Early Christian Views on Sports and Public Games

Tertullian, De Spectaculis (On the Shows) Direct teaching

...at obscure and little known to many among us. So our inquiry must go back to ancient times, and our sources must be books of pagan literature. Several writers still exist who have published works on this subject. According to them, the origin of the games is as follows. Timaeus tells us that settlers from Asia, led by Tyrrhenus, were defeated by his brother in a struggle over his native kingdom and then settled in Etruria. There, among other superstitious practices carried out under the name of religion, they established public shows in their new land. The Romans, at their own request, got from them skilled performers, the proper times for the shows, and even the name itself, for it is said that they are called Ludi from the Lydians. Although Varro derives the name Ludi from Ludus, that is, from play, because they also called the Luperci Ludii since they ran about in sport, still, in his view, that sport of young men belonged to feast days and temples and to objects of religious reverence. However, the origin of the name matters little, when it is certain that the thing itself comes from idolatry. The Liberalia, under the general name of Ludi, plainly proclaimed the glory of Fat

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching

It remains to speak about public shows. Since they have a stronger power to corrupt the mind, the wise should avoid them and guard against them completely. People say they were established to honor the gods. The performance of shows is a festival of Saturnus. The stage belongs to Father Liber. The Circensian games are thought to be dedicated to Neptunus. So now, anyone who takes part in these shows seems to have left the worship of God and crossed over to profane rites. But I prefer to speak about the thing itself rather than its origin. What is so terrible, what is so filthy, as the killing of a human being? That is why our life is protected by the strictest laws. That is why wars are hateful. Yet custom has found a way for a man to commit murder without war and without laws. And this becomes a pleasure to him, because he thinks he has punished guilt. But if being present at a killing means sharing in the guilt, and the spectator is involved in the same guilt as the one who did it, then in these slaughters of gladiators, the spectator is no less stained with blood than the one who sheds it. Nor can the person be free from the guilt of bloodshed if he wanted the blood to be poured

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...not be partakers with them in their impiety. You are also to avoid their public meetings, and those sports which are celebrated in them. For a believer ought not to go to any of those public meetings, unless to purchase a slave and save a soul, and at the same time to buy such other things as they need. Abstain, therefore, from all idolatrous pomp and state, all their public meetings, banquets, duels, and all shows belonging to demons.

Minucius Felix, Octavius Direct teaching

He Declares that Christians Do Not Present Themselves at Public Shows and Processions, Because They Know Them, with the Greatest Certainty, to Be No Less Impious Than Cruel.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

...tor shows, so that we do not become partners in or supporters of murder. Nor may we watch the other spectacles either, so that our eyes and ears are not defiled by taking part in the songs and words sung there. For if anyone wants to speak of cannibalism, in those spectacles the children of Thyestes and Tereus are eaten. And as for adultery, both among men and among the gods, whom they praise in polished language for honor and prizes, this is made the subject of their dramas. But far be it from Christians even to imagine such deeds. Among them, temperance lives, self-control is practiced, monogamy is observed, chastity is protected, wickedness is destroyed, sin is rooted out, righteousness is practiced, law is administered, worship is performed, and God is acknowledged. Truth rules, grace guards, peace protects them, the holy word guides, wisdom teaches, life leads, and God reigns. Therefore, although we have much to say about our way of life and the commands of God, the maker of all creation, we think that for now we have reminded you enough to lead you to examine these things, especially since you can now read our writings for yourself. So, as you have been eager to gain knowl

Commodianus, Writings Direct teaching

...ngs for you, I not only do not grieve, but I am compelled to speak the truth. You are going to vain shows with the crowd of the evil one, where Satan is at work in the circus with loud noise. You persuade yourself that everything that pleases you is lawful. You are the offspring of the Most High, mingled with the sons of the devil. Do you wish to see again the former things that you have renounced? Are you again conversant with them? What will the Anointed One profit you? Or if it is permitted, because of weakness, that you foolishly profane... Love not the world, nor its contents. Such is God's word, and it seems good to you. You follow man's command and shun God's. You trusted in the gift by which the teachers shut their mouths, so that they may be silent and not tell you the divine commands. While I speak the truth, as you are bound, look to the Most High. Give yourself as a follower to Him whose son you were. If you seek to live, being a believing man, as the Gentiles do, the joys of the world remove you from the grace of Christ. With an undisciplined mind, you seek what you suppose to be easily lawful, both your dear actors and their musical strains. Nor do you care that th

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...looking boldly and shamelessly at their neighbors during leisure stir up sexual desires. Therefore, spectacles and plays that are full of vulgarity and endless gossip must be forbidden. For what shameful act is not shown in the theaters? And what shameless word is not brought out by the clowns? Those who take pleasure in the evil found in these things impress clear images of it on themselves at home. On the other hand, those who are resistant to these things and are not affected by them will never stumble when it comes to pleasures of luxury.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

...lousy. What, then, is there to hinder those who are most devoted to His service from taking part in public feasts?" I cannot see the connection he imagines between God's being good, independent, and free from jealousy, and His devoted servants taking part in public feasts. I confess, indeed, that from the fact that God is good, stands in need of nothing, and is free from jealousy, it would follow as a consequence that we might take part in public feasts, if it were proved that there was nothing wrong in the public feasts, and that they were grounded on true views of the character of God, so that they resulted naturally from a devout service of God. If, however, the so-called public festivals can in no way be shown to accord with the service of God, but on the contrary can be proved to have been devised by men when occasion offered to commemorate some human events, or to set forth certain qualities of water or earth, or the fruits of the earth, then it is clear that those who wish to offer enlightened worship to the Divine Being will act according to sound reason and not take part in the public feasts. For to keep a feast, as one of the wise men of Greece has well said, is nothin

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

For if people shall say that they betake themselves to the spectacles as a pastime for recreation, I should say that the cities which make a serious business of pastime are not wise;

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

The Instructor will not then bring us to public spectacles;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Avoid also indecent spectacles: I mean the theatres and the pomps of the heathens;

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

What else is found in the Circus games except foolishness, emptiness, and madness? People's souls are swept away into wild excitement, with as much force as the chariot races themselves are driven there. So those who come to watch the show become even more of a show themselves, when they begin to shout, lose control with excitement, and jump up from their seats. Therefore, all shows ought to be avoided. This is not only so that no vice may take root in our hearts, which ought to be calm and peaceful, but also so that the regular enjoyment of any pleasure may not soften and capture us, and turn us away from God and from good works. For the celebration of the games is a festival in honor of the gods, since they were established because of their birthdays or the dedication of new temples. At first, the hunts, which are called shows, were held in honor of Saturnus, and the stage games in honor of Liber, but the Circus games in honor of Neptune. Little by little, however, the same honor began to be given to the other gods also, and separate games were dedicated to their names, as Sisinnius Capito teaches in his book on the games. Therefore, if anyone is present at the shows where people

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

The gladiatorial games are prepared, that blood may gladden the lust of cruel eyes.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

Or does Flora think that honour is shown to her if at her games she sees that shameful actions are done, and the stews abandoned for the theatres?

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

Witness the renewal of the games of the offended Jupiter, on account of the dream of a man of the people.

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

In the scenic games also the madness is not less, but the debauchery is more prolonged: for now a mimic either expounds or shows forth adulteries;

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

sacrifices are offered and festivals are held at the public cost, as to a god who can hear.

Tertullian, De Spectaculis (On the Shows) Supporting witness

At any rate, gladiators not chargeable with crime are offered in sale for the games, that they may become the victims of the public pleasure.

Tertullian, De Spectaculis (On the Shows) Supporting witness

The two kinds of public games, then, have one origin;

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

... understanding have allowed, have read them and know that it was recorded that, once, at the circus games held in honor of Jupiter the Highest, a master dragged a very worthless slave through the middle of the arena after beating him with rods, and afterward punished him on the cross, as was customary. Then, after the games were over and not long after the races had ended, a plague began to trouble the state. Each day brought some new evil worse than the one before, and the people were dying in crowds. In a dream, Jupiter told a certain country man, unknown because of his low condition, that he should go to the consuls and tell them that the dancer had displeased him, and that it would be better for the state if the honor due to the games were given to them and they were celebrated again with careful attention. But the man completely neglected to do this, either because he thought it was an empty dream and that those he told would not believe him, or because, remembering his natural low position, he avoided and feared approaching men of such great power. So Jupiter became hostile to the man for delaying, and as punishment laid on him the death of his sons. Afterward, he threaten

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...e both a spectator of and a partner in a murder committed in secret. And yet they call these things sports, in which human blood is shed. So far has the feeling of humanity departed from men, that when they destroy the lives of men, they think they are amusing themselves with sport, being more guilty than all those whose shedding of blood they count as a pleasure. I ask, then, whether they can be just and pious men when they see men placed under the stroke of death and begging for mercy, and not only allow them to be put to death, but even demand it, and give cruel and inhuman votes for their death, not satisfied with wounds and not content with bloodshed. Moreover, they order them, even when wounded and lying on the ground, to be attacked again, and their caresses to be wasted with blows, so that no one may deceive them by a pretended death. They are even angry with the combatants unless one of the two is quickly killed. And as though they thirsted for human blood, they hate delays. They demand that other and fresh combatants be given to them, so that they may satisfy their eyes as soon as possible. Being soaked in this practice, they have lost their humanity. Therefore they do

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

...ent kinds of death and various forms of torture? “He was led across,” says my opponent, “before the games began to be celebrated.” If this happened from a sacrilegious spirit and contempt for religion, we may have reason to excuse Jupiter for being angry that he was treated with contempt and that more careful attention was not given to his games. But if that hidden fault was not noticed or known because of mistake or accident, would it not have been right and fitting for Jupiter to pardon human failings and grant forgiveness for the blindness of ignorance? But it had to be punished. And after this, will anyone believe that he was a god, when he avenged and punished neglect of a childish show by the destruction of a state? Will anyone believe that he had any seriousness and dignity, or any firm constancy, when, so that he might quickly enjoy pleasure again, he turned the air people breathed into deadly poison and ordered the destruction of mortals by plague and pestilence? If the magistrate who presided over the games was too careless to learn who had been led across the circus on that day, and blame was therefore incurred, what had the unhappy people done that they should suffer

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

But what reason is there for the games you celebrate, called the Floralia and Megalensia, and all the rest that you want to be sacred and counted as religious duties? What cause was there that made it necessary for them to be established, founded, and named after gods? “The gods are honored by these,” your opponent says. “And if they remember any offenses committed by men, they put that aside, get rid of it, and show themselves gracious to us again, with their friendship renewed.” And again, why do they become completely calm and gentle if foolish things are done, and idle men perform before the eyes of the crowd? Does Jupiter put away his anger if Plautus’s Amphitryon is acted and recited? Or if Europa, Leda, Ganymede, or Danae is shown in dancing, does he hold back his passionate desires? Is the Great Mother made calmer and gentler if she sees the old story of Attis dressed up again by the actors? Will Venus forget her displeasure if she sees mimes perform the part of Adonis also in a ballet? Does the anger of Aleides die away if the tragedy of Sophocles called Trachiniae, or the Hercules of Euripides, is performed? Or does Flora think she is being honored if, at her games, she s

2 Timothy 2:5 Background

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

1 Corinthians 9:25 Background

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

1 Corinthians 9:24 Background

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

1 Timothy 4:8 Background

for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:7 Background

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

1 Corinthians 9:27 Background

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...es are ordered in endurance, rejoice. And this is the divine sport. "Such a sport, of his own, Jove sports," says Heraclitus. For what other occupation is fitting for a wise and perfect man, than to sport and be glad in the endurance of what is good, and, in the administration of what is good, to hold festival with God? What is signified by the prophet may also be interpreted differently, namely, as our rejoicing for salvation, as Isaac. He also, having been delivered from death, laughed, sporting and rejoicing with his spouse, who was the type of the Helper of our salvation, the Church, to whom the stable name of endurance is given. And surely this is for this reason: because she alone remains through all generations, always rejoicing, since she exists by the endurance of us believers, who are the members of Christ. And the witness of those who have endured to the end, and the rejoicing on their account, is the mystic sport, and the salvation accompanied with decorous solace which brings us aid.

Irenaeus, Connection to 1 Corinthians 9:24 Supporting witness

But I so run, not as uncertainty; I fight, not as One beating the air; but I make my body livid, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when preaching to others, I may myself be rendered a castaway."

Origen, Connection to 2 Timothy 2:5 Supporting witness

For "no one will be crowned," unless here upon earth, with this body of humiliation, "he strive lawfully."

Didache, Connection to 2 Timothy 2:5 Supporting witness

and "no one is crowned, unless he strive lawfully."