Early Christian Beliefs About the Celts and Pagan Europe
Early Christian writers mostly describe the Celts and pagan Europe as part of the Gentile world that needed the gospel. Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, and Lactantius mention Druids, Gauls, and Celtic customs while rejecting idols, magic, and pagan rites. The strongest direct teaching is not about ethnic identity but about turning from false gods to the true God.
121 early-church witnesses · 225 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the Celts and Pagan Europe?
Early Christian writers mainly speak about the Celts and pagan Europe as part of the wider Gentile world, not as a separate church topic. Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, and Lactantius mention the Druids, Gauls, and Celts when talking about pagan philosophy, magic, idols, and the spread of the gospel.
The clearest direct teaching is that pagans should turn from false gods to the true God, but most references to Celts are descriptive background rather than a focused statement about their beliefs. Evidence for specific Christian beliefs about Celtic religion is thin, while evidence about Christians rejecting pagan worship across Europe is broader and stronger. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers did not treat the Celts as a special case; they usually grouped them with other pagan nations.
- The clearest repeated message is to reject idols, pagan rites, and magic and to hear the gospel.
- Mentions of Druids and Celts are often brief background, so the topic is only partly covered by direct evidence.
Questions Answered by the Sources
How did early Christians talk about the Celts and pagan Europe?
Early Christian writers usually treated the Celts as one part of the wider pagan world. Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, and Lactantius mention the Celts, Gauls, and Druids in lists of nations or in comments about pagan customs, not as a separate Christian people.
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
...men: Greeks and Barbarians, Chaldeans and Assyrians, Egyptians and Libyans, Indians and Ethiopians, Celts, and you Latins who lead armies, and all you who live in Europe, Asia, and Libya. And I have become an adviser to you, since I am a disciple of the kind Word, and therefore humane, so that you may hurry and learn from us who the true God is, and what His well-ordered creation is. Do not give your attention to the false arguments of clever speeches, or to the empty promises of plagiarizing heretics, but to the honorable simplicity of humble truth. And through this knowledge you will escape the coming threat of the fire of judgment, and the lightless region of gloomy Tartarus, where no beam ever shines from the light-giving voice of the Word!
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
... and the Druids among the Gauls, and the Samanæans among the Bactrians, and the philosophers of the Celts, and the Magi of the Persians, who foretold the Savior's birth and came into the land of Judæa guided by a star. The Indian gymnosophists are also among them, and the other barbarian philosophers. Of these there are two classes. Some are called Sarmanæ, and others Brahmins. And those of the Sarmanæ who are called Hylobii do not live in cities, nor do they have roofs over them, but are clothed in the bark of trees, feed on nuts, and drink water in their hands. Like those called Encratites in the present day, they know nothing of marriage nor of begetting children.
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Background
Sirach 31:25 The Scythians, the Celts, the Iberians, and the Thracians, all of them warlike races, are greatly addicted to intoxication, and think that it is an honourable, happy pursuit to engage in.
-
Lactantius, Fragments of Lactantius Background
It is plain that from this the province was called Galatia, in which, on their arrival in it, the Gauls united themselves with Greeks, from which circumstance that region was called Gallogræcia, and afterwards Galatia.
More related quotations from this section 6 shown
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
Such is the true doctrine in regard of the divine nature, O you men, Greeks and Barbarians, Chaldeans and Assyrians, Egyptians and Libyans, Indians and Ethiopians, Celts, and you Latins, who lead armies, and all you that inhabit Europe, and Asia, and Libya.
-
Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
Stay away from all pagan books. What do you have to do with such foreign teachings, laws, or false prophets that overthrow the faith of unstable people? What lack do you find in the law of God, that you should turn to those pagan fables? If you want to read history, you have the books of the Kings. If you want books of wisdom or poetry, you have the books of the Prophets, Job, and Proverbs. In them you will find greater depth of understanding than in all the pagan poets and sophists, because these are the words of the Lord, the only wise God. If you want something to sing, you have the Psalms. If you want the origin of things, you have Genesis. If you want laws and statutes, you have the glorious law of the Lord God. Therefore, completely stay away from all strange and diabolical books. No, when you read the law, do not think that you are required to keep the added precepts, if not all of them, then even some of them. Read those only for the sake of history, so that you may know them and glorify God that He has delivered you from so great and so many bonds. Aim to distinguish which rules came from the law of nature, and which were added afterward, or were additional rules introduce
-
Commodianus, Writings Background
...a thing that ignorant hearts do not believe. I too wandered for a long time, because I took part in pagan temples, and my parents themselves were ignorant. From there, at last, I pulled myself away by reading about the law. I bear witness to the Lord. Alas, I grieve for the crowd of citizens, ignorant of what it loses by going to seek empty gods. Having been fully taught by these things, I teach the ignorant the truth.
-
Lactantius, Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died Background
...the journey. He wanted to take control of Galerius's territories. And while Licinius was delayed in Europe, Daia meant to claim for himself all the land as far as the narrow straits of Chalcedon. When he entered Bithynia, he abolished Galerius's tax in order to gain immediate popularity. This brought great joy to everyone. Conflict arose between the two emperors, and it almost became open war. They stood with their armies on opposite shores. However, peace and friendship were established under certain conditions. Licinius and Daia met at the narrow straits, made a treaty, and joined hands as a sign of friendship. Then Daia, thinking that everything was secure, returned to Nicomedia, and in his new dominions he was the same as he had been in Syria and Egypt. First of all, he took away the toleration and general protection that Galerius had granted to the Christians. To do this, he secretly arranged for petitions from different cities, asking that no Christian church should be built within their walls. In this way, he meant to make his own decision look as if it had been forced on him by repeated requests. In response to those petitions, he introduced a new form of government in m
-
Arnobius, Against the Heathen Background
...as burned alive and consumed on the deadly funeral pyres? Do you not, with the full approval of the Gauls, call on as a favorable and holy god, in the temples of the Great Mother, that Phrygian Atys who was mutilated and deprived of his manhood? And Father Romulus himself, who was torn to pieces by the hands of a hundred senators—do you not call him Quirinus Martius? Do you not honor him with priests and with splendid couches, and worship him in very large temples? And besides all this, do you not say that he has gone up into heaven? Therefore, either you too should be laughed at, since you regard as gods men who were killed by the cruelest tortures; or, if there is a firm reason for your thinking that you should do this, then allow us also to be confident about the reasons and grounds on which we do it.
-
Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Background
When their city was taken by the Gauls, and the Romans who were shut up under siege in the Capitol had made war machines from the women's hair, they dedicated a temple to Venus the Bald. So they do not understand, even from this very fact, how empty their religions are, since they mock them with these absurd acts. Perhaps they had learned from the Lacedæmonians to make gods for themselves out of events. For when they were besieging the Messenians, and the Messenians had secretly gone out without the knowledge of those besieging them, and had hurried to plunder Lacedæmon, they were defeated and driven away by the Spartan women. But when the Lacedæmonians learned of the enemy's trick, they followed after them. The women, carrying arms, went out some distance to meet them. And when they saw that their husbands were getting ready for battle, thinking they were Messenians, they uncovered their bodies. But the men recognized their wives, and stirred to passion by the sight, rushed into indiscriminate relations, because there was no time to tell them apart. In the same way, on an earlier occasion, the young men who had been sent out by the same people had relations with the virgins, and f
Did early Christians describe Celtic religion as pagan or idolatrous?
Yes. Early Christian writers describe pagan worship, magic, and false gods as things to reject, and they place the Celts and Druids inside that pagan world. Hippolytus says the Druids practiced magical rites, and Lactantius says the Gauls used human blood in their worship.
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
The Celts esteem these as prophets and seers, on account of their foretelling to them certain (events), from calculations and numbers by the Pythagorean art;
-
Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
But they were obligated to teach the Gentiles that works of this kind were wicked, harmful, useless, and destructive to those who participated in them. Therefore, the one who received the apostolate to the Gentiles labored more than those who preached the Son of God among the Jews. The Jews were supported by the Scriptures, which the Lord confirmed and fulfilled by coming as He had been announced. However, in the case of the Gentiles, there was a different kind of learning and a new doctrine to be accepted. They had to understand that the gods of the nations were not gods at all, but idols of demons, and that there is one God who is above all principalities, dominion, power, and every name that is named. His Word, naturally invisible, was made tangible and visible among people and descended to death, even the death of the cross. Those who believe in Him will be incorruptible, free from suffering, and will receive the kingdom of heaven. These things were preached to the Gentiles by word of mouth, without the aid of the Scriptures, which is why those who preached among the Gentiles faced greater challenges. On the other hand, the faith of the Gentiles is shown to be more noble, as th
-
1 Corinthians 10:20 Direct teaching
No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
-
Galatians 4:8 Supporting witness
But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
-
Deuteronomy 32:17 Supporting witness
They sacrificed to devils, and not to God; To gods whom they knew not: New and fresh gods came in, Whom their fathers knew not.
What did early Christians say about Druids and Celtic philosophy?
Some writers mentioned Celtic Druids as philosophers or as people with special learning, but they still spoke of their practices as mixed with error. Clement of Alexandria and Hippolytus both place Druids among other non-Christian philosophical groups, while Hippolytus also connects them with magic and prophecy claims.
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
...er taught that everything is incomprehensible. The Brahmins among the Indians, the Druids among the Celts, and Hesiod also devoted themselves to philosophical pursuits.
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
...h of Pythagoras, Zamolxis went there and became the one who introduced this philosophy to them. The Celts regard these men as prophets and seers, because by the Pythagorean art they foretold certain events to them through calculations and numbers. We also will not remain silent about the methods of this art, since from these methods some have dared to introduce heresies. But the Druids also practice magical rites.
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
The Brahmins among the Indians, and the Druids among the Celts, and Hesiod (devoted themselves to philosophic pursuits).
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
and the Samanæans among the Bactrians; and the philosophers of the Celts;
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
And the Celtic Druids investigated to the very highest point the Pythagorean philosophy, after Zamolxis, by birth a Thracian, a servant of Pythagoras, became to them the originator of this discipline.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
and the Chaldeans among the Assyrians; and the Druids among the Gauls;
Common Questions
What did early Christians think about the Celts?
They usually treated the Celts as part of the pagan nations that needed the true God. Some writers also mention Celtic Druids and customs, but often only as background.
Did early Christians reject Celtic pagan religion?
Yes. Early Christian writers reject idols, pagan rites, magic, and false gods, and they call people to turn to the true God.
Did any early Christian writer mention Druids?
Yes. Clement of Alexandria and Hippolytus both mention Druids among the Celts or Gauls.
Source Index for the Celts and Pagan Europe
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 225 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 121
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 104
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.