They did not agree. Antony the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and 4 others would say yes to the statement below. Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and 4 others would say no.
The statement in the quiz
“If you had to choose, you'd grow closer to God alone in quiet than among other people.”
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
Antony the Great c. 251 to 356 · The Egyptian desert Antony strongly agrees:
“Fishes, if they remain long on dry land, die. And so monks lose their strength if they loiter among you and spend their time with you. Wherefore as fish must hurry to the sea, so must we hasten to the mountain.”
Life of Antony, as Athanasius recorded his words
Martin of Tours c. 316 to 397 · Gaul, today's France Martin agrees:
“Martin was accustomed to say to you, that such an abundance of power was by no means granted him while he was a bishop, as he remembered to have possessed before he obtained that office.”
Dialogues, as Sulpicius Severus, who knew him, recorded it
Gregory of Nazianzus c. 329 to c. 390 · Cappadocia and Constantinople Gregory of Nazianzus strongly agrees:
“For nothing seemed to me so desirable as to close the doors of my senses, and, escaping from the flesh and the world, collected within myself, having no further connection than was absolutely necessary with human affairs, and speaking to myself and to God.”
In Defence of His Flight to Pontus
Jerome c. 347 to 420 · Rome and Bethlehem Jerome agrees:
“Do I condemn a solitary life? By no means: in fact I have often commended it.”
Letter to Rusticus
John Cassian c. 360 to c. 435 · Egypt, then Marseilles Cassian agrees.
On record in Conferences.
Isaac the Syrian 7th century · Nineveh and the mountains Isaac strongly agrees:
“Love the ease of solitude rather than satisfying the hunger of the world and the converting of the multitude of heathen peoples from error unto adoring God.”
Ascetical Homilies
6 early Christians
Your side
Clement of Alexandria c. 150 to c. 215 · Alexandria Clement disagrees.
On record in Stromata.
Tertullian c. 155 to after 220 · Carthage Tertullian disagrees:
“We are not Indian Brahmins or Gymnosophists, who dwell in woods and exile themselves from ordinary human life.”
Apology
Lactantius c. 250 to c. 325 · Nicomedia and Gaul Lactantius disagrees:
“But he who withdraws and separates himself from the body at large, must live not after the custom of men, but after the manner of wild beasts.”
Divine Institutes
Basil the Great c. 330 to 379 · Caesarea in Cappadocia Basil strongly disagrees:
“Whose feet then wilt thou wash? Whom wilt thou care for? In comparison with whom wilt thou be last if thou livest by thyself?”
The Longer Rules
Gregory of Nyssa c. 335 to after 394 · Cappadocia Gregory of Nyssa disagrees:
“Woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up.”
On Virginity
John Chrysostom c. 347 to 407 · Antioch and Constantinople Chrysostom strongly disagrees:
“For the man who sits at the helm in harbor, does not yet give any certain proof of his art.”
On the Priesthood
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.
