Early Christian Beliefs About Unconditional Election

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

For in the Epistle to the Romans, the apostle declares: “Moreover, when Rebecca had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac,” she received answer from the Word, “that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth, it was said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people are in thy body;

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching

...dren being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him who calls, it was said, 'The elder shall serve the younger,' as it is written, 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.'" After that, he answers himself and says, "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?" And so that he might give us an opportunity to inquire into these matters, and to see how these things do not happen without a reason, he answers himself and says, "God forbid." For the same question, it seems to me, which is raised concerning Jacob and Esau, may be raised regarding all heavenly and earthly creatures, and even those of the lower world as well. In like manner, it seems to me that, as he says there, "The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil," so it might also be said of all other things, "When they were not yet created, neither had yet done any good or evil, that the decree of God according to election may stand," that, as certain think, some things on the one hand were created heavenly, some on the other earthly, and others, again, beneath the earth, not of works, as

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.

Romans 9:11 Direct teaching

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

1 Thessalonians 1:4 Direct teaching

knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

Acts 13:48 Direct teaching

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Direct teaching

We have been predestined by God, before the world was, (to arise) in the extreme end of the times.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

And if he was elect, their hypothesis is done away with, inasmuch as even previous to the coming of the Lord an election was found, and that saved: For it was reckoned to him for righteousness.

Ephesians 1:4 Direct teaching

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

2 Timothy 1:9 Supporting witness

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

but this has come to pass through the wonderful foreknowledge of God, in order that we, through the calling of the new and eternal covenant, that is, of Christ, might be found more intelligent and God-fearing than yourselves, who are considered to be lovers of God and men of understanding, but are not.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

But how could they have foreknown it, unless they had previously received foreknowledge from Himself?

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

...d have not heard them.” How, then, could they have both wanted to hear and to see unless they had a foreknowledge of His future coming? But how could they have foreknown it unless they had already received this knowledge from Him? And how do the Scriptures testify about Him, unless all things have always been revealed and shown to believers by one and the same God through the Word? At one time, He communicated with His creation, and at another, He gave His law; at one time, He corrected and at another, encouraged, then freed His servant, and adopted him as a son; and, at the right time, granted an incorruptible inheritance to bring humanity to perfection. For He created humans for growth and increase, as the Scripture states: “Increase and multiply.”

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching

or, whether from birth they had been appointed, according to the foreknowledge and predestination of God, over those whom God also foreknew, and foreordained to be conformed to the glory of the Christ.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

... into pleasures or fears and to be busy restraining passions. For I dare to say that, just as he is predestined through what he will do and what he will receive, so he has also predestined himself because of what he knew and whom he loved. He does not see the future in a vague way, as the crowd does, guessing about it. Instead, by gnostic faith, he has grasped what is hidden from others. And through love, the future is already present for him. For through prophecy and the coming of Christ, he has believed in God, who does not lie. And what he believes, he possesses, and he holds firmly to the promise. And the One who promised is truth. And because the One who promised is trustworthy, he has firmly grasped the goal of the promise through knowledge. And the one who knows, by the circumstances in which he has been placed, the certain understanding of the future, goes out by love to meet the future. So the person who is persuaded that he will receive the things that are truly good will not pray to obtain the things that are here. Instead, he will pray that he may always hold fast to the faith that reaches its goal and succeeds. And besides this, he will pray that as many people as p

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes Supporting witness

and those which are to be, have already been, as regards His foreknowledge.

Romans 8:29 Direct teaching

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Ephesians 1:5 Direct teaching

he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Ephesians 1:11 Direct teaching

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

1 Peter 1:2 Direct teaching

elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Methodius, Concerning Free Will Direct teaching

and in this, according to the Word, when he speaks of the day of our holy festivity, which the election has attained: but the rest have become hardened, as said the Scripture; and after other things.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

For I venture to assert, that as he is predestinated through what he shall do, and what he shall obtain, so also has he predestinated himself by reason of what he knew and whom he loved;

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...om heaven to something worse. For God works all things toward what is better. But the soul that has chosen the best life — the life that is from God and righteousness — exchanges earth for heaven. Therefore Job, who had attained knowledge, rightly said, "Now I know that You can do all things, and nothing is impossible to You. For who tells me of what I do not know, great and wonderful things with which I was unacquainted? And I felt myself vile, considering myself to be earth and ashes." For he who, being in a state of ignorance, is sinful, is earth and ashes. But he who is in a state of knowledge, being made like God as far as possible, is already spiritual, and so elect. And that Scripture calls the senseless and disobedient "earth" will be made clear by Jeremiah the prophet, when he says in reference to Joachim and his brothers, "Earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord; write this man as excommunicated." Jeremiah 22:29-30 And another prophet says again, "Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth," Isaiah 1:2 calling understanding "ear," and calling the soul of the Gnostic — that is, the soul of the man who has applied himself to the contemplation of heaven and divine things, and

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...es with further explanation, so that no one may, like Marcion, regard the creature as evil: "But if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." And again: "For if you live after the flesh, you shall die." "For I reckon that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us." "If we suffer with Him, that we also may be glorified together as joint-heirs of Christ." "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to the purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brothers. And those whom He predestined, these He also called; and those whom He called, these He also justified; and those whom He justified, these He also glorified."

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...r he adds, "The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith." Romans 1:17 So the apostle clearly declares a twofold faith, or rather one faith that allows growth and perfection, for the common faith lies underneath as a foundation. Therefore, to those who desired to be healed and were moved by faith, He added, "Your faith has saved you." Matthew 9:22 But what is built excellently on that foundation is completed in the believer, and is further perfected by the faith that comes from instruction and the word, so that the commandments may be carried out. Such were the apostles, of whom it is said that faith removed mountains and transplanted trees. From this, seeing how great its power was, they asked that faith might be added to them, Luke 17:5 a faith that helpfully grips the soil like a grain of mustard seed and grows splendidly in it, so much so that the principles of sublime things rest on it. For if someone knows God by nature, as Basilides thinks, who calls intelligence of a higher order both faith and kingship, and a creation worthy of the essence of the Creator; and explains that near Him there exists not power, but essence and nature and substance; and says that f

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

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

...t, are likewise baptized. But heretics who have already been baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ must only be baptized with the Holy Spirit. And in Jesus, which is the only name given under heaven by which we must be saved, death is rightly despised. Yet if they continue as they are, they cannot be saved, because they have not sought the Lord after the invocation of His name upon them. It is the same with those who, because of false christs, perhaps have refused to believe. Of them the Lord says, “Take heed that no man lead you into error. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall lead many into error.” And again He says, “Then if any man shall say to you, Look, here is Christ, or look, there; do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall show great signs and wonders, so that, if it were possible, even the very elect shall be deceived.” Matthew 24:23-24. And without doubt they shall then do these miracles under the name of Christ. In that name, even now, some appear to do certain miracles and to prophesy falsely. But it is certain that, because they themselves are not of Christ, they therefore do not belong to Chris

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Background

... this, let them stop this godless disbelief and this blasphemy against sacred things. For it will clearly appear from what I am about to say that they do not speak the truth when they say that it is impossible, or not in agreement with the divine will. Strictly speaking, a thing is considered impossible for a person when it is such that he either does not know what must be done, or does not have enough power to do properly what he knows must be done. A person who does not know what needs to be done is completely unable either to attempt or to do what he does not know. In the same way, a person who knows very well what must be done, and by what means, and how, but has either no power at all to do the known thing, or not enough power, will not even try, if he is wise and considers his own strength. And if he did try without proper thought, he would not accomplish his purpose. But it is not possible for God to be ignorant, either of the nature of the bodies that are to be raised, both with regard to the members as a whole and the particles of which they consist, or of where each of the dissolved particles goes, and what part of the elements has received what was dissolved and passe