Justin Martyr c. 100 to c. 165 · Samaria, Ephesus and Rome Justin strongly agrees:
“Whatever things were rightly said among all men, are the property of us Christians.”
Second Apology
What did the early Christians say about pagan wisdom?
They did not agree. Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria and 6 others would say yes to the statement below. Tertullian, John Chrysostom and 7 others would say no.
- 17On record
- 8Would agree
- 9Would disagree
The statement in the quiz
“Wisdom is worth learning from anyone, even people who don't share your faith.”
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
8 early Christians
Would agree
Your side
Justin Martyr c. 100 to c. 165 · Samaria, Ephesus and Rome 
Clement of Alexandria c. 150 to c. 215 · Alexandria Clement strongly agrees:
“Accordingly, before the advent of the Lord, philosophy was necessary to the Greeks for righteousness. And now it becomes conducive to piety; being a kind of preparatory training to those who attain to faith through demonstration.”
Stromata
Origen c. 185 to c. 253 · Alexandria and Caesarea Origen strongly agrees:
“The children of the philosophers speak of geometry and music and grammar and rhetoric and astronomy as being ancillary to philosophy; and in the same way we might speak of philosophy itself as being ancillary to Christianity.”
Letter to Gregory
Gregory of Nazianzus c. 329 to c. 390 · Cappadocia and Constantinople Gregory of Nazianzus strongly agrees:
“I take it as admitted by men of sense, that the first of our advantages is education.”
Funeral Oration on Basil the Great
Basil the Great c. 330 to 379 · Caesarea in Cappadocia Basil strongly agrees:
“So we, if wise, shall take from heathen books whatever befits us and is allied to the truth, and shall pass over the rest.”
Address to Young Men on the Right Use of Greek Literature
Jerome c. 347 to 420 · Rome and Bethlehem Jerome strongly agrees:
“Is it surprising that I too, admiring the fairness of her form and the grace of her eloquence, desire to make that secular wisdom which is my captive and my handmaid, a matron of the true Israel?”
Letter to Magnus
Augustine of Hippo 354 to 430 · North Africa Augustine strongly agrees:
“Moreover, if those who are called philosophers, and especially the Platonists, have said anything that is true and in harmony with our faith, we are not only not to shrink from it, but to claim it for our own use from those who have unlawful possession of it.”
On Christian Doctrine
Boethius c. 477 to c. 524 · Rome and Pavia Boethius strongly agrees:
“Examine carefully what I have said, and if possible, reconcile faith and reason.”
Theological Tractates
9 early Christians
Would disagree
Your side
Irenaeus of Lyons c. 130 to c. 200 · Smyrna, then Lyons Irenaeus disagrees.
On record in Against Heresies.
Tertullian c. 155 to after 220 · Carthage Tertullian strongly disagrees:
“What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church?”
The Prescription against Heretics
Antony the Great c. 251 to 356 · The Egyptian desert Antony disagrees:
“We Christians therefore hold the mystery not in the wisdom of Greek arguments, but in the power of faith richly supplied to us by God through Jesus Christ.”
Life of Antony, as Athanasius recorded his words
Macrina the Younger c. 327 to 379 · Cappadocia Macrina disagrees.
On record in On the Soul and the Resurrection, as her brother Gregory recorded her words.
Ambrose of Milan c. 339 to 397 · Milan Ambrose disagrees:
“But it was not by dialectic that it pleased God to save His people; for the kingdom of God consists in simplicity of faith, not in wordy contention.”
On the Christian Faith
John Chrysostom c. 347 to 407 · Antioch and Constantinople Chrysostom strongly disagrees.
On record in Homilies on First Corinthians.
John Cassian c. 360 to c. 435 · Egypt, then Marseilles Cassian disagrees.
On record in Conferences.
Benedict of Nursia c. 480 to c. 547 · Subiaco and Monte Cassino Benedict disagrees.
On record in Dialogues, as Gregory the Great recorded it.
Gregory the Great c. 540 to 604 · Rome Gregory the Great strongly disagrees:
“The praises of Christ cannot find room in one mouth with the praises of Jupiter.”
Letter to Desiderius, bishop of Vienne
What they said
More questions
- Anger “Anger at real wrongdoing can be a good thing.”
- Solitude “If you had to choose, you'd grow closer to God alone in quiet than among other people.”
- Being rich “There's nothing wrong with being rich, as long as you use it well.”
- Speaking up “If someone you know is doing wrong, it's your job to tell them.”
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.