Early Christian Views on Pacifism and Military Service
Early Christian writers gave mixed answers about military service. Tertullian and Lactantius spoke most strongly against Christians killing or serving in war, while Clement, Justin Martyr, and Cyprian also used soldier language in ways that can fit Christian life. Bible passages in this set include both peace texts and armed service texts, so the topic needs careful reading.
129 early-church witnesses · 233 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about pacifism and Military Service?
Early Christian writers did not all speak the same way about military service. Tertullian and Lactantius argue most strongly against Christians killing or serving in war, while Clement of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, and Cyprian use soldier language in ways that can support Christian service, obedience, or spiritual warfare. The Bible passages in this set also cut both ways:
some point to peace, refusing violence, and beating swords into plowshares, while others describe soldiers or armed service in Israel. Taken together, the evidence is real but mixed, and it is stronger for a Christian call to peace than for a single simple rule that every early writer rejected all military service. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Some early Christian writers argued that Christians should not take part in killing or war.
- Other early writers used soldier language for Christian life without clearly banning military service.
- The Bible passages in this set include both peace commands and examples of armed service.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians describe the church as a people of peace?
Several early sources describe Christians as peace-oriented, with language about peace, peacemaking, and a bloodless or peaceful army. The Bible passages most relevant here are the texts about beating swords into plowshares and pursuing peace.
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Tertullian, De Corona Direct teaching
... issue of the military crown, I think we must first ask whether warfare itself is proper at all for Christians. What is the point of discussing what is merely secondary, when the thing it rests on is itself to be condemned? Do we believe it is lawful for a human oath to be added to a divine one, for a man to come under promise to another master after Christ, and to abjure father, mother, and all his nearest kinsfolk, whom even the law has commanded us to honor and love next to God Himself, and to whom the gospel also, holding them only of less account than Christ, has likewise given honor? Should it be considered lawful to make an occupation of the sword, when the Lord declares that he who uses the sword shall perish by the sword? And should the son of peace take part in battle, when it does not become him even to sue at law? And should he apply the chain, the prison, the torture, and the punishment, when he is not even the avenger of his own wrongs? Should he really keep watch-service for others more than for Christ, or should he do it on the Lord's Day, when he does not even do it for Christ Himself? And should he keep guard before the temples he has renounced? And should he t
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Tertullian, On Idolatry Direct teaching
But now inquiry is made about this point, whether a believer may turn himself unto military service, and whether the military may be admitted unto the faith, even the rank and file, or each inferior grade, to whom there is no necessity for taking part in sacrifices or capital punishments.
Did early Christians think killing was wrong?
The supplied sources include strong anti-killing language, especially in Lactantius, who says it is unlawful for a just person to engage in warfare and that putting a person to death is forbidden. Several other early Christian texts also stress not striking, not harming, or not doing violence.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
...s which are considered lawful among men. Thus it will be lawful neither for a just man to engage in warfare, since his warfare is justice itself, nor to accuse anyone on a capital charge, because it makes no difference whether you put a man to death by word or by the sword, since it is the act of putting to death itself that is forbidden. Therefore, regarding this command of God, there ought to be no exception at all. It is always unlawful to put a man to death, whom God willed to be a sacred living creature.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
Thus it will be neither lawful for a just man to engage in warfare, since his warfare is justice itself, nor to accuse any one of a capital charge, because it makes no difference whether you put a man to death by word, or rather by the sword, since it is the act of putting to death itself which is prohibited.
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Tertullian, De Corona Direct teaching
Neither does military service hold out escape from punishment of sins, or exemption from martyrdom.
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Tertullian, De Corona Supporting witness
or all sorts of quibbling will have to be resorted to in order to avoid offending God, and that is not allowed even outside of military service;
Did any early Christians allow or mention military service?
Yes. Some early sources discuss military service as a real condition of life, mention soldiers entering the faith, or use military imagery without clearly condemning service itself. These sources show that the early Christian record was not uniformly anti-military in every writer or setting.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
...etrothed a virgin and has not yet married her, the humane law orders such a man to be relieved from military service. This is first for military reasons, lest, bent on his desires, he should become sluggish in war. For those who are untroubled by passion boldly face dangers. It is also from motives of humanity, since, in view of the uncertainties of war, the law judged it not right that one should not enjoy his own labors, while another, without taking pains, should receive what belonged to those who had labored. The law also seems to point out manliness of soul by enacting that he who had planted should reap the fruit, and he who had built should live in it, and he who had betrothed should marry. For it does not provide vain hopes for those who labor, according to the gnostic saying: "For the hope of a good man, dead or living, does not perish," says Wisdom. "I love those who love me; and those who seek me shall find peace," Proverbs 8:17, and so forth. What then? Did not the women of the Midianites, by their beauty, seduce the Hebrews from wisdom into impiety through licentiousness, when they were making war against them? For, after seducing them from a serious way of life, an
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
— such the humane law orders to be relieved from military service: from military reasons in the first place, lest, bent on their desires, they turn out sluggish in war;
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
But for a man bare feet are quite in keeping, except when he is on military service.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
he prohibits the inactive man from undertaking the business of the state, the sluggish from bodily exercise, the timid from military service.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
But if the soldiers enrolled by you, and who have taken the military oath, prefer their allegiance to their own life, and parents, and country, and all kindred, though you can offer them nothing incorruptible, it were verily ridiculous if we, who earnestly long for incorruption, should not endure all things, in order to obtain what we desire from Him who is able to grant it.
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Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching
...given, the soldiers of God are proven, and heaven is opened to martyrs. For we have not enlisted in warfare in such a way that we should think only about peace and draw back from war or refuse it, when in this very warfare the Lord Himself walked first—the Teacher of humility, endurance, and suffering. So what He taught should be done, He Himself first did. And what He urges us to suffer, He Himself first suffered for us. Let it be before your eyes, beloved brothers, that He who alone received all judgment from the Father, and who will come to judge, has already declared the decision of His judgment and of His future acknowledgment. He foretold and testified that He will confess before His Father those who confess Him, and will deny those who deny Him. If we could escape death, we might rightly fear dying. But since it is necessary for a mortal man to die, we should embrace the opportunity that comes by the divine promise and condescension, and complete the end appointed through death with the reward of immortality. Nor should we fear being killed, since we are certain that when we are killed, we are crowned.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
...pany are eager to carry on the struggle with the same common zeal of courage, as is fitting for the soldiers of Christ in the divine camp. Let no attractions deceive the uncorrupted firmness of your faith, no threats terrify you, and no sufferings or tortures overcome you, because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Nor can earthly punishment do more to cast down than divine protection can do to lift up. This truth is proved by the glorious struggle of the brothers who, after becoming leaders for the rest by overcoming their tortures, gave an example of courage and faith. They fought in the contest until the contest itself gave way, being overcome. With what praises can I commend you, most courageous brothers? With what public proclamation can I exalt the strength of your hearts and the perseverance of your faith? You have endured the sharpest trial by torture, even to a glorious end. You have not yielded to sufferings, but rather the sufferings have yielded to you. The end of the torments, which the tortures themselves did not give, the crown has given. The trial by torture, growing more severe, continued for a long time toward this result: not to overthrow
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
For we have not in such a way given our name to warfare that we ought only to think about peace and draw back from and refuse war, when in this very warfare the Lord walked first—the Teacher of humility, and endurance, and suffering—so that what He taught to be done, He first of al did, and what He exhorts to suffer, He Himself first suffered for us.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
83. Let a bishop, or presbyter, or deacon, who goes to the army, and desires to retain both the Roman government and the sacerdotal administration, be deprived.
Why do early Christian writers use soldier language?
Several writers call Christians soldiers of Christ or speak of warfare as spiritual struggle, martyrdom, or obedience. In these passages, soldier language is mainly figurative and tied to faithfulness, endurance, and heavenly warfare rather than battlefield service.
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Isaiah 2:4 Direct teaching
He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
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Micah 4:3 Supporting witness
And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
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Luke 3:14 Direct teaching
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
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1 Peter 4:1 Supporting witness
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
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2 Timothy 2:4 Supporting witness
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
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Matthew 5:9 Direct teaching
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
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Matthew 26:52 Direct teaching
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
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Romans 12:18 Supporting witness
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
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Exodus 20:13 Supporting witness
Thou shalt not kill.
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Exodus 14:14 Supporting witness
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
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Deuteronomy 3:18 Background
And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war.
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Joshua 1:14 Background
Let your wives and your children and your cattle dwell in the land, which he has given you; and ye shall go over well armed before your brethren, every one of you who is strong; and ye shall fight on their side;
More related quotations from this section 2 shown
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Numbers 32:27 Background
But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord saith.
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Numbers 31:3 Background
And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.
Common Questions
Did early Christians reject military service?
Some did, especially Tertullian and Lactantius, but other early writers speak more indirectly or even use soldier language in a positive way.
Which early Christian writer is strongest against war?
Tertullian is one of the strongest voices here, and Lactantius also says it is unlawful to put a man to death.
Do the Bible passages support pacifism?
Some do, especially texts about peace and laying down weapons, but other passages describe armed service.
Source Index for Pacifism and Military Service
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 233 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 129
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 104
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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