, He will demand much. Therefore, as that elder observed, we should not be arrogant or harsh towards those of earlier times, but should fear ourselves, in case, after gaining knowledge of Christ, if we do things that displeas
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
in order that, as Christ at His first coming appeared inglorious, even so the first coming of the spirit, which remained always pure in Elijah like that of Christ, might be perceived to be inglorious.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
...he Father, He humbled Himself on earth, how can He love arrogance, when by His own law He commanded humility to us, and He Himself received the highest name from the Father as the reward of His humility? He is a confessor of Christ, but only if the majesty and dignity of Christ are not afterward blasphemed by him. Let not the tongue that has confessed Christ speak evil. Let it not be turbulent. Let it not be heard clashing with reproaches and quarrels. Let it not, after words of praise, send out the poison of serpents against the brothers and God's priests. But if anyone afterward is blameworthy and guilty, if he has wasted his confession by evil conduct, if he has stained his life by shameful filth, if at last, leaving the Church in which he became a confessor and breaking the harmony of unity, he has exchanged his first faith for later unbelief, he must not flatter himself because of his confession as though he were chosen for the reward of glory, when by this very thing he has become more deserving of punishment.
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
proving that He was the Logos of God, that primordial first-begotten Word, accompanied by power and reason, and based on Spirit, — that He who was now doing all things by His word, and He who had done that of old, were one and the same.
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
And thus also John, describing the nativity of Christ, says: The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full Of grace and truth..
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel;” confessing thus, that the infant whom he was holding in his hands, Jesus, born of Mary, was Christ Himself, the Son of God, the light of all, the glory of Israel itself, and the peace and refreshing of those who had fallen asleep.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness
And thus was He, with the flesh, received up in their sight unto Him that sent Him, being with that same flesh to come again, accompanied by glory and power.
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John 1:14 Background
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
How did early Christians describe Christ's second coming?
The second coming is described as visible, glorious, and marked by royal power, angels, and judgment. The sources also connect it with Christ’s appearing from heaven and the final vindication of believers.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching
but the second, when, according to prophecy, He shall come from heaven with glory, accompanied by His angelic host, when also He shall raise the bodies of all men who have lived, and shall clothe those of the worthy with immortality, and shall send those of the wicked, endued with eternal sensibility, into everlasting fire with the wicked devils.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching
He was despised, and esteemed not. Isaiah 53:2-5 But His second advent is announced as glorious, when He shall come from heaven with the host of angels, and the glory of His Father, as the prophet says, You shall see the King in glory;
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
Therefore, as we spoke in the fourth book concerning His first advent, so in this book we will relate His second advent, which the Jews also both confess and hope for;
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Methodius, Oration on the Psalms Direct teaching
Blessed is He who once came in humility, and who will hereafter come again in glory: at the first, lowly, and seated upon an ass's colt, and by infants extolled in order that it might be fulfilled which was written: Your goings have been seen, O God;
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Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Supporting witness
and then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds, with power and great glory.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
and He, when He shall come manifest in His second advent, will not be silent.
More related quotations from this section 9 shown
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
... this same Christ remits sins; and if it belongs to no man to come from heaven, and He descended by coming from heaven; and if this saying can be true of no man, “I and the Father are one,” as John 10:30 says, Christ alone declared this saying from the consciousness of His divinity; and if, finally, the Apostle Thomas, instructed by all the proofs and conditions of Christ’s divinity, says in answer to Christ, “My Lord and my God,” as John 20:28 says; and if, besides, the Apostle Paul says, “Whose are the fathers, and of whom Christ came according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forevermore,” in Romans 9:5, writing in his letters; and if the same apostle declares that he was ordained an apostle not by men, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ; and if the same apostle contends that he learned the Gospel not from men or by man, but received it from Jesus Christ, then reasonably Christ is God. Therefore, in this respect, one of two things must be established. Since it is clear that all things were made by Christ, He is either before all things, since all things were by Him, and so He is rightly God; or, because He is man, He is after all things, and rightly nothing was made by
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...for those who should believe. If Christ was only man, how does He say, “And now glorify Me with the glory which I had with You before the world was?” If, before the world was, He had glory with God, and kept His glory with the Father, He existed before the world. For He would not have had the glory unless He Himself had existed before, so as to be able to keep the glory. For no one could possess anything unless he himself first existed in order to keep anything. But now Christ has glory before the foundation of the world. Therefore He Himself was before the foundation of the world. For unless He were before the foundation of the world, He could not have glory before the foundation of the world, since He Himself would not exist. But man could not have glory before the foundation of the world, seeing that he was after the world. But Christ had it. Therefore He was before the world. Therefore He was not only man, since He was before the world. He is therefore God, because He was before the world and held His glory before the world. Neither let this be explained by predestination, since this is not expressed that way. Or let those who think so add this. But woe is pronounced on thos
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
...ap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall be eloquent.” Since the prophet says that at God's advent these should be the signs that come to pass, let men acknowledge either that Christ is the Son of God, at whose advent and by whom these wonders of healings were performed; or else, overcome by the truth of Christ's divinity, let them rush into the other heresy. Refusing to confess Christ to be the Son of God, and God, let them declare Him to be the Father. For, bound by the words of the prophets, they can no longer deny Christ to be God. What, then, do they reply when those signs are said to be about to take place at the advent of God, and yet were manifested at the advent of Christ? In what way do they receive Christ as God? For now they cannot deny Him to be God. As God the Father, or as God the Son? If as the Son, why do they deny that the Son of God is God? If as the Father, why do they not follow those who seem to maintain blasphemies of that kind? Unless because, in this contest against them concerning the truth, this is for the time being enough for us: that, being convinced in some way, they should confess Christ to be God, since they have even wished to deny that
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...the Lord their God,” Hosea 1:7. If God says that He saves by God, still God does not save except by Christ. Why, then, should man hesitate to call Christ God, when he sees that the Father declares Him to be God according to the Scriptures? Yes, if God the Father does not save except by God, then no one can be saved by God the Father unless he has confessed Christ to be God, in whom and by whom the Father promises that He will give him salvation. So, rightly, whoever acknowledges Him to be God may find salvation in Christ God. Whoever does not acknowledge Him to be God would lose the salvation that he could find nowhere else than in Christ God. For in the same way Isaiah says, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call His name Emmanuel,” which is interpreted, “God with us,” Isaiah 7:14. So Christ Himself says, “Look, I am with you, even to the end of the world,” Matthew 28:20. Therefore He is God with us. Yes, and much more, He is in us. Christ is with us. Therefore it is He whose name is God with us, because He also is with us. Or is He not with us? How then does He say that He is with us? He, then, is with us. But because He is with us, He was called E
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
...reat this subject, and, so to speak, set in motion a whole forest of passages about that showing of Christ’s divinity. But I have not so much taken up the task of speaking against this particular heresy as of explaining the rule of truth concerning the person of Christ. However, although I must hurry on to other matters, I do not think I should pass over this point. In the Gospel, the Lord declared His majesty when He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up again." Or again, in another place and on another subject, He says, "I have power to lay down my life, and to take it up again; for this commandment I have received from my Father." Now who is it that says He can lay down His life, or can Himself take up His life again, because He has received this from His Father? Or who says that He can raise up again and rebuild the destroyed temple of His body, except because He is the Word who is from the Father, who is with the Father, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made; the imitator of His Father’s works and powers; the image of the invisible God; who came down from heaven; who testified to what He had seen and heard; who came not t
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...bout this subject, and, so to speak, bring forward a whole forest of passages about that showing of Christ's divinity. But I have not taken up this task mainly to speak against this particular form of heresy. Rather, I have taken it up to explain the rule of truth about the person of Christ. However, although I must move on to other matters, I do not think I should pass over this point. In the Gospel, the Lord declared His majesty by saying, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up again." In another place, and on another subject, He also says, "I have power to lay down my life, and to take it up again; for this commandment I have received from my Father." Now who is it that says He can lay down His life, or can Himself take His life back again, because He has received this from His Father? Or who says that He can raise up again and rebuild the destroyed temple of His body, except the Word who is from the Father, who is with the Father, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made; the imitator of His Father's works and powers; the image of the invisible God; who came down from heaven; who testified to the things He had seen and heard; who ca
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Hippolytus, Connection to Matthew 24:27 Supporting witness
For the Lord says, "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be; for wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together."
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Hippolytus, Connection to Matthew 24:27 Supporting witness
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
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Matthew 24:27 Supporting witness
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Did early Christians connect Christ's return with Antichrist and judgment?
Several witnesses tie Christ’s coming to the defeat of Antichrist and to final judgment or recompense. The Bible passages selected here support that reading with explicit references to the Lord’s coming, the man of sin, and Christ’s public appearing.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
...hat He was the Son of God. They did not know that the prophets had foretold two comings of His: the first hidden in the humility of the flesh, and the other openly revealed in the power of His majesty. David speaks of the first in Psalm 72: "He shall come down like rain upon a fleece; and in His days righteousness shall spring forth, and abundance of peace, as long as the moon is lifted up." For just as rain, if it falls on a fleece, cannot be noticed because it makes no sound, so he said that Christ would come to the earth without drawing anyone's notice, so that He might teach righteousness and peace. Isaiah also spoke in this way, in Isaiah 53:1-6: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We made proclamation before Him as children, and as a root in a thirsty land. He has no form nor glory; and we saw Him, and He had no form nor beauty. But His form was without honor, and marred beyond the rest of men. He is a man acquainted with grief, and knowing how to endure weakness, because He turned His face away from us; and He was not esteemed. He carries our sins, and He endures pain for us; and we thought that He Himself was in pain, and grie
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
Since, therefore, the first advent was prophetically declared both as most obscure in its types, and as deformed with every kind of indignity, but the second as glorious and altogether worthy of God, they would on this very account, while confining their regards to that which they were easily able both to understand and to believe, even the second advent, be not undeservedly deceived respecting the more obscure, and, at any rate, the more lowly first coming.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
In the preceding pages we have already spoken of this point, viz., the prediction that there were to be two advents of Christ to the human race, so that it is not necessary for us to reply to the objection, supposed to be urged by a Jew, that the prophets declare the coming one to be a mighty potentate, Lord of all nations and armies.
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Justin Martyr, The Second Apology Supporting witness
...heavy-drinking husband; she too had once been heavy-drinking. But when she learned the teachings of Christ, she became sober-minded and tried to persuade her husband to be temperate as well, citing the teachings of Christ and warning him of punishment in eternal fire for those who do not live temperately and rationally. However, her husband continued in his excesses, distancing her through his behavior. She considered it wicked to continue living as a wife with a husband who sought pleasure in ways contrary to natural and moral law and wanted a divorce. Though persuaded by friends to stay with him, believing he might change, she eventually gave up her own feelings and remained. But when her husband went to Alexandria and was reported to be acting worse, she, to avoid becoming a participant in his wickedness through marriage, gave him a bill of divorce and separated from him. However, her husband, instead of rejoicing that she had given up actions she once did with servants and indulging in drunkenness and vice and wanting him to do the same, accused her of being a Christian when she left without his consent. She presented a request to the Emperor, asking for permission to settle
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
But the rest of the prophecy shall be fulfilled at His second coming.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
If, when the Savior came to this earth, He sent His apostles into the world to accurately proclaim His arrival and teach the Father’s will, without adopting the doctrines of the Gentiles or the Jews, then all the more, while He existed in the Pleroma, would He have appointed His own heralds to announce His future coming into this world, without involving those prophecies originating from the Demiurge. But if, while in the Pleroma, He used the prophets under the law to declare His own matters through them, then much more, upon His arrival here, would He have utilized these same teachers and preached the Gospel to us through them. Therefore, let them no longer claim that Peter, Paul, and the other apostles proclaimed the truth but that it was the scribes, Pharisees, and others through whom the law was given. And if, at His coming, He sent forth His apostles in the spirit of truth, and not in error, He did the same with the prophets; for the Word of God was always the same. And if the Spirit from the Pleroma was, according to their system, the Spirit of light, truth, perfection, and knowledge, while that from the Demiurge was the spirit of ignorance, degeneracy, and error, and the off
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Background
And thus also John, describing the nativity of Christ, says: The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full Of grace and truth..
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
and those who declared regarding Him, “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced,” indicated His [second] advent, concerning which He Himself says, “Thinkest thou that when the Son of man cometh, He shall find faith on the earth?” Paul also refers to this event when he says, “If, however, it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you, and to you that are troubled rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with His mighty angels, and in a flame of fire.” Others again, speaking of Him as a judge, and [referring], as if it were a burning furnace, [to] the day of the Lord, who “gathers the wheat into His barn, but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire,” were accustomed to threaten those who were unbelieving, concerning whom also the Lord Himself declares, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which my Father has prepared for the devil and his angels.” And the apostle in like manner says [of them], “Who shall be punished with everlasting death from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of His power, when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in those who believe in Him.” There are also some [of them] who declare, “Thou art fairer than the children of men;” and, “God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows;” and, “Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh
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Malachi 3:1 Background
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.
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Zechariah 9:9 Background
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
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Ezekiel 43:2 Background
And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
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Matthew 17:11 Background
Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
More related quotations from this section 2 shown
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Isaiah 40:5 Background
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
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Jeremiah 49:3 Background
God, our God, shall come manifestly, And shall not keep silence: A fire shall be kindled before him, And round about him there shall be a very great tempest.
Did early Christians connect Christ’s return with Antichrist?
Yes. Some writers say Christ will appear after or over against Antichrist and will destroy him at his coming. Irenaeus, Cyprian, and Hippolytus make this connection most clearly, with 1 John 2:18 and 2 Thessalonians 2 also fitting the same theme.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
...n asked by a person and the Spirit responding. Again, in Second Thessalonians, when speaking of Antichrist, he says, “And then the wicked will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus Christ will slay with the Spirit of His mouth, and will destroy with the presence of His coming; even him whose coming is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” Here, the word order is: “And then the wicked will be revealed, whose coming is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the Spirit of His mouth, and will destroy with the presence of His coming.” He does not mean that the coming of the Lord follows the working of Satan, but the coming of the wicked one, whom we also call Antichrist. If one doesn't pay attention to the correct reading of the passage and doesn’t present the pauses properly, there will not only be inconsistencies, but also he may utter blasphemy, as if the arrival of the Lord could be according to the working of Satan. Therefore, in such passages, the transposition must be presented by the reading, preserving the apostle’s intended meaning; thus, we do not read “the god of th
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Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching
Antichrist is coming, but above him comes Christ also.1 The enemy goes about and rages, but immediately the Lord follows to avenge our sufferings and our wounds.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
44. For as two advents of our Lord and Saviour are indicated in the Scriptures, the one being His first advent in the flesh, which took place without honour by reason of His being set at nought, as Isaiah spoke of Him aforetime, saying, We saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness, but His form was despised (and) rejected (lit.
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1 John 2:18 Supporting witness
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
Which Bible passages did early Christians use for Christ’s second coming?
They often used passages about the Son of Man coming with clouds, glory, angels, judgment, and salvation. Common texts include Matthew 24:30, Mark 14:62, Luke 21:27, Hebrews 9:28, Titus 2:13, 1 John 2:28, and Revelation 1:7.
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Hebrews 9:28 Supporting witness
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
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2 Thessalonians 2:1 Supporting witness
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
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Matthew 24:30 Supporting witness
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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Luke 21:27 Supporting witness
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
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Mark 13:26 Supporting witness
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
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Mark 14:62 Supporting witness
And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
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Titus 2:13 Supporting witness
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
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1 John 2:28 Supporting witness
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
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Revelation 1:7 Supporting witness
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
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Matthew 25:31 Supporting witness
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
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2 Thessalonians 1:10 Supporting witness
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Common Questions
Did early Christians believe Jesus would come back?
Yes. Writers like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, Lactantius, and Cyprian say Christ will come again in glory.
Did early Christians teach two comings of Christ?
Yes. They often said his first coming was humble and suffering, and his second coming would be glorious and public.
Which Bible passages did they use for Christ’s return?
They often appealed to Matthew 24:30, Mark 14:62, Hebrews 9:28, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, and Revelation 1:7.
Source Index for Christ First and Second Coming
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 199 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 114
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 85
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
Related Resources
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"Was What Happened in the Night Sky the Year of Christ's Birth Completely Insignificant?"
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Course Lesson
Do You Believe in a New World Order and Global Antichrist System Prior to the Second Advent of Christ
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How Should I Approach Witnessing to an Inactive Jehovah’s Witness Compared to a Non-believer or Nominal Christian?
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The Ten Commandments and Christian Obedience
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The second coming
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