Early Christian Views of Culture and Discipleship

Mathetes, Epistle to Diognetus Direct teaching

For Christians are not distinguished from other people by country, language, or the customs they observe. They do not inhabit cities of their own, use a peculiar form of speech, or lead a life marked by any particular uniqueness. The way they live has not been devised by the speculation or deliberation of inquisitive people, nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves to be advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, while living in both Greek and barbarian cities, as each of them has been assigned, and following the customs of the natives in terms of clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us a wonderful and undoubtedly striking way of life. They live in their own countries but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, yet endure all things as if they were foreigners. Every foreign land is to them like their native country, and every land of their birth is like a land of strangers. They marry, like everyone else; they have children, but they do not destroy their offspring. They share a common table, but not a common bed. Though they are in the flesh, they do not live according to the flesh. They spend their days on e

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

Celsus seems to be arguing, by these examples, that everyone is required to live according to the customs of his own country, and then he will escape blame. But Christians, he says, have left their native customs, and since they are not one nation like the Jews, they should be blamed for following the teaching of Jesus. So let him tell us this: is it proper for philosophers, and for those who have been taught not to give in to superstition, to abandon their country's customs so that they eat foods forbidden in their own cities? Or is that behavior improper? For if, because of their philosophy and the instruction they have received against superstition, they eat what their fathers forbade, disregarding their native laws, why should Christians be blamed for doing something similar? For the Gospel requires them not to concern themselves with statues and images, or even with any of God's created works, but to rise upward and present the soul to the Creator. But if, to defend the argument he has set for himself, Celsus or those who agree with him say that even a man who has studied philosophy would still keep his country's laws, then philosophers in Egypt, for example, would act very fo

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

whereas the Christians, who have abandoned their native usages, and who are not one nation like the Jews, are to be blamed for giving their adherence to the teaching of Jesus.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...bout with thorns, and refuse to hear a wicked tongue." And again, "Evil communications corrupt good manners." 1 Corinthians 15:33 The Lord teaches and warns us to depart from such people. He says, "They are blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, they shall both fall into the ditch." Matthew 15:14 Such a person must be turned away from and avoided, whoever he may be, if he is separated from the Church. Such a one is perverted and sins, and is condemned by his own self. Does he think that he has Christ, when he acts in opposition to Christ's priests and separates himself from the company of His clergy and people? He bears arms against the Church. He fights against God's appointment. He is an enemy of the altar, a rebel against Christ's sacrifice, faithless toward the faith, profane toward religion, a disobedient servant, an impious son, a hostile brother. He despises the bishops and forsakes God's priests. He dares to set up another altar, to offer another prayer with unauthorized words, to profane the truth of the Lord's offering by false sacrifices, and not to know that whoever struggles against God's appointment is punished for the boldness of his rashness

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...y and pursuit of every pleasure. Over all these, desire rules like a tyrant. And countless passions related to these increase, by which uncontrolled habits are carried to the highest degree. And Scripture says, "Whips are prepared for the intemperate, and punishments for the shoulders of fools," Proverbs 19:29, calling the powers of intemperance, and the steady endurance of it, "the shoulders of fools." Therefore, "Remove vain hopes from your servants," it says, "and turn away shameful desires from me. Let not appetite for food and intercourse take hold of me."

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

Belief in Antinous, then, or in any other such person, whether among the Egyptians or the Greeks, is, so to speak, unfortunate. But belief in Jesus would seem to be either fortunate, or the result of thorough investigation. To the multitude, it has the appearance of the former; to exceedingly few, of the latter. And when I speak of a certain belief as, in the judgment of the multitude, unfortunate, I in such a case refer the cause to God, who knows the reasons for the different fates allotted to each person who enters human life. The Greeks, moreover, will admit that even among those considered to be most richly endowed with wisdom, good fortune has had much to do with it. This is seen in the choice of one kind of teacher rather than another, in meeting a better class of instructors, since there were teachers who taught the most opposite doctrines, and in being brought up in better circumstances. For many were brought up in surroundings of such a kind that they were prevented from ever receiving any idea of better things. Instead, from their earliest youth, they passed their life either as the favorites of licentious men or of tyrants, or in some other wretched condition that kept

Tertullian, De Spectaculis (On the Shows) Supporting witness

It is not by merely being in the world, however, that we lapse from God, but by touching and tainting ourselves with the world's sins.

James 4:4 Background

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15 Background

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Colossians 2:20 Background

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Titus 2:12 Background

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

1 John 2:17 Background

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

...n Himself? Again, when He chose certain men who were loaded and burdened with sins for the honor of discipleship, twelve in number, whom He also named His apostles, He gave them this command: 'Leave father and mother, that you may be made worthy of me.' By this He meant that from there on the memory of father or mother should no longer weaken the steadfastness of their heart. "And on another occasion, when a different man said to Him, 'I will go and bury my father,' He answered, 'Let the dead bury their dead.' See, then, how my Lord Jesus Christ builds up His disciples for all things necessary, and gives His sacred words to each one in a way suited to what is fitting for him. And in just the same way here, when a certain man came in with the inconsiderate message about His mother, He did not take the event as an opportunity to leave His Father's commission unattended, even for the sake of having His mother with Him. "But to show you even more clearly that this is the true account of the matter, let me remind you that Peter, at a certain time, after receiving that declaration of blessedness from Him, said to Jesus, 'Be it far from You, Lord. This shall not be to You.' He said thi

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

...isen from His name and shares His name (for we are all called Christians), as clearly stated in the following words, which teach us also to let go of our old ancestral customs, when they say: 'Listen, O daughter, and look, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house, and the King shall desire your beauty, for He is your Lord, and you shall worship Him.'"

Justin Martyr, The Second Apology Supporting witness

And again, being conscious of his duty, and the nobility of it through the teaching of Christ, he confessed his discipleship in the divine virtue.

Polycarp, Connection to Titus 2:12 Supporting witness

let us teach, first of all, ourselves to walk in the commandments of the Lord.

Polycarp, Connection to Philippians 1:27 Supporting witness

Knowing, then, that "God is not mocked," we ought to walk worthy of His commandment and glory. In like manner should the deacons be blameless before the face of His righteousness, as being the servants of God and Christ, and not of men.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

1 John 2:6 Peter also, upon whom by the Lord's condescension the Church was founded, Matthew 16:18 lays it down in his epistle, and says, Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps, who did no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth;

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Supporting witness

For truly the first thing is to deny one’s self and to follow Christ;

Matthew 16:24 Background

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:23 Background

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 14:27 Background

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33 Background

So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

1 Peter 2:21 Background

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

1. Discipline, the safeguard of hope, the bond of faith, the guide of the way of salvation, the stimulus and nourishment of good dispositions, the teacher of virtue, causes us to abide always in Christ, and to live continually for God, and to attain to the heavenly promises and to the divine rewards.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

Disciplines which are mindful of God bear it, retaining righteousness with religion, steadfast in faith, humble in fear, brave to all suffering, meek to sustain wrong, easy to show mercy, of one mind and one heart in fraternal peace.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

Humility in conversation; steadfastness in faith; modesty in words;

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...not ashamed to be present at wedding feasts. In that freedom of lustful talk, they join in unchaste conversation. They hear what is not fitting. They say what is not lawful. They expose themselves by being present in the midst of shameful words and drunken banquets. By these things the ardor of lust is kindled, and the bride is stirred to bear it, and the bridegroom to dare lewdness. What place is there at weddings for her whose mind is not set on marriage? Or what can be pleasant or joyful in those engagements for her, where both desires and wishes are different from her own? What is learned there? What is seen? How greatly a virgin falls short of her resolution, when she who had come there modest goes away immodest! Although she may remain a virgin in body and mind, yet in eyes, in ears, in tongue, she has diminished the virtues that she possessed.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...n a ridiculous character. How, then, can we give ourselves to being and appearing ridiculous in our conversation, and so distort speech, which is the most precious of all human gifts? Therefore it is shameful to set oneself to do this, since the talk of jokers of this kind is not fit for our ears, because the very words they use make shameful actions familiar to us.

Cyprian, Epistles Background

...umn in soothing and cheering the senses. In a place like this, it is delightful to spend the day in conversation and, by the study of the sacred parables, to train the conscience within the heart to understand the divine commands. And so that no worldly intruder may interrupt our conversation, and no uncontrolled noise from a loud household may disturb it, let us go to this arbor. The nearby thickets give us privacy, and the wandering vine branches, creeping in hanging patterns among the reeds that support them, have made for us a porch of vines and a leafy shelter. Here we pleasantly clothe our thoughts in words. And while we please our eyes with the agreeable view of trees and vines, the mind is taught at the same time by what we hear and nourished by what we see, although at present your only pleasure and your only interest are in our conversation. Despising the pleasures of sight, your eyes are now fixed on me. With your mind as well as your ears, you are completely listening, and listening too with an eagerness equal to your affection.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...onomy 5. And so on. These things must be kept, along with whatever else is commanded in reading the Bible. And by Isaiah He commands us: "Wash yourselves, and make yourselves clean. Put away wickedness from your souls before my eyes. Learn to do good. Seek judgment. Rescue the wronged. Judge for the orphan, and justify the widow. And come, and let us reason together," says the Lord. And we will find many examples in other places also. For example, about prayer, Scripture says, "Good works are an acceptable prayer to the Lord." And the manner of prayer is described: "If you see the naked, cover him, and do not overlook those who belong to your own seed. Then your light shall break forth early, and your healing shall spring up quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall surround you." What, then, is the fruit of such prayer? "Then you shall call, and God will hear you; while you are still speaking, He will say, 'I am here.'"

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

...ayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience. Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies. Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and ac

1 Peter 2:12 Background

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Titus 3:2 Background

to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Titus 2:8 Background

sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

1 Peter 3:16 Background

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

But for the benefit of one's neighbours, in the case of those who have proclivities for writing, and those who set themselves to deliver the word, both is other culture beneficial, and the reading of the Scriptures of the Lord is necessary, in order to the demonstration of what is said, and especially if those who hear are accessions from Hellenic culture.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...o prove what is being said. This is especially true if those who are listening have come from Greek culture.

Alexander of Lycopolis, Of the Manicheans Supporting witness

The philosophy of the Christians is called simple. But it gives very great attention to the shaping of character, and in a hidden way suggests words of surer truth about God. The main point of these, at least for anyone seriously concerned about such matters, is that all things that exist come from one effective cause, very noble and very ancient, as their maker. Christians leave the more laborious and difficult questions to ethical thinkers, such as what virtue is, whether moral or intellectual. They also leave them to those who spend their time forming theories about morals, and about the passions and affections, without identifying the means by which each virtue is attained, and piling up less exact precepts, as if at random. But when ordinary people hear the Christian teaching, as experience shows us, they make great progress in modesty, and a character of piety is stamped on their conduct. This stirs up the moral disposition formed by such practices, and gradually leads them to desire what is honorable and good.

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness

...irst lawgiver of the Hebrew nation, and from the words of Jesus Christ, the Author and Chief of the Christian religious system. For although there have been many lawgivers among the Greeks and the barbarians, and also countless teachers and philosophers who claimed to declare the truth, we do not remember any lawgiver who was able to produce in the minds of foreign nations such affection and zeal for him that they would either willingly adopt his laws or defend them with all the power of their minds. No one, then, has been able to introduce and make known what seemed to him to be the truth among, I do not say many foreign nations, but even among the individuals of one single nation, in such a way that knowledge and belief in the same should spread to all. And yet there can be no doubt that legislators wanted their laws to be observed by all men, if possible, and that teachers wanted what appeared to them to be truth to become known to all. But knowing that they could by no means succeed in producing any such mighty power within them as would lead foreign nations to obey their laws, or have regard to their statements, they did not even dare to attempt it, lest the failure of the

Tertullian, De Anima (On the Soul) Supporting witness

... by using arguments that both sides admit are valid, and that sometimes even fit with our system of belief. In this way, the truth has almost been shut out by the philosophers through the poisons with which they have infected it. Therefore, if we consider both kinds of mixing that I have just mentioned, and both are equally hostile to the truth, we see the urgent need to do two things. First, we must free the ideas that we hold in common with them from the philosophers' arguments. Second, we must separate the arguments that both sides use from the philosophers' own opinions. And we can do this by bringing every question back to God's inspired standard, except in simple cases that are free from the confusion of preconceived notions, where one may fairly accept mere human testimony. For sometimes we must borrow plain evidence of that kind even from opponents, when our opponents have nothing to gain from it. Now I am not unaware of how great a mass of writing the philosophers have gathered on this subject in their own commentaries. I know how many schools of thought there are, how many conflicts of opinion, how many rich sources of questions, and how many confusing methods of solvi

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

Now this is our answer to his allegations, and our defense of the truths contained in Christianity, that if any one were to come from the study of Grecian opinions and usages to the Gospel, he would not only decide that its doctrines were true, but would by practice establish their truth, and supply whatever seemed wanting, from a Grecian point of view, to their demonstration, and thus confirm the truth of Christianity.

Colossians 2:8 Background

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Direct teaching

...ince, you men of Greece, the matters of the true religion don't lie in the poetic forms, nor in the culture which is highly valued among you, pay less attention to the exactness of poetry and language; and listen without arguing to the words of the Sibyl. Recognize the great benefits she will provide by clearly predicting the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. He, being the Word of God and inseparable from Him in power, took on man, who was made in the image and likeness of God, and restored the knowledge of the religion of our ancient forefathers, which people abandoned through the deceitful advice of the envious devil, turning to the worship of those who were not gods. And if you still hesitate and are stopped from believing regarding the creation of man, believe those you previously thought right to listen to, and know that your own oracle, when asked to praise the Almighty God, in the middle of the hymn said, “Who formed the first of men, and called him Adam.” This hymn is kept by many we know, for the conviction of those unwilling to believe the truth which everyone bears witness to. If therefore, you men of Greece, you do not value the false ideas about those that are not

Tertullian, Apology Direct teaching

...did, but as one aiming to enlighten people who were already civilized, yet led astray by their very culture, so that they might come to the knowledge of the truth. Search then, and see whether that divinity of Christ is true. If it is of such a kind that accepting it changes a person and makes him truly good, then this implies the duty of rejecting as false whatever is opposed to it, especially, and on every ground, that which hides itself under the names and images of the dead, and labors to convince men of its divinity by certain signs, and miracles, and oracles.

Minucius Felix, Octavius Direct teaching

And now, as more wicked things spread more successfully, and corrupt behavior creeps on day by day, those hateful shrines of an ungodly assembly are growing throughout the whole world. Certainly this alliance ought to be rooted out and cursed. They recognize one another by secret signs and marks, and they love one another almost before they know one another. Everywhere among them there is also mixed a kind of religion of lust, and they call one another indiscriminately brothers and sisters, so that even ordinary sexual immorality, by the use of that sacred name, may become incestuous. In this way their empty and foolish superstition glories in crimes. Nor would an intelligent report speak of things so great and so varied, and needing an apology before they are told, unless truth were at the bottom of it. I hear that they worship the head of a donkey, the basest of creatures, made sacred by I do not know what foolish belief—a religion worthy and fitting for such behavior. Some say that they worship the sexual organs of their chief and priest, and adore, as it were, the nature of their common parent. I do not know whether these things are false. Certainly suspicion applies to secret

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

...ing their order, what basis is there for the claim that a plague was brought on the earth after the Christian religion came into the world and revealed the mysteries of hidden truth? "But," my opponents say, "the gods bring pestilences, droughts, wars, famines, locusts, mice, hailstones, and other harmful things on us, things by which the property of men is attacked. They do this because they are angry at your wrongdoings and your transgressions." If it were not foolish to spend time on matters that are already clear and need no defense, I would certainly show, by unfolding the history of past ages, that these evils you speak of were not unknown and did not come suddenly. I would show that plagues did not burst upon us, and that human affairs did not begin to be attacked by many kinds of dangers, from the time that our sect received the honor of this name. For if we are to blame, and if these plagues have been devised against our sin, from where did antiquity know these names for disasters? From where did it give a name to wars? By what understanding could it describe pestilence and hailstorms? Or how could it introduce these terms into its language, by which speech was made cle

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Background

In your empire, greatest of rulers, different nations have different customs and laws. No one is stopped by law or fear of punishment from following the practices handed down from their ancestors, no matter how ridiculous those practices may be. A citizen of Ilium calls Hector a god and gives divine honor to Helen, thinking she is Adrasteia. The Spartan honors Agamemnon as Zeus, and also Phylonoë, the daughter of Tyndarus. The man of Tenedos worships Tennes. The Athenian offers sacrifice to Erechtheus as Poseidon. The Athenians also carry out sacred rites and celebrate mysteries in honor of Agraulus and Pandrosus, women who were thought guilty of impiety for opening the box. In short, among every nation and people, men offer whatever sacrifices they want and celebrate whatever mysteries they please. The Egyptians count even cats, crocodiles, serpents, asps, and dogs among their gods. And for all these things, both you and the laws allow them to act this way. On the one hand, you judge that believing in no god at all is impious and wicked. On the other hand, you judge that each person must worship whatever gods he prefers, so that through fear of the deity, men may be kept from doin

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

...have answered well enough the charges of the many crimes on which these fierce demands are made for Christian blood. We have fully presented our case. We have shown how we can prove that what we say is true, from the trustworthiness and antiquity of our sacred writings, and also from the confession of the powers of spiritual wickedness themselves. Who will dare to refute us, not with skill in words, but, as we have made our demonstration, on the basis of reality? But while the truth we hold is made clear to all, unbelief meanwhile, even at the very time when it is convinced of the worth of Christianity, now well known both for its benefits and from the intercourse of life, takes up the idea that it is not really something divine, but rather a kind of philosophy. "These are the very things," it says, "that the philosophers advise and profess: innocence, justice, patience, sobriety, and chastity." Why then are we not allowed the same freedom and immunity for our teachings that they have, when we are compared with them in what we teach? Or why are they not also forced to the same acts, by refusing which our lives are put in danger, if they are so much like us? For who forces a phil

1 Peter 4:3 Background

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Wisdom of Solomon 14:11 Background

Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: Because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, And stumbling blocks to the souls of men, And a snare to the feet of the unwise.

Deuteronomy 29:18 Background

Lest there be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart has turned aside from the Lord your God, having gone to serve the gods of these nations; lest there be in you a root springing up with gall and bitterness.

Romans 10:3 Background

For the customs of the nations are vain; it is a tree cut out of the forest, the work of the carpenter, or a molten image.

Wisdom of Solomon 14:16 Background

Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, And graven images were worshiped by the commandments of kings.

Leviticus 20:23 Background

And walk ye not in the customs of the nations which I drive out from before you; for they have done all these things, and I have abhorred them: