They did not agree. Clement of Alexandria, Origen and 4 others would say yes to the statement below. Tertullian, Basil the Great and John Chrysostom would say no.
The statement in the quiz
“In many Bible stories, the deeper meaning matters more than the history.”
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
Your side
Clement of Alexandria c. 150 to c. 215 · Alexandria Clement strongly agrees:
“For many reasons, then, the Scriptures hide the sense. First, that we may become inquisitive, and be ever on the watch for the discovery of the words of salvation.”
Stromata
Origen c. 185 to c. 253 · Alexandria and Caesarea Origen strongly agrees:
“I do not suppose that anyone doubts that these things figuratively indicate certain mysteries, the history having taken place in appearance, and not literally.”
On First Principles
Macrina the Younger c. 327 to 379 · Cappadocia Macrina agrees:
“It is impossible to make the framework of the narrative correspond with the truth, if we understand it literally; we can do that only by translating each detail into an equivalent in the world of ideas.”
On the Soul and the Resurrection, as her brother Gregory recorded her words
Gregory of Nyssa c. 335 to after 394 · Cappadocia Gregory of Nyssa strongly agrees:
“The Divine intention lies hid under the body of the Scripture, as it were under a veil, some legislative enactment or some historical narrative being cast over the truths that are contemplated by the mind.”
Against Eunomius
Ambrose of Milan c. 339 to 397 · Milan Ambrose strongly agrees.
On record in Confessions, as Augustine recorded it.
John Cassian c. 360 to c. 435 · Egypt, then Marseilles Cassian agrees:
“But as the renewal of our soul grows by means of this study, Scripture also will begin to put on a new face, and the beauty of the holier meanings will somehow grow with our growth.”
Conferences
3 early Christians
Your side
Tertullian c. 155 to after 220 · Carthage Tertullian strongly disagrees:
“And, indeed, if all are figures, where will be that of which they are the figures?”
On the Resurrection of the Flesh
Basil the Great c. 330 to 379 · Caesarea in Cappadocia Basil strongly disagrees:
“There are those truly, who do not admit the common sense of the Scriptures, for whom water is not water, but some other nature.”
Hexaemeron
John Chrysostom c. 347 to 407 · Antioch and Constantinople Chrysostom disagrees.
On record in Commentary on Galatians.
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.
