Cyprian:
“He shows that our prayers and fastings are of less avail if they are not aided by almsgiving. . . . Life is redeemed from dangers by almsgiving. Souls are delivered from death by almsgiving.”
Origen:
“The soul that . . . is neither holy nor blameless because of wickedness . . . is not part of the church that Christ builds upon the rock. But if anyone wishes to embarrass us in regard to these things because of the great majority of those of the church who are thought to believe, it must be said to him that ‘many are called, but few chosen.’ . . . ‘Many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.’ You will understand that this refers to those who boast that they are of the church, but who live weakly and contrary to the Word.”
Have you ever heard of Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Hermas, Papias, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Mark Felix, Cyprian, or Lactantius? If not, why not? Were these men of no significance to Christianity? Did they leave no writings behind? Didn’t they grapple with the same issues that Christians face today? Why have their views been hidden to the point that most Christians don’t even know their names?
Explore the beliefs of the early Christians (before AD 325) and compare them to what the Bible says and to what most churches teach today. We think you will find the journey to be enlightening, disconcerting, troubling, alarming, and yet perhaps strangely reassuring. Begin by exploring this site to see if the early Christians can help provide some answers to your questions – answers from men who actually learned at the feet of the Apostles or their disciples.
Let your journey begin…