Early Christian Beliefs About the Beatitudes

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...f her destitution. And because He brought all things to bear on the training of the soul, He said, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth," Matthew 5:5. And the meek are those who have quelled the battle of unbelief in the soul, the battle of wrath, and lust, and the other forms subject to them. And He praises those meek by choice, not by necessity. For with the Lord there are both rewards and many mansions, corresponding to people's lives. "Whoever shall receive," He says, "a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and whoever shall receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward; and whoever shall receive one of the least of these my disciples, shall not lose his reward," Matthew 10:41-42. And again, He showed the differences of virtue according to merit, and the noble rewards, by the hours unequal in number. In addition, by the equal reward given to each of the laborers, that is, salvation, which is meant by the penny, He showed the equality of justice. And He hinted at the difference of those called by those who worked for unequal lengths of time. Therefore they shall work according t

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

...rcion's god, who has never given proof of his liberality by any earlier gift of smaller blessings. "Blessed are they that hunger, for they shall be filled." Luke 6:21 I might connect this clause with the former one, because none but the poor and needy suffer hunger, if the Creator had not specially intended that the promise of a similar blessing should serve as a preparation for the gospel, so that men might know it to be His. For thus He says by Isaiah, concerning those whom He was about to call from the ends of the earth, that is, the Gentiles: "Behold, they shall come swiftly with speed." Isaiah 5:26 Swiftly, because they are hurrying toward the fullness of the times. With speed, because they are not burdened by the weights of the ancient law. "They shall neither hunger nor thirst." Therefore they shall be filled, a promise made to none but those who hunger and thirst. And again He says: "Behold, my servants shall be filled, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty." Isaiah 65:13 As for these oppositions, we shall see whether they are not premonitors of Christ. Meanwhile, the promise of fullness to the hungry is a provision of God the

Tertullian, Scorpiace Direct teaching

The following statement, indeed, applies first to all without restriction, then specially to the apostles themselves: Blessed shall you be when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, for my sake.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

...Old Testament we find the words, "I make the rich man and the poor man," while Jesus calls the poor blessed. In that saying, however, Jesus did not mean those who are simply poor in worldly possessions, but those who are poor in spirit. That is, those who are not burning with pride, but have the gentle and lowly attitudes of humility, and do not think of themselves more highly than they should. However, this is a question that our adversary has not stated correctly. For here I see that Jesus also gladly watches the gifts of rich men when they are placed into the treasury. At the same time, it would be far too little if gifts were placed into the treasury by the rich alone. So the two mites of the poor widow are also received with gladness. And in that offering, truly, something is shown that goes beyond what Moses prescribed on the receiving of money. For Moses received gifts from those who had, but Jesus receives them even from those who do not have. But this man also says that it is written that unless a man forsakes all that he has, he cannot be my disciple. Well, I observe again that the centurion, a man exceedingly wealthy and richly furnished with worldly influence, had a

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

It is not the poor simply, but those that have wished to become poor for righteousness' sake, that He pronounces blessed — those who have despised the honours of this world in order to attain the good;

Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Supporting witness

This is he who is blessed by the Lord, and called poor in spirit, a meet heir of the kingdom of heaven, not one who could not live rich.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

while here in the Gospel Jesus called the poor blessed, and added, that no man could be His disciple unless he gave up all that he had.

Polycarp, Connection to Matthew 5:3 Supporting witness

and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."

Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Supporting witness

Wherefore also Matthew added, Blessed are the poor.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Isaiah 66:2 In like manner it is in the Gospel also: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Matthew 5:5 Let him also be merciful; for again it is said: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Matthew 5:7 Let him also be a peacemaker; for again it is said: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the sons of God.

Clement of Rome, Connection to Matthew 5:7 Supporting witness

Be merciful, that you may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as you do, so shall it be done unto you;

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

if we are sons of God, we ought to be peacemakers.

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Supporting witness

He remembered the award (which the Lord assigns) in the Gospel: Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Tertullian, Scorpiace Supporting witness

...hild; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death," He has clearly announced, with reference to the others, this kind of unrighteous conduct, which we do not find shown in the case of the apostles. For none of them experienced a father or a brother as a betrayer, which very many of us have. Then He returns to the apostles: "And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake." How much more will this be true of us, for whom there is the necessity of being handed over even by parents. Thus, by assigning this very betrayal now to the apostles, now to all, He pours out the same destruction on all the possessors of the name, on whom the name will rest together with the condition that it is an object of hatred. "But he who will endure to the end, this man will be saved." By enduring what, if not persecution, betrayal, and death? For to endure to the end is nothing else than to suffer the end. And therefore there immediately follow the words, "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his own lord." Because, since the Master and Lord Himself stood firm in suffering persecution, betrayal, and death, much more it will be the duty

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

...arvelous things. For it is true that not all people show themselves worthy of belief, and not all clearly show that they are telling people nothing but fictions and fables. Moreover, about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we say this: it is not at all surprising if, on such an occasion, one or two angels appeared to announce that Jesus had risen from the dead, and to provide for the safety of those who believed in this event, to the advantage of their souls. Nor does it seem at all unreasonable to me that those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus, and who show, as a fruit of their faith that should not be lightly valued, that they possess a virtuous life and have turned away from the flood of evils, should not be unattended by angels who lend their help in accomplishing their conversion to God.

Didache, Connection to Matthew 5:11 Supporting witness

let him know that such a one is blessed of God, according as our Lord says in the Gospel: "Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, or persecute you, or say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for your reward is great in heaven."

Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness

If your brother should be weak—I mean the poor man—do not visit him empty-handed while he lies sick. Do good under God. Show your obedience by your money. Then he will be restored. Or, if he should die, let a poor man be refreshed, one who has nothing with which to repay you, but the Founder and Author of the world on his behalf. Or if it displeases you to go to the poor man, always hateful, send money, and something by which he may recover himself. In the same way, if your poor sister lies on a sickbed, let your matrons begin to bring her food. God Himself cries out, "Break your bread to the needy." There is no need to visit with words, but with benefits. It is wicked that your brother should be sick through lack of food. Do not satisfy him with words. He needs food and drink. Look upon those surely weakened, who are not able to act for themselves. Give to them at once. I pledge my word that fourfold shall be given you by God.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...dance; but she, out of her poverty, has put in all the living that she had," Luke 21:3-4. A greatly blessed and glorious woman, who even before the day of judgment deserved to be praised by the voice of the Judge! Let the rich be ashamed of their barrenness and unbelief. The widow, the widow poor in resources, is found rich in works. And although everything that is given is bestowed on widows and orphans, she gives, though she should have received, so that we may know from this what punishment awaits the barren rich man, when by this example even the poor ought to labor in good works. And so that we may understand that their labors are given to God, and that whoever does them deserves well of the Lord, Christ calls these the offerings of God. He shows that the widow put two small coins into the offerings of God, so that it may be even more clear that he who has pity on the poor lends to God.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...istribute it to those in need when he is absent. He has the reward for doing good, and you have the blessedness of having given it out with a good conscience. But tell those who receive it who the giver was, so that they may pray for him by name. For it is our duty to do good to all men, not showing special favor to one or another, whoever they may be. For the Lord says, "Give to everyone who asks of you." It is clear that this means everyone who is truly in need, whether he is friend or enemy, whether he is a relative or a stranger, whether he is unmarried or married. For throughout all Scripture the Lord gives us exhortations about the needy. First, through Isaiah, He says, "Share your bread with the hungry, and bring the poor who have no shelter into your house. If you see the naked, cover him, and do not overlook those of your own family and seed." Then through Daniel He says to the ruler, "Therefore, O king, let my counsel please you, and cleanse your sins by acts of mercy, and your iniquities by compassion for the needy." And through Solomon He says, "By acts of mercy and faith, iniquities are purged." And again through David, "Blessed is he who has regard for the poor and

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...he prayer of the poor man. The Holy Spirit also declares this in the Psalms and proves it, saying, "Blessed is he who considers the poor and needy; the Lord will deliver him in the evil day." Remembering these commands, Daniel, when King Nebuchodonosor was distressed and terrified by a troubling dream, gave him a remedy for turning away evils and obtaining divine help. He said, "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; and redeem your sins by almsgiving, and your unrighteousness by mercies to the poor, and God will be patient with your sins." Daniel 4:27 And since the king did not obey him, he suffered the disasters and harms that he had seen, and that he might have escaped and avoided if he had redeemed his sins by almsgiving. Raphael the angel also teaches the same and urges that alms should be given freely and generously, saying, "Prayer is good, with fasting and alms; because alms does deliver from death, and it purges away sins." Tobit 12:8-9 He shows that our prayers and fastings are less effective unless they are helped by almsgiving; that requests alone have little power to obtain what they seek unless they are made sufficient by the addition of deeds and

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...onomy 5. And so on. These things must be kept, along with whatever else is commanded in reading the Bible. And by Isaiah He commands us: "Wash yourselves, and make yourselves clean. Put away wickedness from your souls before my eyes. Learn to do good. Seek judgment. Rescue the wronged. Judge for the orphan, and justify the widow. And come, and let us reason together," says the Lord. And we will find many examples in other places also. For example, about prayer, Scripture says, "Good works are an acceptable prayer to the Lord." And the manner of prayer is described: "If you see the naked, cover him, and do not overlook those who belong to your own seed. Then your light shall break forth early, and your healing shall spring up quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall surround you." What, then, is the fruit of such prayer? "Then you shall call, and God will hear you; while you are still speaking, He will say, 'I am here.'"

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ers, so that he may be relieved and cared for. Do this so that, as far as it is in your power, your blessed brother may not be afflicted. For anyone who is condemned for the name of the Lord God is a holy martyr, a brother of the Lord, a son of the Most High, and a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Through that Spirit every one of the faithful has received the light of the glory of the holy Gospel, and has been counted worthy of the incorruptible crown, the testimony of Christ's sufferings, and fellowship in His blood, so as to be made like Christ in His death for the adoption of children. For this reason, all you who are faithful must, through your bishop, minister to the saints from your possessions and from your labor. But if anyone has nothing, let him fast for a day, set that amount aside, and arrange it for the saints. But if anyone has extra, let him minister more to them according to his ability. And if he is able to sell all his means of living and redeem them out of prison, he will be blessed and a friend of Christ. For if the one who gives his goods to the poor is perfect, assuming he has knowledge of divine things, how much more is the one who does this for the sake

Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Supporting witness

... now to another, and in the end to no one whatever. Again, in the same way, there is also a genuine poor man and another spurious one, poor in name only. The one is poor according to spirit — that is, in what is his own; the other is poor according to the world — that is, in what is foreign to him. To the man not poor according to the world but rich in passions, the one not poor according to spirit but rich according to God says: "Stand off from the foreign possessions present in your soul, so that, becoming pure in heart, you may see God" — which by another voice is to enter into the kingdom of the heavens. "And how shall you stand off from them? By selling." What then? Will you receive money in place of possessions, making an exchange of wealth for wealth, by turning your visible substance into silver? By no means. Rather, in place of what was formerly within the soul which you long to save, you bring in another wealth that makes one godlike and supplies eternal life: the dispositions according to God's commandment. In return for these, reward and honor will accrue to you — perpetual salvation and eternal incorruption. Thus you rightly sell your possessions — the many and supe

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

...l discuss the matter more abundantly and more fully at another time. But that many of us are called poor, this is not our disgrace, but our glory. For just as the mind is weakened by luxury, so it is strengthened by frugality. And who can be poor if he is not in want, if he does not crave the possessions of others, if he is rich toward God? Rather, he is poor who, although he has much, desires more. Yet I will speak as I feel. No one can be as poor as he is when he is born. Birds live without any inheritance, and the cattle are fed day by day. Yet these creatures are born for us, and if we do not lust after these things, we possess them. Therefore, just as the man who travels a road is happier the more lightly he walks, so he is happier in this journey of life who moves forward in poverty and does not breathe heavily under the burden of riches. And even if we thought wealth useful to us, we would ask it of God. Surely He, to whom all things belong, could grant us some measure of it. But we would rather despise riches than possess them. We would rather desire innocency. We would rather ask for patience. We prefer being good to being prodigal. And that we feel and suffer the human

Cyprian, Life and Passion of Cyprian Supporting witness

...Scripture certain things beyond the level of his newness in the faith, and out of proportion to how early his faith still was, he immediately took hold of what he had discovered, so that he might use it to deserve well of God. By giving away his resources to relieve the need of the poor, by giving out the purchase money from whole estates, he gained two benefits at once: contempt for the ambition of this world, than which nothing is more harmful; and the practice of that mercy which God has preferred even to His sacrifices, and which even the man did not keep who said that he had kept all the commandments of the law. So, with an early swiftness of godliness, he almost began to be perfect before he had learned the way to be perfect. Who among the ancients, I ask, has done this? Who among the most honored veterans in the faith, whose hearts and ears have long been moved by the divine words for many years, has attempted anything like this? Yet this man, still untrained in the faith, and perhaps not yet trusted by anyone, went beyond the men of ancient times and accomplished it by his glorious and admirable labors. No one reaps immediately after sowing. No one presses the grape harv

Psalms 41:1 Background

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Proverbs 22:9 Background

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

Deuteronomy 15:11 Background

For the poor shall not fail off thy land, therefore I charge thee to do this thing, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hands to thy poor brother, and to him that is distressed upon thy land.