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Chapter Four: From The Early Church Fathers To The Present
Page 3
Historical Questions
1. Isn’t it true that all the early Christians were pacifists until Constantine?
Answer: Certainly not all Christians were pacifists before Constantine. Perhaps some of the Christians who had been in the military vowed to be pacifists for as long as they had to stay in the military. We have no written record that John the Baptist, Jesus, or the Apostles told new converts from the military to be pacifists. But it is certain that as a new Christian grows in their faith, and learns to apply it to every aspect of their personal lives, they must deal with this question, and make a decision. And it is clear that this was an issue for the early church at least as much as it is today.
For example, consider these quotes from some of the early pre-Constantine Church Fathers:
• Justin Martyr (AD 100 - 165), a Palestinian philosopher who was converted to Christianity, He traveled to Rome where he wrote several apologies against both pagans and Jews, combining Greek philosophy and Christian theology. He was eventually martyred.
“We who formerly murdered one another now refrain from making war even upon our enemies.”
(c. 160), Ante-Nicene Fathers 1.176
“... and now we who once killed each other not only do not make war on each other, but in order not to lie to or deceive our inquisitors we gladly die for the confession of Christ. ...”
First Apology of Justin Martyr 39th verse, Ante-Nicene Fathers 1.176
Justin Martyr, also writing in the middle of the second century, refers to the pre-conversion participation of Christians in warfare, “We used to be filled with war, mutual slaughter, and every kind of wickedness. However, now all of us have, throughout the whole earth, changed our warlike weapons. We have changed our swords into plowshares, and our spears into farming implements.” (c. 160), Ante-Nicene Fathers 1.254
• Tatian (120 - ?) was a disciple of Justin Martyr and a Christian apologist. His most famous work is the Diatessaron, a harmony of the Gospels. He originally wrote it in Greek, but he himself also translated it into Syriac. After the death of Justin Martyr, Tatian became a leader of the non-orthodox Encratite sect. The quote below is from his orthodox period. “… I do not wish to be a king. I am not anxious to be rich. I decline military command.” (c. 160), Ante-Nicene Fathers 2.69
• Irenaeus (130/135 - 200/202) was bishop of the church at Lyons, Gaul (modern-day France). When he was a boy, Irenaeus had heard Polycarp teach. From this, it is generally supposed that Irenaeus was a native of Smyrna. In 190 Irenaeus wrote to Victor, bishop of Rome, pleading tolerance for the Christians of Asia Minor who celebrated Easter on a different day than did Rome. He is classified as both Eastern and Western, since he was from an Eastern background but ministered in the West. His Adversus Omnes Haereses is a detailed attack on Gnosticism, especially the systems of Valentinus, and on the millenarianism, which was popular in Montanist circles.
“The new covenant that brings back peace and the law that gives life has gone forth over the whole earth, as the prophets said: ‘For out of Zion will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; and he will rebuke many people; and they will break down their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and they will no longer learn to fight.’ ... These people [i.e., Christians] formed their swords and war-lances into plowshares, ... that is, into instruments used for peaceful purposes. So now, they are unaccustomed to fighting. When they are struck, they offer also the other cheek.” (c. 180), Ante-Nicene Fathers 1.512
• Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens) (150 – ? ) wrote in 217 A.D.:
“He who holds the sword must cast it away and that if one of the faithful becomes a soldier, he must be rejected by the Church, for he has scorned God.” Apostolic Tradition, Ante-Nicene Fathers 2
• Tertullian (155/160 - 225/250) was a brilliant, fiery Christian apologist and polemicist writer in Carthage, North Africa. He was brought up as a pagan and may have practiced law. As a Christian writer he laid the foundations of Christology and Trinitarian orthodoxy in the West. He may have been an ordained presbyter. He wrote numerous apologies, works against heretics, and exhortations to other Christians -- nearly all of which are in Latin. Near the beginning of the third century, he came under the influence of the Montanist sect. Around 211, he seems to have left the church to join an ascetic Montanist congregation, although this is not certain. The Montanist sect differed from the church primarily on matters of discipline, not theological doctrines. Some believe that Tertullian’s estrangement from the main church was due to the church's laxity.
“The one instrument of peace is what we employ: the Word alone, by whom we honor God. We no longer use the ancient psaltery, trumpet, timbrel, and flute. For those who are God's put His prohibition on every sort of man-killing by that one inclusive commandment: ‘You shall not kill.’” (c. 197), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.80
“‘Nation will not take up sword against nation, and they will no more learn to fight.’ Who else, therefore, does this prophecy apply to, other than us? For we are fully taught by the new law, and therefore observe these practices ... The practice of the old law was to avenge itself by the vengeance of the sword. It was to pluck out ‘eye for eye,’ and to inflict retaliatory revenge for injury. However, the teaching of the new law points to clemency. It changes the primitive ferocity of swords and lances to tranquility. It remodels the primitive execution of war upon the rivals and enemies of the Law into the peaceful actions of plowing and cultivating the land.” (c. 197), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.154
“Now inquiry is made about the point of whether a believer may enter into military service. The question is also asked whether those in the military may be admitted into the faith even the rank and file (or any inferior grade), who are not required to take part in sacrifices or capital punishments ... A man cannot give his allegiance to two masters -- God and Caesar ... How will a Christian man participate in war? In fact, how will he serve even in peace without a sword? For the Lord has taken the sword away. It is also true that soldiers came to John [the Baptist] and received the instructions for their conduct. It is true also that a centurion believed. Nevertheless, the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, disarmed every soldier.” (c. 200), Treatise on Idolatry 19, Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.73
“‘And they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.’ In other words, they will change the dispositions of injurious minds, hostile tongues, blasphemy, and all kinds of evil into pursuits of moderation and peace. ‘Nation will not lift up sword against nation.’ That is, they will not stir up conflict. ‘Neither will they learn war any more’ – that is, the provocation of hostilities. So you should learn from this that Christ was not promised to be powerful in war. Rather, He was promised to pursue peace. Now, you must deny either that these things were foretold (although they are plainly seen) or that they have been fulfilled (although you read of them).” (c. 207), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.339, 340
“The Lord will save them in that day -- even His people -- like sheep... No one gives the name of ‘sheep’ to those who fall in battle with arms in hand, or those who are killed when repelling force with force. Rather, it is given only to those who are slain, yielding themselves up in their own place of duty and with patience -- rather than fighting in self-defense.” (c. 207), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.415
“The soldiers, crowned with laurels, were approaching. However, one of them was more a soldier of God. In fact, he was more steadfast than the rest of his brethren, who had imagined that they could serve two masters. His head alone was uncovered, for he held the useless wreath in his hand. By that peculiarity alone, he was recognized by everyone as being a Christian.” (c. 211), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.93
“Is the [military] laurel of triumph made of leaves, or of corpses? Is it adorned with ribbons, or with tombs? Is it wet with ointments, or with the tears of wives and mothers? It may be made of some [dead] Christians too. For Christ is also believed among the barbarians.” (c. 211), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.101
“Of course, if faith comes later and finds someone already occupied with military service, their case is different. For example, there is the instance of those whom John [the Baptist] received for baptism, and of those most faithful centurions. I mean the centurion whom Christ approved, and the centurion whom Peter instructed [i.e., Cornelius]. Yet, at the same time, when a man has become a believer and faith has been sealed, there must be either an immediate abandonment of the military office, which has been the course of many - or else all sorts of quibbling will have to be resorted to in order to avoid offending God. And such quibbling is not allowed even outside of military service.” (c. 211), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.100
“I think we must first inquire whether warfare is proper at all for Christians. What point is there in discussing the merely incidental, when that on which it rests is to be condemned? Do we believe it is lawful for a human oath to be added to one that is divine? Is it lawful for a man to come to be pledged to another master after Christ has become his Master? Is it lawful to renounce father, mother, and all nearest kinsfolk, whom even the Law has commanded us to honor and love next to God himself? ... Is it lawful to make an occupation of the sword, when the Lord proclaims that he who uses the sword will perish by the sword? Will the son of peace take part in the battle when it does not become him even to sue at law? Will he who is not the avenger even of his own wrongs, apply the chain, the prison, the torture, and the punishment?” (c. 211), Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.100
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