Early Christian Views on Quarrels, Strife, and Divisions

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

What shall I say of anger, of discord, of strife, which things ought not to be found in a Christian?

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

XII. Now, as concerning envy, or jealousy, or evil-speaking, or strife, or the love of contention, we have said already to you, that these are alien from a Christian, and chiefly in the case of widows.

2 Timothy 2:23 Direct teaching

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

Titus 3:9 Direct teaching

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

2 Timothy 2:14 Direct teaching

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

Proverbs 15:18 Supporting witness

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Wisdom of Sirach 28:8 Supporting witness

Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: For a furious man will kindle strife.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

... us join, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not all one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that “we are members one of another?” Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, “Woe to that man by whom offences come! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yes, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about his neck, and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.” Your schism has subverted the faith of many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

...ngs. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love allows no schisms; love gives rise to no seditions; love does all things in harmony. By love, all the elect of God have been made perfect; without love, nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love, the Lord has taken us to Himself. Out of the Love He bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you?

Ignatius, Epistle to the Trallians (LongVersion) Direct teaching

...et not I, out the love of Jesus Christ, "urge you all to speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment." For there are some vain talkers and deceivers, not Christians, but Christ-betrayers, carrying the name of Christ in deceit, and "corrupting the word" of the Gospel; while they mix the poison of their deceit with their persuasive talk, as if they mingled aconite with sweet wine, so that he who drinks, being deceived in his taste by the very great sweetness of the drink, may unknowingly encounter his death. One of the ancients gives us this advice, "Let no man be called good who mixes good with evil." For they speak of Christ, not to preach Christ, but to reject Christ; and they speak of the law, not to establish the law, but to proclaim things contrary to it. For they separate Christ from the Father, and the law from Christ. They also falsely accuse His being born of the Virgin; they are ashamed of His cross; they deny His suffering; and they do not believe His resurrection. They introduce God as a Being unknown; they suppose Christ to be unbegotten; and regarding the Spirit,

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

...ese words: Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be the followers of Jesus Christ, just as He is of His Father.

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

...following: Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be followers of Paul, and of the rest of the apostles, just as they were of Christ.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...them this answer, and we will not stop commanding them to put aside their destructive divisions and disputes, and to understand that it is an impiety to forsake their Mother. They must also acknowledge and understand that once a bishop has been appointed and approved by the testimony and judgment of his fellow bishops and the people, another bishop can in no way be appointed. Therefore, if they consult their own interest peacefully and faithfully, if they confess that they uphold the Gospel of Christ, they must return to the Church. I bid you, dearest brother, a heartfelt farewell always.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...fessed 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.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

In short, since the whole passage points to the maintenance of unity and the checking of divisions, inasmuch as heresies sever men from unity no less than schisms and dissensions, no doubt he classes heresies under the same head of censure as he does schisms also and dissensions.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

Moreover, when he blames divisions and schisms, which are clearly evils, he immediately adds heresies as well. Now, when he adds something to evil things, he of course admits that it is itself an evil. In fact, it is even greater, because he tells us that he believed their schisms and divisions existed because he knew that heresies also had to exist, as 1 Corinthians 11:19 says. For he shows that it was because he expected the greater evil that he readily believed the lesser ones existed. So he was very far from thinking that heresies were good, even in matters of this kind. Instead, his purpose was to warn us beforehand that we should not be surprised at temptations of an even worse kind, since, he says, they tend to make manifest those who are approved, as 1 Corinthians 11:18 says. In other words, they make known those whom the heresies were not able to corrupt. In short, since the whole passage points to preserving unity and stopping divisions, and since heresies separate people from unity no less than schisms and divisions do, there is no doubt that he places heresies under the same condemnation as schisms and divisions. And by doing this, he shows that those who have fallen in

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...u, brothers, who have been taught from the Scriptures, should be careful not to create divisions in belief or divisions in unity. For those who set up unlawful opinions are signs of destruction to the people. In the same way, you of the laity should not go near those who teach doctrines contrary to the mind of God, nor should you share in their impiety. For God says, "Separate yourselves from the midst of these men, lest you perish together with them." And again: "Depart from the midst of them, and separate yourselves, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you."

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

But you, brethren, who are instructed out of the Scripture, should take care not to make divisions in opinion, nor divisions in unity.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...e soul that has been born again by Him may be preserved. This is what the Apostle Paul openly and clearly declares in his words: "The flesh," he says, "lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: for these are contrary the one to the other; so that you cannot do the things that you would. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adulteries, fornications, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, witchcraft, murders, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, anger, strife, seditions, divisions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness, revelries, and such like: of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, magnanimity, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control, chastity." Galatians 5:17-22 And therefore we make this our prayer every day, yes, in continual supplications: that the will of God concerning us should be done both in heaven and on earth. Because this is the will of God: that earthly things should give way to heavenly things, and that spiritual and divine things should prevail.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

... themselves and quickly repented. So their dwelling was in the tower. But if anyone falls back into strife, he will be cast out of the tower and will lose his life. Life belongs to all who keep the commandments of the Lord. But in the commandments there is no rivalry about the chief places, or glory of any kind, but about patience and personal humility. Among such people, then, is the life of the Lord; but among the quarrelsome and transgressors is death.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... to wrath. So it is of no one more than of you that divine Scripture says, "A wrathful man stirs up strife, and a furious man heaps up sins," Proverbs 29:22. For what strifes and divisions you have stirred up throughout the churches of the whole world! And how great a sin you have piled up for yourself when you cut yourself off from so many flocks! For it is you who have cut yourself off. Do not deceive yourself, since the true schismatic is the one who has made himself an apostate from the communion of the Church's unity. For while you think that everyone can be excommunicated by you, you have excommunicated only yourself from everyone. Not even the commands of an apostle have been able to shape you to the rule of truth and peace, although he warned you and said, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beg you to walk worthy of the calling with which you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all,

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

... weakness, the Spirit of the Father has not yet settled upon you. He says, "For when there is envy, strife, and dissension among you, are you not acting in a human way?" This indicates that the Spirit of the Father was not yet with them because of their imperfection and shortcomings in their way of life. Just as the apostle had the ability to give them solid food—because those upon whom the apostles laid hands received the Holy Spirit, who is the food of eternal life—they could not take it, as their soul's faculties were still weak and undisciplined in matters related to God. Similarly, God had the power from the beginning to grant perfection to man, but because man was newly created, he could not possibly have received it. Even if he had received it, he could not contain or retain it. For this reason, the Son of God, though perfect, went through infancy like the rest of humanity, doing so not for His own benefit, but for the sake of the early stage of human existence, so that man could receive Him. There was nothing impossible or lacking in God implied by the fact that man was not an uncreated being; this simply applied to man, who was newly created.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

“For when envying and strife,” he says, “and dissensions are among you, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” That is, that the Spirit of the Father was not yet with them, on account of their imperfection and shortcomings of their walk in life.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

... off from the hope of life and eternal salvation. No one should flatter himself while continuing in strife. For the struggle is about life and salvation, and unless this is kept carefully and diligently in view, it will be lost and extinguished. However, because all the separate assemblies of heretics prefer to call themselves Christians, and think that theirs is the Catholic Church, it must be understood that the true Catholic Church is the one in which there is confession and repentance, and which deals in a healing way with the sins and wounds to which the weakness of the flesh is subject. I have said these things for now as a warning, so that no one who wants to avoid error may be caught in a greater error while being ignorant of the secret of the truth. Later, in a distinct and separate work, we will contend more fully and more completely against all divisions of falsehood. It follows that, since we have spoken enough about true religion and wisdom, we will discuss justice in the next book.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

For from what source do contests, from what source do fightings and contentions, arise among men, except that impatience opposed to injustice often excites great tempests?

1 Corinthians 3:3 Direct teaching

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

James 3:16 Direct teaching

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James 3:14 Direct teaching

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Galatians 5:20 Supporting witness

idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

Galatians 5:21 Supporting witness

envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

But on every Lord's Day, gather together, break bread, and give thanks after you have confessed your sins, so that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is in conflict with a fellow believer come together with you until they are reconciled, so that your sacrifice may not be defiled. For this is what was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time, offer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...y continually. Yet because God does not hear those who are hostile to their brothers through unjust quarrels, even if they should pray three times an hour, it is our duty to put away all enmity and smallness of soul, so that we may be able to pray with a pure and unpolluted heart. For the Lord commanded us to love even our enemies, and by no means to hate our friends. And the lawgiver says, "You shall not hate any man; you shall not hate your brother in your mind. You shall certainly rebuke your brother, and not incur sin on his account," Leviticus 19:17. "You shall not hate an Egyptian, for you were a sojourner with him. You shall not hate an Idumaean, for he is your brother," Deuteronomy 23:7. And David says, "If I have repaid those who repaid me evil." Therefore, if you will be a Christian, follow the law of the Lord: "Loose every bond of wickedness," Isaiah 58:6. For the Lord has given you authority to forgive those sins of your brother that he has committed against you, as far as seventy times seven, Matthew 18:22, that is, four hundred and ninety times. How often, therefore, have you forgiven your brother, that you are unwilling to do it now, when you have also heard Jerem

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Romans 16:17 Supporting witness

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

James 4:1 Supporting witness

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Genesis 13:7 Background

and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.