Simony and Buying Church Office in Early Christianity
Early Christians rejected buying church office and said God’s gift cannot be bought. Tertullian, Peter of Alexandria, and the Apostolic Constitutions all speak against money used to gain holy office. Acts 8 is the key Bible passage, with Peter’s rebuke of Simon Magus shaping later Christian teaching.
108 early-church witnesses · 204 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about simony and Buying Church Office?
Early Christian writings strongly reject buying spiritual power or church office. Tertullian says, “the grace of God is to be had at a price,” and Peter of Alexandria says those who give the priesthood as a reward or honorarium make themselves answerable to God. The Apostolic Constitutions also say a bishop, presbyter, or deacon who gets office by money should be deprived.
The clearest Bible text behind this teaching is Acts 8, where Peter condemns Simon for thinking God’s gift can be purchased with money. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians treated buying spiritual power or office as sinful.
- Acts 8:18-20 was the main Bible text used against simony.
- Later church rules say money must not decide who becomes bishop, presbyter, or deacon.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians reject buying church office or spiritual power?
The clearest sources say God’s gift cannot be bought with money, and they apply that principle to church ministry and spiritual power. Peter of Alexandria, Tertullian, and the Apostolic Constitutions all treat money-based access to holy things as wrong and blameworthy.
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Tertullian, De Fuga in Persecutione Direct teaching
Therefore this man also, who in buying himself has bought the Spirit of Christ, will hear that word, Your money perish with you, since you have thought that the grace of God is to be had at a price!
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Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Direct teaching
But those who decree the dignity of the priesthood to him as a reward and honorarium for declining his office, in my opinion make both themselves and him obnoxious to the judgment of God.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
30. If any bishop obtains that dignity by money, or even a presbyter or deacon, let him and the person that ordained him be deprived;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
Nay, when Simon the Magician offered money to me Peter and John, Acts viii and tried to obtain the invaluable grace by purchase, we did not admit it, but bound him with everlasting maledictions, because he thought to possess the gift of God, not by a pious mind towards God, but by the price of money.
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
There is no buying and selling of any sort in the things of God.
How did early Christians describe bishops and deacons?
Several sources describe bishops and deacons as offices to be appointed, tested, and exercised faithfully. The emphasis is on qualification, ordination, and service rather than buying status or seeking office for gain.
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Acts 8:18 Direct teaching
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
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Acts 8:20 Direct teaching
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
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Acts 8:9 Supporting witness
But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Supporting witness
and with respect to their filling with the Holy Ghost, through the imposition of hands, those that believed in God through Him who was preached by them, namely, Christ Jesus—suspecting that even this was done through a kind of greater knowledge of magic, and offering money to the apostles, thought he, too, might receive this power of bestowing the Holy Spirit on whomsoever he would,—was addressed in these words by Peter: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God can be purchased with money: thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God;
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
Simon Magus, astonished at what he saw, desired to receive from Peter this gift, but though it was a good thing he desired, he thought to attain it by the mammon of unrighteousness.
Did early Christians allow support for church leaders without buying the office?
Yes. Some early Christian texts say church workers should be supported by the Church, but that is different from paying for the office itself. The Apostolic Constitutions speak of support for bishops and ministers, while Paul’s letters and church rules stress that bishops and deacons must be blameless and not greedy.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...is concerned for all, so you should be concerned for the laity under you. For do not think that the office of a bishop is an easy or light burden. Therefore, since you bear the weight, you have a right to share in the fruits before others, and to give to those who are in need, since you must give an account to Him who will examine your accounts without partiality. For those who serve the Church ought to be supported by the Church, since they are priests, Levites, presidents, and ministers of God. As it is written in the book of Numbers concerning the priests, "And the Lord said to Aaron, You, and your sons, and the house of your family, shall bear the iniquities of the holy things of priesthood." Numbers 18:1 "Behold, I have given you the charge of the firstfruits, from all that are sanctified to me by the children of Israel. I have given them to you as a reward, and to your sons after you, by an ordinance forever. This shall be yours from the holy things, from the oblations, from the gifts, from all the sacrifices, from every trespass offering, and sin offering. And all that they render to me out of all their holy things shall belong to you and to your sons. In the sanctuary th
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...according to Your will on the holy apostles of You, the eternal God. Grant by Your name, O God, who search the hearts, that this Your servant, whom You have chosen to be a bishop, may feed Your holy flock, and discharge the office of a high priest to You, and minister to You blamelessly night and day; that he may appease You, and gather together the number of those who shall be saved, and may offer to You the gifts of Your holy Church. Grant to him, O Lord Almighty, through Your Christ, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, so that he may have power to remit sins according to Your command; to give forth lots according to Your command; to loose every bond, according to the power that You gave the apostles; that he may please You in meekness and a pure heart, with a steadfast, blameless, and unreprovable mind; to offer to You a pure and unbloody sacrifice, which by Your Christ You have appointed as the mystery of the new covenant, for a sweet savor, through Your holy child Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, through whom glory, honor, and worship be to You in the Holy Spirit, now and always, and for all ages. And when he has prayed for these things, let the rest of the priests add, Ame
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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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1 Timothy 3:1 Direct teaching
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
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1 Timothy 3:13 Direct teaching
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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1 Timothy 3:10 Direct teaching
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
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1 Timothy 3:8 Supporting witness
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
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Titus 1:7 Supporting witness
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
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1 Peter 5:2 Supporting witness
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Common Questions
What did early Christians say about buying church office?
They said it was wrong. Tertullian, Peter of Alexandria, and the Apostolic Constitutions all reject office gained by money.
Which Bible passage is most important on simony?
Acts 8:18-20 is the clearest passage. Peter tells Simon that God’s gift cannot be bought with money.
Did early Christians think church leaders should be paid?
Yes, some texts say church workers should be supported by the Church. That is different from paying money to get the office.
Source Index for Simony and Buying Church Office
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 204 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 108
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Didache, Connection to 1 Timothy 3:1
Bible Passages 80 shown of 96
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