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
On the Life of St. Martin · Sulpicius Severus
The Chaplet, or De Corona. · Apologetic
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians · John Chrysostom
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
A Plea for the Christians · Athenagoras
Homilies on First Corinthians · John Chrysostom
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
On the Life of St. Martin · Sulpicius Severus
Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount · Augustine of Hippo
Select Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus