Justin Martyr c. 100 to c. 165 · Samaria, Ephesus and Rome Justin agrees.
On record in First Apology.
What did the early Christians say about grace and effort?
They did not agree. Antony the Great, Justin Martyr and 3 others would say yes to the statement below. Cyprian of Carthage, Jerome and 5 others would say no.
- 12On record
- 5Would agree
- 7Would disagree
The statement in the quiz
“Becoming a better person is mostly down to your own effort.”
The quiz puts it in today’s words. Each person below is placed by what they wrote or said. Where their line is clear on its own, it is printed with its source.
You said:
From your result on . See your result
5 early Christians
Would agree
Your side
Justin Martyr c. 100 to c. 165 · Samaria, Ephesus and Rome 
Lactantius c. 250 to c. 325 · Nicomedia and Gaul Lactantius agrees:
“Knowledge therefore consists in a benefit derived from another; for it depends upon hearing. Virtue is altogether our own; for it depends upon the will of doing that which is good.”
Divine Institutes
Antony the Great c. 251 to 356 · The Egyptian desert Antony strongly agrees:
“Wherefore virtue has need at our hands of willingness alone, since it is in us and is formed from us.”
Life of Antony, as Athanasius recorded his words
Gregory of Nyssa c. 335 to after 394 · Cappadocia Gregory of Nyssa agrees.
On record in On Virginity.
Boethius c. 477 to c. 524 · Rome and Pavia Boethius agrees:
“Therefore, withstand vice, practise virtue, lift up your souls to right hopes, offer humble prayers to Heaven.”
The Consolation of Philosophy
7 early Christians
Would disagree
Your side
Cyprian of Carthage c. 200 to 258 · Carthage Cyprian strongly disagrees:
“All our power is of God; I say, of God.”
To Donatus
Gregory of Nazianzus c. 329 to c. 390 · Cappadocia and Constantinople Gregory of Nazianzus disagrees:
“For it is necessary both that we should be our own masters and also that our salvation should be of God.”
Oration on Matthew 19
Ambrose of Milan c. 339 to 397 · Milan Ambrose disagrees:
“For our heart and our thoughts are not in our own power.”
On Flight from the World
Jerome c. 347 to 420 · Rome and Bethlehem Jerome strongly disagrees:
“To will and to run are mine, but they will cease to be mine unless God brings me His continual aid.”
Letter to Ctesiphon
Augustine of Hippo 354 to 430 · North Africa Augustine strongly disagrees:
“And my whole hope is only in Your exceeding great mercy. Give what You command, and command what You will.”
Confessions
Benedict of Nursia c. 480 to c. 547 · Subiaco and Monte Cassino Benedict strongly disagrees:
“If he sees some good in himself, let him credit it to God, not to himself. But let him know that evil is always his own doing, and count it as his own.”
Rule of St Benedict. Our translation
Isaac the Syrian 7th century · Nineveh and the mountains Isaac disagrees:
“For the help of God is necessary for deliverance. When he knows that he needs divine help, he will frequently pray. And by much beseeching the heart becomes humble.”
Ascetical Homilies
What they said
More questions
your turn
Quiz Which early Christian thinks like you? And which would argue with you? See where you would stand on this and 22 more. Start Suggest a correction. Corrections that are applied are recorded in the public changelog.