Early Christians Against Abortion (salvation, hell, prophet, bless, faith)

[angellous_evangellous]

In my reading I have found a few early Christians against abortion.

Here are a few quotes from early writers - all available from www.earlychristianwritings.com.

Clement of Alexandria is quoting the extra-canonical Apocalypse of Peter:

"
1. From Clement of Alexandria's so-called Prophetical Extracts, a series of detached sentences excerpted from some larger work, generally supposed to be his Hypotyposes or Outlines:
a. (41.1) The Scripture saith that the children which have been exposed (by their parents) are delivered to a care-taking angel by whom they are educated, and made to grow up, and they shall be, it saith, as the faithful of an hundred years old are here (in this life). b. (41. 2) Wherefore also Peter in the Apocalypse saith: And a flash (lightning) of fire leaping from those children and smiting the eyes of the women.
2. Ibid. (48 . 1 ) The providence of God doth not light upon them only that are in the flesh. For example, Peter in the Apocalypse saith that the children born out of due time (abortively) that would have been of the better part (i. e. would have been saved if they had lived) -these are delivered to a care-taking angel, that they may partake of knowledge and obtain the better abode, having suffered what they would have suffered had they been in the body. But the others (i.e. those who would not have been saved, had they lived) shall only obtain salvation, as beings that have been injured and had mercy shown to them, and shall continue without torment, receiving that as a reward.

[But the milk of the mothers, flowing from their breasts and congealing, saith Peter in the Apocalypse, shall engender small beasts (snakes) devouring the flesh, and these running upon them devour them: teaching that the torments come to pass because of the sins (correspond to the sins).]

3. From the Symposium (ii.6) of Methodius of Olympus (third century). He does not name his source. Whence also we have received in inspired writings that children born untimely -even if they be the offspring of adultery- are delivered to care-taking angels. For if they had come into being contrary to the will and ordinance of that blessed nature of God, how could they have been delivered to angels to be nourished up in all repose and tranquillity? And how could they have confidently summoned their parents before the judgement seat of Christ to accuse them? saying: Thou, O Lord, didst not begrudge us this light that is common to all, but these exposed us to death, contemning thy commandment.

[The word rendered care-taking in these passages is a very rare one- [temelouchos, Gr.]: so rare that it was mistaken by later readers for the proper name of an angel, and we find an angel Temeluchus in Paul, John, and elsewhere. A similar case is that of the word Tartaruchus, keeper of hell, which is applied to angels in our Apocalypse, and is also taken in the Ethiopic version, in Paul, and in other writings, to be a proper name."]

NOTE: editorial notes are not mine. From http://www.earlychristianwritings.co...r-mrjames.html.

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

In my reading I have found a few early Christians against abortion.

Here are a few quotes from early writers - all available from www.earlychristianwritings.com.

Clement of Alexandria is quoting the extra-canonical Apocalypse of Peter:

"
1. From Clement of Alexandria's so-called Prophetical Extracts, a series of detached sentences excerpted from some larger work, generally supposed to be his Hypotyposes or Outlines:
a. (41.1) The Scripture saith that the children which have been exposed (by their parents) are delivered to a care-taking angel by whom they are educated, and made to grow up, and they shall be, it saith, as the faithful of an hundred years old are here (in this life). b. (41. 2) Wherefore also Peter in the Apocalypse saith: And a flash (lightning) of fire leaping from those children and smiting the eyes of the women.
2. Ibid. (48 . 1 ) The providence of God doth not light upon them only that are in the flesh. For example, Peter in the Apocalypse saith that the children born out of due time (abortively) that would have been of the better part (i. e. would have been saved if they had lived) -these are delivered to a care-taking angel, that they may partake of knowledge and obtain the better abode, having suffered what they would have suffered had they been in the body. But the others (i.e. those who would not have been saved, had they lived) shall only obtain salvation, as beings that have been injured and had mercy shown to them, and shall continue without torment, receiving that as a reward.

[But the milk of the mothers, flowing from their breasts and congealing, saith Peter in the Apocalypse, shall engender small beasts (snakes) devouring the flesh, and these running upon them devour them: teaching that the torments come to pass because of the sins (correspond to the sins).]

3. From the Symposium (ii.6) of Methodius of Olympus (third century). He does not name his source. Whence also we have received in inspired writings that children born untimely -even if they be the offspring of adultery- are delivered to care-taking angels. For if they had come into being contrary to the will and ordinance of that blessed nature of God, how could they have been delivered to angels to be nourished up in all repose and tranquillity? And how could they have confidently summoned their parents before the judgement seat of Christ to accuse them? saying: Thou, O Lord, didst not begrudge us this light that is common to all, but these exposed us to death, contemning thy commandment.

[The word rendered care-taking in these passages is a very rare one- [temelouchos, Gr.]: so rare that it was mistaken by later readers for the proper name of an angel, and we find an angel Temeluchus in Paul, John, and elsewhere. A similar case is that of the word Tartaruchus, keeper of hell, which is applied to angels in our Apocalypse, and is also taken in the Ethiopic version, in Paul, and in other writings, to be a proper name."]

NOTE: editorial notes are not mine. From http://www.earlychristianwritings.co...r-mrjames.html.

Do not forget about the Didache Ad 70, where there is a direct command against abortion for all Christians. "thou shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a newborn child"(Didache 2,2)

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by athanasius

Do not forget about the Didache Ad 70, where there is a direct command against abortion for all Christians. "thou shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a newborn child"(Didache 2,2)

Yes... there's a few other quotes from the apostolic fathers related to this issue.

[Dream Angel]

What do you mean by "Early Christians", sure the earliest of christians didnt even know what abortion was?

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by laws28186

What do you mean by "Early Christians", sure the earliest of christians didnt even know what abortion was?

I'm not sure what you mean by this...

[Terrywoodenpic]

I suspect the writings were also including those newborn infants exposed to die.
which was not uncommon through out history, and is even practised today.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

I suspect the writings were also including those newborn infants exposed to die.
which was not uncommon through out history, and is even practised today.

Of course. It was called "exposing" children.

[Mestemia]

Originally Posted by athanasius

Do not forget about the Didache Ad 70, where there is a direct command against abortion for all Christians. "thou shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a newborn child"(Didache 2,2)

I wonder what it actually says.

abortive 1394, from L. abortivus "causing abortion," from abortus, pp. of aboriri "disappear, miscarry," from ab- "amiss" + oriri "appear, be born, arise" (see orchestra); the compound word used in L. for deaths, miscarriages, sunsets, etc. The L. verb for "to produce