Christian Pacifism / Nonviolence
If struck, turn the cheek — a reading of Jesus that lays down the sword entirely
Christian pacifism holds that Christ's teaching, especially the Sermon on the Mount, forbids violence and calls believers to nonresistance and peacemaking. It was strong in the pre-Constantinian church, voiced by writers such as Tertullian and Origen, and later by peace churches like the Anabaptists. This conviction stands in tension with the just-war tradition, which holds that some use of force can be morally justified; the traditions differ on the question.
How it traveled
- MatthewAntioch · 80explains
- LukeRome · 84applies
- The First ApologyRome · 165explains
- A Plea for the ChristiansAlexandria · 190explains
- Apology.— · 220explains
- On Idolatry.— · 220applies
- Defence of His Flight. (Apologia de Fuga.)Alexandria · 373applies
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and EphesiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- On the Life of St. MartinToulouse (Aquitaine) · 425applies
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- Our Lord’s Sermon on the MountHippo Regius · 430explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564applies
- A History of the Work of RedemptionNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758applies
Key passages(20)
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
This man let us also imitate: to them that beat us, let us return blow for blow, by meekness, by silence, by long-suffering. More grievous these wounds, greater this blow, and more heavy. For to show
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Chapter XXXVII. If we are enjoined, then, to love our enemies, as I have remarked above, whom have we to hate? If injured, we are forbidden to retaliate, lest we become as bad ourselves: who can suff
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But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
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On the Life of St. Martin · Sulpicius Severus
Martin retires from Military Service. In the meantime, as the barbarians were rushing within the two divisions of Gaul, Julian Cæsar,you as a soldier: allow me now to become a soldier to God: let the
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The Chaplet, or De Corona. · Apologetic
Chapter XI. To begin with the real ground of the military crown, I think we must first inquire whether warfare is proper at all for Christians. What sense is there in discussing the merely accidental
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And concerning our being patient of injuries, and ready to serve all, and free from anger, this is what He said: “To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; and him that taketh a
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians · John Chrysostom
God is not a God of war and fighting. Make war and fighting to cease, both that which is against Him, and that which is against thy neighbor. Be at peace with all men, consider with what character God
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
Homily XVIII. Matt. V. 38, 39, 40. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, that ye resist not the evil:but whosoever shall smite thee o
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
And just as, after He had bidden not to call another fool, nor to be angry without cause, He went on and required more, in that He commanded to offer the right cheek also; even so here, having said, “
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
And this thing most especially we may admire in His teaching, that while in each instance He sets down with very great fullness the prizes of the conflicts; such as “to see God,” and “to inherit the k
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A Plea for the Christians · Athenagoras
What man of sound mind, therefore, will affirm, while such is our character, that we are murderers? For we cannot eat human flesh till we have killed some one. The former charge, therefore, being fals
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Homilies on First Corinthians · John Chrysostom
But you will say, what if he that is within judge contrary to the law? Why should he? tell me. For I would know by what kind of laws the Greek administers justice, and by what the Christian? Is it not
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Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
11. But who, even though he be a stranger to our religion, is so deaf as not to know how many precepts enjoining concord, not invented by the discussions of men, but written with the authority of God,
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Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
1 Kings xviii. 4, 40. 7. Look also to the New Testament times, in which the essential gentleness of love was to be not only kept in the heart, but also manifested openly: in these the sword of Peter
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To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also.
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Chapter XIX.—Concerning Military Service. In that last section, decision may seem to have been given likewise concerning military service, which is between dignity and power.masters—God and Cæsar. An
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Chapter X.—Of Revenge. There is, too, another chief spur of impatience, the lust of revenge, dealing with the business either of glory or else of malice. But “glory,” on the one hand, is everywhere “
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On the Life of St. Martin · Sulpicius Severus
Martin offers his Neck to an Assassin. I shall also relate what took place in the village of the Ædui. When Martin was there overthrowing a temple, a multitude of rustic heathen rushed upon him in a
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Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter XIX. 56. Hence the Lord goes on to say: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; Adversus malum; Vulgat
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Select Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
§7. To Theodore, Bishop of Tyana. (Theodore, a native of Arianzus, and an intimate friend of Gregory, accompanied him to Constantinople a.d. 379, and shared his persecution by the Arians, who broke i
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