Pre-Christian through the Second Century >>

The Early Church Fathers on Abortion.

Early Church Fathers
From the Scriptures

— The Didache, (A.D. 80-90)
— Minucius Felix, (Marcus) Minucius Felix, (A.D. c.130-c.270)
— The Apocalypse of Peter (or Revelation of Peter), (A.D. 132-136)
— Athenagoras, (A.D. c.133-181)
— Tertullian, (A.D. 160-218)
— St. Hippolytus of Rome, (A.D. 170-236)

The Didache, (A.D. 80-90) the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (Didache means "Teaching") is a brief early Christian treatise, dated by most scholars to the late first or early 2nd century.

The second commandment of the Teaching: "Do not murder; do not commit adultery"; do not corrupt boys; do not fornicate; "do not steal"; do not practice magic; do not go in for sorcery; do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant.

Didache 2:1-2 [A.D. 70]

Minucius Felix, (Marcus) Minucius Felix, (A.D. c.130-c.270), African; he was one of the earliest of the Latin apologists for Christianity. He wrote an apology for the Christian religion, in the form of a dialogue between Caecilius Natalis, a heathen objector, and Octavius Januarius, a Christian respondent, whilst Minucius acts the part of a moderator.

There are some women who, by drinking medical preparations, extinguish the source of the future man in their very bowels, and thus commit a parricide before they bring forth. And these things assuredly come done from the teaching of your gods.

Octavius 30 [A.D. 226]

The Apocalypse of Peter (or Revelation of Peter), (A.D. 132-136), is an early Christian text of the 2nd century and an example of apocalyptic literature with Hellenistic overtones, exist in two incomplete versions of a lost Greek original, one Koine Greek, and an Ethiopic version, which diverge considerably.

I saw a gorge in which the discharge and excrement of the tortured ran down and became like a lake. There sat women, and the discharge came up to their throats; and opposite them sat many children, who were born prematurely, weeping. And from them went forth rays of fire and smote the women on the eyes. These were those who produced children outside of marriage and who procured abortions.

2:26 [A.D. 135]

Athenagoras, (A.D. c.133-181), Athenian; a Proto-orthodox Christian apologist, a philosopher, and a convert to Christianity. According to Philippus Sideta, he presided over the school at Alexandria. He flourished about the year 170. He wrote apologetic defenses of the Christian religion, and a treatise on the Resurreotion.

What reason would we have to commit murder when we say that women who induce abortions are murderers, and will have to give account of it to God? For the same person would not regard the fetus in the womb as a living thing and therefore and object of God's care [and then kill it]. . . But we are altogether consistent in our conduct. We obey reason and do not override it.

A Plea for the Christians 35 [A.D. 177]

Tertullian, (A.D. 160-218), North African; ecclesiastical writer, Christian apologist and lawyer, son of a centurion and contemporary of St. Irenæus, a native and citizen of Carthage. The zeal and ability with which he defended the Christian cause, and vindicated its faith and discipline, have immortalized his name, though it has suffered by his adoption, around the year A.D. 200, of some of the Montanist's errors, whose cause he is thought to have supported until his death. His works are numerous, and are written with great ability and erudition, but in an harsh style.

In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, 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 a birth is merely a speedier man - killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in the seed.

Apology 9:6 [A.D. 197]

The Law of Moses, indeed, punishes with due penalties the man who shall cause abortion [Exodus 21:22-24]".

On the Soul 37 [A.D 208]

St. Hippolytus of Rome, (A.D. 170-236), Roman; bishop and martyr, probably a scholar of St. Irenæus of Lyons.

Women who were reputed to be believers began to take drugs to render themselves sterile, and to bind themselves tightly so as to expel what was being conceived, since they would not, on account of relatives and excess wealth, want to have a child by a slave or by any insignificant person. See, then, into what great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by teaching adultery and murder at the same time!

Refutation of All Heresies 7:8:4 [A.D. 228]

Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person — among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.

— Tertullian (A.D. 160-218)

Even non-Christian writers raised objections to abortion.

Ovid [B.C. 43-A.D. 17] refers to it as warfare.
Juvenal [A.D 67-127] calls it murder.

And so did the Early Church.

Note: Are you a woman of an age who regrets your abortion? Check out this site.

The Church's Scriptures that implicitly prohibit Abortion:

Job contemplates the origin of his life

8 Thy hands fashioned and made me; and now thou dost turn about and destroy me. 9 Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? 10 Didst thou not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese? 11 Thou didst clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. 12 Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love; and thy care has preserved my spirit.

Job 10:8-12

Since my mother bore me thou hast been my God

10 Upon thee was I cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.

Psalms 22:10-11

All that are born from conception in our mother's womb to natural death are wonderfully created

14 I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; 15 my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.

Psalms 139:14-15

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you

4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:4-5