Early Christian Views on Wealth and Gain

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

... question and understanding nothing? These are the people who do have faith, but they also have the riches of this world. Therefore, when tribulation comes, they deny the Lord because of their riches and their business. I answered and said to her, When then will they be useful for the building, Lady? When the riches that now lead them astray have been cut back, then they will be useful to God. For just as a round stone cannot become square unless parts of it are cut off and thrown away, so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to the Lord unless their riches are cut down. Learn this first from your own case. When you were rich, you were useless. But now you are useful and fit for life. Be useful to God, for you also will be used as one of these stones.

Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Direct teaching

...of necessity be found among the things he chose? "For where the mind of a man is, there is also his treasure." And the Lord recognizes a twofold treasure. The one is good, for "the good man brings forth the good out of the good treasure of his heart." The other is wicked, for "the wicked man brings forth the wicked out of the wicked treasure, since the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart." Just as, then, with him as also with us, treasure is not just one thing — the kind that gives a sudden, great gain when found — but there is also a second kind, profitless and unenviable, hard to acquire and harmful: so also there is one wealth made of good things and another made of bad, since indeed we know that wealth and treasure are not by nature divorced from each other. And one kind of wealth would be acquirable and to be wrapped about us, while another is not to be acquired but to be cast away.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

...k for what he knew would be pleasing to God, that is, wisdom. So he further deserved to receive the riches that he had not preferred. Indeed, giving a man riches is not unfitting for God, because by the help of riches even rich men are comforted and helped. Also, many works of justice and charity are done by means of riches. Yet there are serious faults that go along with riches. It is because of these that woes are pronounced against the rich, even in the Gospel. “You have received your consolation,” He says. That means, of course, from their riches, in the pomp and vanities of the world that these buy for them. So in Deuteronomy, Moses says, “Lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, as well as your silver and your gold, your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 8:12-14 In similar words, when King Hezekiah became proud of his treasures, and boasted in them rather than in God before those who had come from Babylon as envoys, the Creator breaks out against him through Isaiah: “Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up,

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...says, "If you will be perfect, go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me." Matthew 19:21 If rich people did this, they would not perish because of their riches. If they stored up treasure in heaven, they would not now have an enemy and attacker in their own household. Their heart and mind and feeling would be in heaven, if their treasure were in heaven. Nor could the world overcome a man who had nothing in the world by which he could be overcome. He would follow the Lord, loosened and free, as the apostles did, and as many did in the time of the apostles, many who gave up both their possessions and their relatives, and clung to Christ with undivided bonds.

1 Timothy 6:6 Background

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:17 Background

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

James 2:5 Background

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Luke 6:24 Background

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

... 16:13, because while one is pleased, the other must necessarily be displeased. He mentions God and mammon. If you have no interpreter with you, you may learn again from Him what He meant by mammon. For when He advised us to provide for ourselves the help of friends in worldly matters, after the example of that steward who, when removed from his office, relieved his lord's debtors by reducing their debts so that they might repay him with their help, He said, "And I say to you, Make friends for yourselves from the mammon of unrighteousness," that is, from money, just as the steward had done. Now we all know that money is the instigator of unrighteousness, and the lord of the whole world. Therefore, when He saw the covetousness of the Pharisees giving slavish worship to it, He hurled this sentence against them: "You cannot serve God and mammon," Luke 16:13. Then the Pharisees, who were covetous of riches, mocked Him, because they understood that by mammon He meant money. Let no one think that by the word mammon the Creator was meant, and that Christ was calling them away from the service of the Creator. What folly! Rather, learn from this that one God was pointed out by Christ. Fo

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

...Similarly, the saying "You cannot serve two masters" is explained by Him: "You cannot serve God and mammon," recognizing God as God but mentioning mammon as something that exists. He does not call mammon Lord when He says, "You cannot serve two masters," but He teaches His disciples, who serve God, not to be subject to mammon, nor to be ruled by it. For He says, "He that commits sin is the slave of sin." Since He calls those who serve sin "the slaves of sin" but does not call sin itself God, He also calls those who serve mammon "the slaves of mammon," not calling mammon God. For mammon, in the Jewish language, also used by the Samaritans, means a covetous person who wants more than they should have. In Hebrew, with the addition of a syllable, it is called Mamuel and means insatiable. Therefore, by both meanings, we cannot serve God and mammon.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...e set over the affairs of this world. For no man can serve two masters, and we cannot serve God and mammon, whether that name is used for one or for more than one. Moreover, if anyone dishonors the lawgiver by breaking the law, then it seems clear to us that if the two laws, the law of God and the law of mammon, are completely opposed to each other, it is better for us to dishonor mammon by breaking the law of mammon, so that we may honor God by keeping His law, than to dishonor God by breaking the law of God, so that by obeying the law of mammon we may honor mammon.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...e image of the rich and poor? And what does the saying mean, "No man can serve two masters, God and Mammon?" The Lord so calling the love of money. For example, the covetous, who were invited, did not answer the invitation to the supper, not because they possessed property, but because of their excessive affection for what they possessed. "The foxes, then, have holes." He called those evil and earthly men, who are occupied with wealth mined and dug from the ground, "foxes." So also, in reference to Herod: "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out devils, and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected,'" Luke 13:32. For He applied the name "birds of the air" to those who were distinct from the other birds, those truly pure ones, those who have the power of flying to the knowledge of the heavenly Word. For not only riches, but also honor, marriage, and poverty, bring ten thousand cares to the person who is unfit for them. And He pointed to those cares in the parable of the fourfold seed, when He said that the seed of the word which fell among the thorns and hedges was choked by them and could not bear fruit. It is therefore necessary to learn how to mak

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...uble them. They heap up plenty of money for themselves, lend at harsh interest, and care only about mammon, whose money bag is their god. They put eating and drinking before all virtue, saying, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." They value these things as though they were lasting and not perishing. For she who gives herself to nothing but talk about money worships mammon instead of God. That is, she is a servant to gain, but cannot be pleasing to God or devoted to His worship. She is not able to intercede with Him continually, because her mind and disposition run after money. For where the treasure is, there the heart will be also. In her mind she is thinking about where she may go to receive something, or that a certain woman, her friend, has forgotten her, and she has something to say to her. A woman who thinks about such things will no longer pay attention to her prayers, but to that thought which comes to her. So even if at times she would pray for someone, she will not be heard, because she does not offer her petition to the Lord with her whole heart, but with a divided mind. But she who gives attention to God will stay inside and care for the things of the Lord d

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

for so did also the ancient prophets. But whoever says in the Spirit, Give me money, or something else, you shall not listen to him;

Matthew 6:24 Background

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

1 Timothy 6:5 Background

and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Luke 16:13 Background

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke 16:11 Background

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Proverbs 28:20 Background

A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 11:28 Background

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Direct teaching

Let it teach the prosperous that they are not to neglect their own salvation, as if they had been already fore-doomed, nor, on the other hand, to cast wealth into the sea, or condemn it as a traitor and an enemy to life, but learn in what way and how to use wealth and obtain life.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

...in that the centurion, a man exceedingly wealthy and richly furnished with worldly influence, had a faith greater than that of all Israel. So even if there was someone who had forsaken all, that man was surpassed in faith by this centurion. But someone may now argue with us like this: "Then it is not a good thing to give up riches." Well, I reply that it is a good thing for those who are able to do it. But at the same time, to use riches for works of righteousness and mercy is as acceptable as if one were to give up everything at once. Again, as to the claim that the Sabbath has been abolished, we deny that He plainly abolished it, for He Himself was also Lord of the Sabbath. And the law's relation to the Sabbath was like the servant who has charge of the bridegroom's chamber. He prepares it carefully and does not allow it to be disturbed or touched by any stranger, but keeps it whole until the bridegroom arrives. Then, when he has come, it may be used as he pleases, or as it is granted to those whom he has invited to enter with him. And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself testified to what we say when He said with His heavenly voice, "Can you make the children of the bride-chamber fa

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

And this is a great work, and acceptable before God, because he understands the object of his wealth, and has given to the poor of the gifts of the Lord, and rightly discharged his service to Him.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

...an has much wealth, but he is poor in matters relating to the Lord, because he is distracted by his riches. He offers very few confessions and intercessions to the Lord, and those that he does offer are small and weak, and have no power above. But when the rich man refreshes the poor and helps him in his needs, believing that what he does for the poor man will receive its reward from God, because the poor man is rich in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great power with God, then the rich man helps the poor in all things without hesitation. And the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for him, giving thanks to God for the one who gives him gifts. And he continues to care zealously for the poor man, so that his needs may always be supplied. For he knows that the intercession of the poor man is acceptable to God and has influence with Him. So both of them accomplish their work. The poor man makes intercession, a work in which he is rich, which he received from the Lord, and with which he repays the master who helps him. And the rich man, in the same way, without hesitation gives to the poor man the riches that he received from the Lord. And this is a

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

And he who is not haughty in prosperity, obtains glory for his humility;

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

It makes men humble in prosperity, brave in adversity, gentle towards wrongs and contempts.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

That man will appear before God with abundant resources, that man will appear in opulence, to whom there shall belong self-restraint, mercy, patience, love, and faith.

2 Corinthians 9:8 Background

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Wisdom of Sirach 13:24 Background

Riches are good unto him that hath no sin, And poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly.

Wisdom of Sirach 40:26 Background

Riches and strength lift up the heart: But the fear of the Lord is above them both: There is no want in the fear of the Lord, And it needeth not to seek help.

Wisdom of Sirach 34:8 Background

Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, And hath not gone after gold.

Wisdom of Sirach 26:4 Background

Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, He shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful countenance.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...eceive, what new thing are you doing? Even the tax collectors do this. Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where robbers break in; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for it? Lay up treasure, therefore, in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt.” And, “Be kind and merciful, as your Father is kind and merciful, and makes His sun rise on sinners, the righteous, and the wicked. Do not worry about what you shall eat, or what you shall wear: are you not better than the birds and the beasts? And God feeds them. Therefore, do not worry about what you shall eat, or what you shall wear; for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of heaven, and all these things shall be added to you. For where your treasure is, there also is the mind of a man.” And, “Do not do these things to be seen by others; otherwise, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

...ssions and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not grow old. Matthew 6:19 Do not store up treasure on earth, where moth and worm destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and worm do not destroy, and thieves do not break in or steal. Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is sound, your whole body also will be full of light. Matthew 6:23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. And if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is your darkness! Luke 11:35 Be careful that the light in you is not darkness. Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, having no dark part, it will all be full of light, as when a lamp gives you light with its flame.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...vote ourselves to giving alms, and not depend on earthly possessions, but instead store up heavenly treasures. He says, "Sell your goods, and give alms." Luke 12:33 And again: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in nor steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 And when He wished to describe a man as perfect and complete through keeping the law, He said, "If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me." Matthew 19:21 Moreover, in another place He says that a merchant of heavenly grace, and one who gains eternal salvation, ought to buy the precious pearl—that is, eternal life—at the price of Christ's blood, using his inheritance, and giving up all his wealth for it. He says: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. And when he found one precious pearl, he went away and sold all that he had, and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching

...knowledge concerning the new teaching of Christ Jesus. And he has these riches stored up in his own treasure-house, in heaven, where he stores his treasure as one who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven, "where neither moth consumes, nor thieves break through." Matthew 6:20 And about the man who, as we have said, stores up treasure in heaven, we may truly say that not even one moth of the passions can touch his spiritual and heavenly possessions. "A moth of the passions," I said, taking the thought from Proverbs, where it is written, "As a worm in wood, so pain wounds the heart of man." Proverbs 25:20 For pain is a worm and a moth, which wounds the heart that does not have its treasures in heaven and in spiritual things. For if a man has his treasure in these, for "where the treasure is, there will the heart be also," Matthew 6:21 then he has his heart in heaven, and because of this he says, "Though an army should camp against me, my heart shall not fear." And so thieves also, about whom the Savior said, "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers," John 10:8 cannot break through into those things that are treasured up in heaven, nor into the heart that is in h

Tertullian, Against Marcion Background

And your own gospel likewise has it in this wise: Seek first the kingdom of God, and these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:20 Background

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19 Background

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Luke 12:33 Background

Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

Luke 12:21 Background

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Matthew 6:21 Background

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

1 Timothy 4:8 Background

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Deuteronomy 28:11 Background

And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

Deuteronomy 30:9 Background

The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers,

Wisdom of Sirach 10:5 Background

In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: And upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honor.

Wisdom of Sirach 11:17 Background

The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, And his favor bringeth prosperity forever.

Wisdom of Sirach 11:14 Background

Prosperity and adversity, life and death, Poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

Wisdom of Sirach 11:22 Background

The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, And suddenly he maketh his blessing to flourish.

1 Samuel 25:6 Background

And thus shall ye say, May thou and thy house seasonably prosper, and all thine be in prosperity.

Psalms 25:13 Background

He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.

Justin Martyr, Other Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin Supporting witness

[The words] of St. Justin, philosopher and martyr, from the fifth part of his Apology:—I reckon prosperity, O men, to consist in nothing else than in living according to truth.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

Or shall any prosperity ever allure us, so that we should not rather choose true goodness, though accompanied with all evil, than false goodness together with all prosperity?

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

... of nature, even from unwilling hearts. And indeed, this is not how things are with men in times of prosperity. For then, more than ever, God escapes men's memory, when they ought to honor His divine kindness while enjoying His benefits. But if some serious need presses them, then they remember God. If the terror of war has sounded, if the deadly power of diseases hangs over them, if a long drought has kept the crops from being fed, if a violent storm or hail has struck them, they turn to God. Help is begged from God. God is asked to help them. If anyone is tossed on the sea while the wind is raging, it is this God whom he calls on. If anyone is troubled by violence, he begs for His help. If anyone, reduced to the utmost poverty, begs for food, he appeals to God alone, and by His divine and unmatched name alone he tries to gain the compassion of men. So they never remember God unless they are in trouble. When fear has left them, and the dangers have passed, then they quickly hurry to the temples of the gods. They pour out drink offerings to them, they sacrifice to them, and they crown them with garlands. But to God, whom they called on in their very need, they do not give thanks

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

...ed the most righteous Noah from the dangers of the flood, because of the merit of his innocence and faith. He translated Enoch. He chose Abraham into the fellowship of His friendship. He protected Isaac. He increased Jacob. He gave Moses as a leader to the people. He delivered the groaning children of Israel from the yoke of slavery. He wrote the law. He brought the offspring of our fathers into the land of promise. He instructed the prophets by His Spirit, and through all of them He promised His Son Christ. And at the time when He had covenanted that He would give Him, He sent Him. Through Him He desired to come into our knowledge, and to pour out on us the generous riches of His mercy, by giving His abundant Spirit to the poor and lowly. And because He is generous and kind of His own free will, lest this whole world, having turned away from the streams of His grace, should dry up, He willed that the apostles, as founders of our family, should be sent by His Son into the whole world. This was so that the condition of the human race might become aware of its Founder, and, if it should choose to follow Him, might have One whom now even in its prayers it might call Father instead