Gregory of Nazianzus c. 329 to c. 390 · Cappadocia and Constantinople Gregory of Nazianzus agrees.
On record in Funeral Oration on His Brother Caesarius.
What did the early Christians say about grief?
They did not agree. Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil the Great and 4 others would say yes to the statement below. Tertullian, Cyprian of Carthage and 4 others would say no.
- 12On record
- 6Would agree
- 6Would disagree
The statement in the quiz
“Even if you believe you'll see them again, it's right to weep openly for someone you've lost.”
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
6 early Christians
Would agree
Your side
Gregory of Nazianzus c. 329 to c. 390 · Cappadocia and Constantinople 
Basil the Great c. 330 to 379 · Caesarea in Cappadocia Basil agrees:
“Be an example of fortitude to other women, and so regulate your grief that you may neither eject it from your heart, nor be overwhelmed by your distress.”
Letter to the wife of Arinthaeus the general
Gregory of Nyssa c. 335 to after 394 · Cappadocia Gregory of Nyssa agrees:
“In no other way can the burning heart cool down, swelling as it is with its affliction, unless it relieves itself by sobs and tears.”
Funeral Oration on Meletius
Ambrose of Milan c. 339 to 397 · Milan Ambrose agrees:
“But we have not incurred any grievous sin by our tears. Not all weeping proceeds from unbelief or weakness.”
On the Death of Satyrus
Augustine of Hippo 354 to 430 · North Africa Augustine agrees:
“There is nothing in the sorrow of mortals over their dearly beloved dead which merits displeasure; but the sorrow of believers ought not to be prolonged.”
Letter to Sapida
Gregory the Great c. 540 to 604 · Rome Gregory the Great agrees:
“He was not altogether unmoved, lest by his very insensibility he should shew a contempt of God; nor was he completely in commotion, lest by excess of grief he should commit sin.”
Morals on the Book of Job
6 early Christians
Would disagree
Your side
Clement of Alexandria c. 150 to c. 215 · Alexandria Clement disagrees:
“They say, accordingly, that the blessed Peter, on seeing his wife led to death, rejoiced on account of her call and conveyance home, and called very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, Remember the Lord.”
Stromata
Tertullian c. 155 to after 220 · Carthage Tertullian strongly disagrees:
“He who goes before us is not to be lamented, though by all means to be longed for.”
On Patience
Cyprian of Carthage c. 200 to 258 · Carthage Cyprian strongly disagrees:
“Our brethren who are freed from this world by the Lord's summons are not to be lamented, since we know that they are not lost, but sent before.”
On Mortality
Macrina the Younger c. 327 to 379 · Cappadocia Macrina strongly disagrees:
“She quoted the Apostle's words about the duty of not being grieved for them that sleep; because only men without hope have such feelings.”
On the Soul and the Resurrection, as her brother Gregory tells it
John Chrysostom c. 347 to 407 · Antioch and Constantinople Chrysostom strongly disagrees:
“But you, who expectest a resurrection, on what account do you lament? To lament then is the part of those who have no hope.”
Homilies on First Thessalonians
Jerome c. 347 to 420 · Rome and Bethlehem Jerome disagrees:
“Yours are detestable tears, sacrilegious tears, unbelieving tears; for they know no limits, and bring you to the verge of death.”
Letter to Paula on the death of Blaesilla
What they said
More questions
- Lying “Lying can be the right thing to do if it protects someone.”
- The poor “Giving to the poor isn't generosity. It's paying back what's already theirs.”
- Nature “Nature can teach you as much about God as the Bible can.”
- Strong feelings “The best way to live is free of strong emotions, with only a steady peace inside.”
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.