They did not agree. John Chrysostom, John Cassian and Origen would say yes to the statement below. Basil the Great, Augustine of Hippo and 2 others would say no.
The statement in the quiz
“Lying can be the right thing to do if it protects someone.”
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
3 early Christians
Your side
Origen c. 185 to c. 253 · Alexandria and Caesarea Origen agrees:
“But a man on whom necessity imposes the responsibility of lying is bound to use very great care, and to use falsehood as he would a stimulant or a medicine.”
Stromateis, as Jerome quotes it
John Chrysostom c. 347 to 407 · Antioch and Constantinople Chrysostom strongly agrees:
“For the daughter of Saul would not have been able to rescue her husband out of Saul's hands except by deceiving her father.”
On the Priesthood
John Cassian c. 360 to c. 435 · Egypt, then Marseilles Cassian strongly agrees:
“But if we prefer what is for another's advantage to our own good, and satisfy the demands of the Apostle, we shall certainly have to put up with the necessity of lying.”
Conferences
4 early Christians
Your side
Lactantius c. 250 to c. 325 · Nicomedia and Gaul Lactantius disagrees:
“In this path of justice and all the virtues there is no place for falsehood.”
Divine Institutes
Basil the Great c. 330 to 379 · Caesarea in Cappadocia Basil strongly disagrees:
“It is forbidden by the decision of the Lord Who said once for all that lying is of the devil, and allowed no difference in lying.”
The Shorter Rules
Augustine of Hippo 354 to 430 · North Africa Augustine strongly disagrees:
“How much braver then, how much more excellent, to say, I will neither betray nor lie?”
On Lying
Gregory the Great c. 540 to 604 · Rome Gregory the Great strongly disagrees:
“This kind of lying also those that are perfect eschew with the greatest care, so that not even the life of any man should by deceit of theirs be defended.”
Morals on the Book of Job
What they said
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.
