Early Christian Views on Public Office
Early Christian writings show respect for civil rulers, but they do not all agree that believers should take public office. Origen says Christians declined public offices to focus on a higher service, while other writers speak of kings, magistrates, and bishops in positive terms. Bible passages used on the topic call for prayer, honor, and submission to lawful authority. Overall, the evidence is mixed: respect for government is broad, but direct support for Christians holding office is limited.
139 early-church witnesses · 239 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about public Office?
Early Christian writers did not all treat public office the same way. Origen clearly said Christians declined public offices so they could serve the church, while Cyprian, the Apostolic Constitutions, and others speak positively about bishops, magistrates, kings, and ordered authority. The Bible passages tied to the topic also run both ways: some call rulers God’s ministers and urge honor and prayer, while others warn about the power and pride of rulers.
The evidence is strong that early Christians respected civil authority, but mixed on whether believers should seek or hold public office themselves. Some of the later or weaker cards are only indirect or use the words in a different setting, so the question needs careful review. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Christians were taught to honor rulers, pray for them, and submit to lawful authority.
- Origen says Christians declined public offices so they could serve the church.
- Some later writers describe rulers as God’s ministers, but that does not always mean Christians should seek office.
- The strongest direct witness on refusing public office is Origen.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians think believers should hold public office?
Origen gives the clearest direct answer: Christians declined public offices so they could reserve themselves for service in the church. Other cards praise rulers, judges, and magistrates, but those are more about honoring authority than telling Christians to seek office themselves. So the evidence for Christians holding public office is present but not strong.
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Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching
And it is not for the purpose of escaping public duties that Christians decline public offices, but that they may reserve themselves for a diviner and more necessary service in the Church of God— for the salvation of men.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
And at first, indeed, they were not subject to the dominion of Kings, but civil Judges presided over the people and the law: they were not, however, appointed only for a year, as the Roman consuls, but supported by a perpetual jurisdiction.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
and Tullius rightly gives the preference, above teachers of philosophy, to those men employed in civil affairs, who govern the state, who found new cities or maintain with equity those already founded, who preserve the safety and liberty of the citizens either by good laws or wholesome counsels, or by weighty judgments.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness
and to whomsoever I will, I give them.” For by the law of the same Being as calls men into existence are kings also appointed, adapted for those men who are at the time placed under their government.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness
for he is the minister of God, the avenger for wrath to him who does evil.” Now, that he spake these words, not in regard to angelical powers, nor of invisible rulers— as some venture to expound the passage—but of those of actual human authorities, [he shows when] he says, “For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, doing service for this very thing.” This also the Lord confirmed, when He did not do what He was tempted to by the devil;
What did early Christians teach about honoring rulers and magistrates?
Early Christian writing tells believers to respect governing power and pray for those in authority. Polycarp, Clement of Rome, Theophilus, and the Bible passages in Romans, Titus, 1 Peter, and 1 Timothy all point the same way on honor and submission. This is the broadest and most consistent part of the evidence.
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Clement of Rome, Connection to Romans 13:1 Supporting witness
Give to them, O Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, so that they may exercise without offence the sovereignty that Thou hast given them.
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Polycarp, Connection to Titus 3:1 Supporting witness
for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of God.
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Polycarp, Connection to 1 Timothy 2:2 Supporting witness
Teach the widows to be discreet as respects the faith of the Lord, praying continually for all.
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Theophilus of Antioch, Connection to 1 Timothy 2:2 Supporting witness
Moreover, concerning subjection to authorities and powers, and prayer for them, the divine word gives us instructions, in order that "we may lead a quiet and peaceable life."
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Didache, Connection to 1 Timothy 2:2 Supporting witness
Let us pray "for kings and those in authority," that they may be peaceable toward us, "that so we may have and lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
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Titus 3:1 Supporting witness
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
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Romans 13:1 Supporting witness
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
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1 Timothy 2:2 Supporting witness
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
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1 Peter 2:14 Supporting witness
Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
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Romans 13:2 Supporting witness
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
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1 Peter 2:13 Supporting witness
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
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Romans 13:6 Supporting witness
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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1 Peter 2:17 Supporting witness
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
How did early Christians compare church office with civil office?
Some early writers rank church service above civil rank or describe bishops with royal language. The Apostolic Constitutions says the bishop’s office is higher than the kingly office, and Ignatius places the bishop over soldiers, governors, and Caesar in church order. These texts show a strong view of church authority, not a call for Christians to seek civil power.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...dignities that were never given to them, and allowing themselves in a tyrannical way to bestow that authority which they do not themselves have, they provoke God to anger, as did the followers of Corah and King Uzziah. Having no authority, they took the high-priesthood without a commission from God. The former were burned with fire, and the latter was struck with leprosy in his forehead. They also provoke Christ Jesus to anger, who has made this constitution. They also grieve the Holy Spirit, and make His testimony void. Therefore, since we know beforehand the danger hanging over those who do such things, and the neglect of the sacrifices and eucharistical offices that will arise from their being impiously offered by those who ought not to offer them—men who think the honor of the high-priesthood, which is an imitation of the great High Priest Jesus Christ our King, is a matter of sport—we have found it necessary to warn you about this also. For some have already turned aside after their own vanity. We say that Moses, the servant of God—to whom God spoke face to face, as if a man spoke to his friend; to whom He said, "I know you above all men"; to whom He spoke directly, and not
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...for the preservation of men's bodies. But the bishop is entrusted with the exercise of the priestly office in relation to God, in order to preserve both body and soul from dangers. Therefore, by as much as the soul is more valuable than the body, by that much the priestly office is above the kingly office. For it binds and looses those who are worthy of punishment or of remission. Therefore you ought to love the bishop as your father, and fear him as your king, and honor him as your lord, bringing to him your fruits and the work of your hands for a blessing upon you, giving to him your firstfruits, and your tithes, and your offerings, and your gifts, as to the priest of God: the firstfruits of your wheat, and wine, and oil, and autumn fruits, and wool, and all things that the Lord God gives you. And your offering will be accepted as a sweet-smelling fragrance to the Lord your God, and the Lord will bless the work of your hands, and will multiply the good things of the land. For a blessing is on the head of him who gives. Proverbs 11:26
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Supporting witness
...there is one nature, and one family of mankind. For “in Christ there is neither bond nor free.” Let governors be obedient to Caesar; soldiers to those that command them; deacons to the presbyters, as to high priests; the presbyters, deacons, and the rest of the clergy, together with all the people, soldiers, governors, and Caesar himself, to the bishop; the bishop to Christ, just as Christ to the Father. And thus unity is preserved throughout. Let not the widows be wanderers, nor fond of dainties, nor going from house to house, but let them be like Judith, noted for her seriousness; and like Anna, known for her sobriety. I do not ordain these things as an apostle: for “who am I, or what is my father’s house,” that I should pretend to be equal in honor to them? But as your “fellow-soldier,” I hold the position of one who simply admonishes you.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...s, offers, and receives the blessing from bishops, but never from presbyters. A bishop removes from office any clergyman who deserves removal, except a bishop, because he does not have the power to do that by himself. A presbyter gives the blessing, but does not receive it; yet he does receive the blessing from the bishop or from a fellow presbyter. In the same way, he gives it to a fellow presbyter. He lays on hands, but does not ordain. He does not remove from office, yet he does separate those under him if they are liable to such a punishment. A deacon does not bless and does not give the blessing, but receives it from the bishop and presbyter. He does not baptize, and he does not offer. But when a bishop or presbyter has offered, he distributes to the people, not as a priest, but as one who ministers to the priests. But it is not lawful for any of the other clergy to do the work of a deacon. A deaconess does not bless, nor does she do anything that belongs to the office of presbyters or deacons. She is only to keep the doors and to minister to the presbyters in the baptizing of women, for the sake of decency. A deacon separates a subdeacon, a reader, a singer, and a deacones
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...sonable and unbloody sacrifices through Jesus the great High Priest. To the laity you are prophets, rulers, governors, and kings; mediators between God and His faithful people, who receive and declare His word, and are well acquainted with the Scriptures. You are the voice of God and witnesses of His will. You bear the sins of all and intercede for all. As you have heard, the word severely threatens those who hide the key of knowledge from men, who are liable to destruction if you do not declare His will to the people under you. You shall receive a sure reward from God, and unspeakable honor and glory, if you rightly minister in the holy tabernacle. For just as the burden is yours, so also you receive as your fruit the supply of food and other necessities. For you imitate Christ the Lord. And as He bore the sins of us all on the tree at His crucifixion, the innocent One for those who deserved punishment, so you also ought to make the sins of the people your own. For it is said about our Savior in Isaiah, "He bears our sins, and is afflicted for us." Isaiah 53:4 And again, "He bore the sins of many, and was delivered for our offenses." Isaiah 53:12 Therefore, as you are examples
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
You are to the laity prophets, rulers, governors, and kings;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
In What Things We Ought to Be Subject to the Rulers of This World.
Common Questions
Did early Christians think believers could hold public office?
Some early Christian writers speak positively about rulers, but Origen says Christians declined public offices so they could serve the church. The overall witness is mixed.
Did early Christians respect government officials?
Yes. Bible passages and early writers tell Christians to honor rulers, pray for them, and live peaceably under authority.
Source Index for Public Office
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 239 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 139
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 100
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:5