By: Gen Jim – 8/31/2024
I want to address abortion/infanticide in part 2. I’ve written many articles in past years but not I want to cite some early Christian fathers like Barnabas, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, (who wrote a great deal against the MURDER of the unborn), Mark Minucias Felix, Hippolytus, Cyprian and Lactantius.
I’m not going to get into the current issues in respect to anti-abortion vs. pro-abortion. One can read up on this on the internet. But few know what was written/stated centuries ago (A.D.). So, here we go: To start here is what the Apostolic constitutions had to say (compiled around a.d. 390): “You shall not slay your child by causing abortion, nor kill the baby that is born. For ‘everything that is shaped and has received a soul from God, if it is slain, shall be avenged, as being unjustly destroyed.’” (7.466).
The Didache (80-140 A.D.) has this to say: “You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill one who has been born.” (1.377). In a letter to Diognetus (125-200) we read: “They bear children, but they do not destroy offspring.” (1.27).
The epistle of Barnabas (70-100, believed the same that was companion of Paul the apostle, which the epistle is included in the early MS, Codex Sinaiticus. Some doubt that Barnabas wrote the following). “You shall not kill the child by obtaining an abortion. Nor, again shall you destroy him after he is born,” (1.148).
Athenagoras (2nd century Christian apologist, converted from being a Greek philosopher. His apology was presented to the Emperor Commodus and Emperor Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 177): “We say that those women who use drugs to bring abortion commit murder. And we also say they will have to give an account to God for the abortion. So on what basis could we commit murder? For it does not belong to the same person to regard the very fetus in the womb as a created being (and therefore an object of God’s care) – yet, when he has passed into life, to kill him. We also teach that it is wrong to expose an infant. For those who expose them are guilty of child murder.” (2.147).
Athenagoras uses the correct word “fetus,” not “tissue” (unwanted) as do these murderers of today. A fetus is a LIVING SOUL/PERSON!
Clement of Alexandria (150-215 A.D.), teacher of Christianity in Egypt wrote: “Fathers, forgetting about their children who have been exposed, often unknowingly have intercourse with a son that has debauched himself and with daughters who are prostitutes.” (2.276). This quote I forgot to put in part one under “incest.”
Clement continues: “What cause is there for the exposure of a child? The man who did not desire to beget children had no right to marry at all. He certainly does not have the right to become the murderer of his children, because of licentious indulgence.” (2.368).
Tertullain (160-230) wrote quiet a bit on this subject. In 212 A.D. he wrote: “I behold a certain ceremony and circumstance of adultery. On the one hand, idolatry precedes it and leads the way. On the other hand, murder follows in company… witness the midwives too! How many adulterous conceptions are slaughtered!” (4.78). He continues in other places: “In our care, murder is once for all forbidden. Therefore, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder birth is merely a speedier way to kill a human. It does not matter whether you take away a life that has been born, or destroy one that is not yet born.” (3.25); “First of all, you (pagans) expose your children, so that they may be taken up by any compassionate passerby, to whom they are quite unknown!” (3.26); “Although you are forbidden by the laws to kill newborn infants, it so happens that no laws are evaded with more impunity or greater safety. And this is done with the deliberate knowledge of the public.” (3.123); “Among surgeons’ tools there is a certain instrument that is formed with a nicely adjusted flexible frame for first of all opening the uterus and then keeping it open. It also has a circular blade, by means of which the limbs within the womb are dissected with careful, but unflinching care. Its last appendage is a blunted or covered hook, by which the entire fetus is extracted by a violent delivery. There is also a copper needle or spike, by which the actual death is brought about in this treacherous robbery of life.” “TREACHEROUS ROBBERY of LIFE!!!”
Can you imagine the PAIN the pre-born feels? No lawyer to defend him or her! No pity from doctors/nurse or parent/murderer! No chance to live and experience life! No, NOTHING BUT A PAINFUL, HORRIBLE DEATH!!!
Terutullian continues: “… From its infanticide function, they give it the name, ‘killer of the infant’ – which infant of course, had once been alive.” (3.206); “Indeed, the Law of Moses punishes with appropriate penalties the person who causes abortion. For these already exists the beginning stages of a human being. And even at this stage, [the fetus] is already acknowledged with having the condition of life and death, since he (or she) is already susceptible to both.” (3.218); “Are you to dissolve the conception by aid of drugs? I believe it is no more lawful to hurt a child in process of birth, than to hurt one who is already born.” (4.57).
In the Bible, Exodus 21:22-25 we read this: “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall be life for life, ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.’” Pregnant women were favored by the law. Vs.22 deals with the result of miscarriage, not abortion.
Mark Minucius Felix (2nd or 3rd century Roman lawyer, a convert to Christianity) wrote the following: “There are some women who by drinking medical preparations, extinguish the source of the future man in their very bowels. So they commit murder before they bring forth. And these things assuredly come down from the teaching of your gods.” (4.192).
In this quote Hippolytus (170-236 A.D.) also mentions the usage of drugs for abortion as did Athenagoras, Tertullian and Mark M. Felix: “Women who were reported believers began to resort to drugs for producing sterility. They also girded themselves around, so as to expel what was being conceived. For they did not wish to have a child by either a slave or by any common fellow – out of concern for their family and their excessive wealth. See what a great impiety the lawless one has advanced! He teaches adultery and murder at the same time!” (5.131).
Cyprian (d.258 A.D.) wrote about a woman’s miscarriage: “The womb of his wife was hit by a blow of his heel. And, in the miscarriage that soon followed, the offspring was brought forth, the fruit of a father’s murder.” (5.326).
The following are 3 quotes from Lactantius (250-325 A.D.), who in his later years was Constantine’s son, Crispus’ tutor: “I cannot find language to even speak of the infants who were burned to the same Saturn!” (7.35). Instead of aborting their children, some women burnt them upon the altar of Saturn. Back in the day ancient Israel offered their children upon the altar of Molech, a pagan practice that angered God. (See Leviticus 18:21), the prohibition against such a devilish practice, just above the prohibition of same-sex sex (v.22): “And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God…” (v.21).
Molech is the Hebrew word for “king” written so as to be read with the vowels of the word that means “a thing of shame” (bosheth). Some believe this was reference to the pagan practice of “fire baptism” but I believe it refers to the killing of children. Ezekiel 20:26 points to the ritual of leaping thru fire; Jeremiah 7:31/19:5 are two passages that seem to imply human sacrifice: “And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the Son of Hinnom, to BURN their sons and daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart” (Jeremiah 7:31, NKJV).
Jeremiah 19:5 tells us about “high places of Baal, to BURN their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal…” V.6 mentions the valley of the Son of Hinom, aka “Valley of Slaughter.”
Israel copied the pagans in various forms of worship: some included killing and others worship of false gods. Deuteronomy 12:2 says, “Ye shall UTTERLY DESTROY all the places, wherein the (pagan) nations which ye shall possess served their gods…”; v.3 says, “And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break down their pillars, and burn their graves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.” Do you think this same Holy God condones all this worldly (fake) worship and idolatry, let alone LGBTQ plus abominations? Do you think He enjoys the MURDER of the unborn upon the alter of “sexual freedom?”
Lactantius continues: “They (pagans) either strangle the sons born from themselves, or if they are too ‘pious,’ they expose them.” (7.144, 145). Here is a rather lengthy quote. Take note of the cruel way of killing the infants: “Let no one imagine that to STRANGLE newborn children is allowable. For this is the greatest impiety! God breathes into their souls for life, not for death. Men… deprive souls that are still innocent and simple, of the light that still innocent and simple, of the light that they themselves have not given… or can those persons be considered innocent who expose their own offspring as PREY for dogs? As far as their participation is concerned, they have killed them in a more cruel manner than if they had STRANGLED them! … Therefore, is anyone is unable to bring up children because of poverty, it is better to abstain from marriage them to mar the work of God with wicked hands.” (9.187).
Continued….