The Early Church on Enemies

The early church was full of men and women dedicated to communicating the love of Jesus Christ to all people. They died for being Christians and for not meeting the demands of the world around them in various ways. One of the extraordinary aspects of the Christian life is enemy love. Jesus clearly taught his followers to extend love towards those who were against them. He instructed his people to bless, pray, do good and make friends with enemies. Through the next several hundred years this was a big aspect in the exercising of one's Christian faith. Here are a few words by some leaders of the faith in the few hundred years following Christ concerning enemy love.

We who formerly hated and murdered one another and did not even share our hearth with those of a different tribe because of their customs, now, after Christ’s appearance, live together and share the same table. Now we pray for our enemies and try to win those who hate us unjustly so that they too may live in accordance with Christ’s wonderful teachings, that they too may enter into the expectation, that they too may receive the same good things that we will receive from God, the ruler of the universe.

-Justin, First Apology 14.

They [Christians] speak gently to those who oppress them, and in this way they make them their friends. It has become their passion to do good to their enemies.

-Aristides, Apology 15; ca. A.D. 137.

And yet he [Jesus] loved those who hated him, mourned over those who did not believe in him, blessed those who abused him, and prayed for his enemies. He not only acted like a father himself, but he also taught his disciples to do the same in their attitude [toward others], to act toward them as toward their own brothers.

-Clementine Homelies III.19

The prophet Isaiah tells us that we should not, as some think, love only our own people: “Say to those that hate and curse you, ‘You are our brothers!’” And the Gospel says, “Love your enemies!”

-Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus III.14.

Now the teaching of these words is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies. Fast for those who persecute you, for what grace would it be if you love those who love you? Do not even the hea- then peoples do that? But love those who hate you, and you will have no enemy. Abstain from the cravings of the flesh and of the body. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also, and you will be perfect. If someone presses you to go with him one mile, get ready for two. If anyone takes away your coat, give him your jacket as well. If any man seizes what is yours, do not demand it back, for you cannot anyway. Give to everyone who asks of you and never demand a re- turn, for it is the Father’s will that all should share the gifts we have received.

-The Didache

Jesus commanded us to love even our enemies. This was already announced through Isaiah in several passages, which also tell of the mystery of new birth, a new birth belonging to all people who expect Christ’s coming in Jerusalem and who strive to please him through deeds.

-Justin, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 85.7

...this the people who have to suffer these things are not even allowed to hit back when struck and are expected to use only kind words when reviled! To be just alone is not enough because to be just means to repay like for like, but we have been commanded to go far beyond this, to be kind and patient. How could anyone in his right mind accuse us of murder when we hold to such principles...

-Athenagoras, A Plea Regarding Christians

We must then offer no resistance. He never wanted us to imitate the wicked. Rather, he challenged us to lead everyone away from shamefulness and pleasure in evil by patience and kindness. We can in fact show that many who were once among you have been transformed in this way. They gave up their violent and domineering ways.

-Justin, First Apoology 16

Today there are some popular church leaders who continue to embrace this perspective. In his book Reason for GodTim Keller, a New York pastor and author, says of Christians, "At the very heart of their view of reality was a man who died for his enemies, paying for their forgiveness. Reflection on this could only lead to a radically different way of dealing with those who were different from them. It meant they could not act in violence and oppression towards their opponents."