In Context
In Context: The Stories Behind 47 Memorable Sayings in Church History
Mary, the Mother of Jesus (died 1st Century). “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (spoken, ca. 4 B.C.).
Peter (died. ca. 64) “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (spoken, ca. 30).
Paul (died ca. 65). “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” (letter to the Corinthians, ca. 54).
John the Evangelist (fl. 1st Century) “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Gospel of John, ca. 67).
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch (died ca. A.D. 100) “I am the wheat of God and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts that I may be found the pure bread of God.” (Letter to Rome, ca. 100).
Mathetes (fl. 2nd century). “What the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world.” (Epistle to Diognetus, ca. 130).
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (ca. 70 – ca. 155) “Eighty and six years have I served Christ, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior.” (spoken, ca. 155).
Justin Martyr (ca. 100 – ca. 165) “You can kill us, but you can’t hurt us.” (apologetic, ca. 160).
Perpetua (ca. 180 – ca. 202) “The dungeon became to me as it were a palace.” (martyr acta, ca. 202).
Cyprian (died 258) “He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.” (On the Unity of the Church, ca. 251).
Constantine. (ca. 280–337) “In Hoc Signo Vinces” [“Conquer by this” or, “In this (sign) you will win.”] (vision, 312).
Athanasius. (ca. 296–373). “For he was made man that we might be made God.” (On the Incarnation, ca. 321).
Basil the Great (ca. 330-379) “You who dress your walls, and let your fellow-creatures go bare, what will you answer to the Judge?” (sermon, ca. 370).
John Chrysostom (ca. 345 – 407) “They who belong to Christ destroy the property of Christ more than enemies and adversaries.” (On the Priesthood, ca. 381).
Augustine of Hippo (354-430) “…you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they find rest in you.” (Confessions, ca. 397).
Jerome (Eusebius Hieronymus, ca. 342-420). “If Rome be lost, where shall we look for help?” (letter, ca. 409).
Boethius (ca. 470-524) “I think that ill fortune is of greater advantage to men than good fortune.” (The Consolation of Philosophy, 524).
Benedict of Nursia (ca. 480 – ca. 550 ) “Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ.” (Rule, ca. 530).
Gregory the Great (ca. 540 – 604) “Now I confidently say that whosoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Priest, is in his elation the precursor of Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself above all others.” (official correspondence, ca. 589).
Sixth Ecumenical Council (681) “…we likewise declare that in him [Christ] are two natural wills and two natural operations…” (Definition of Faith, September 17, 681)
Pirmin (ca. 724) “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth…” (Creed, ca. 724).
Bede (ca. 672-735) “…Grant me to come at length to yourself, the fount of all wisdom, and to dwell in your presence forever.” (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 731).
Theodulf of Orléans (ca. 760 – 821) “All glory laud and honor, to Thee, Redeemer, King.” (hymn, ca. 818).
Russian Ambassadors (987). “…we did not know where we were, on heaven or on earth…” (report to Prince Vladimir, 987).
Anselm (1033-1109) “You exist so truly, Lord my God, that you cannot even be thought not to exist.” (Proslogion, 1077).
Franks at Clermont (1095) God Wills it! (shouted 1095).
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). “The Christian glories in the death of the pagan…” (In Praise Of The New Knighthood, ca. 1135)
Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) “All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made, And first my lord Brother Sun, Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.” (sung ca. 1225).
Aquinas, Thomas (ca. 1224-1274) “I can write no more. All that I have written seems like straw.” (conversation, 1273).
Boniface VIII (ca. 1235-1303) “Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Unam sanctam, 1302)
Julian of Norwich (ca 1342-ca 1416) “But all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” (Showings, 1373)
Wycliffe, John (ca. 1324-1384) “To be ignorant of the Scripture is the same thing as to be ignorant of Christ.” (On the Truth of the Holy Scripture, 1378)
Hus, Jan (ca. 1369 – 1415) “Truth prevails over all.” (letter, 1413)
Kempis, Thomas á (ca. 1380-1471) “Of two evils the lesser is always to be chosen.” (The Imitation of Christ, ca. 1418)
Melanchthon, Philipp (1497-1560) “The Truth might fare better at a lower temperature.” (spoken 1519)
Erasmus (ca. 1467-1536). “[Luther has erred in two things] He has attacked the pope in his crown and the monks in their bellies.” (spoken 1520)
Tyndale, William (ca. 1494-1536) “If God spare my life, before many years I will cause a boy that drives the plough to know more of Scripture than you do.” (spoken ca. 1521)
Luther, Martin (1483-1546) “I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.” (news account, 1521)
Zwingli, Ulrich (1484-1531). “…Do not put yourself at odds with the Word of God. For truly it will persist as surely as the Rhine follows its course.” (Sixty-Seven Articles, 1523).
Askew, Anne (1521-1546) “I came not hither to deny my Lord and Master.” (spoken 1546)
Luther, Katherine “Katie” von Bora (-1552). “I will stick to Christ as a burr on a topcoat” (dying words, 1552).
Latimer, Hugh (ca. 1485-1555) “Be of good cheer, Ridley; and play the man. We shall this day, by God’s grace, light up such a candle in England, as I trust, will never be put out.” (spoken 1555)
Knox, John (1505-1572) “A man with God is always in the majority.” (spoken before 1572, engraved on the Reformation Monument, Geneva, 1917)
James I of England, VI of Scotland (1566–1625). “I will make them conform themselves, or I will harry them out of the land.” (spoken 1604)
Grotius, Hugo (1583-1645). “…the greatest precaution should be used against involving the innocent in danger…” (The Law of War and Peace, 1625)
Comenius, Jan Amos (1592-1670). “They [schools] are the terror of boys and the slaughter-houses of minds.” (The Great Didactic, 1633-38).
John Winthrop (1587-1649). “We shall be as a city upon a hill.” (sermon, 1630)
