Augustine of Hippo, Against Lying. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 3 (Schaff, 1887), public domain.
Passages · 41
- Against Lying Chapter 1 — 1. A great deal for me to read hast thou sent, my dearest brother Consentius: a great deal for me to read: to the which while I am preparing an answer, and am drawn off first by one, then by another, more urgent…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 2 — 2. Perceivest thou not how much this reasoning aideth the very persons whom as great game we make ado to catch by our lies? For, as thyself hast shown, this is the sentiment of the Priscillianists to prove which,…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 3 — 3. Which sentence dishonoreth the holy Martyrs, nay rather taketh away holy martyrdoms altogether. For they would do more justly and wisely, according to these men, not to confess to their persecutors that they were…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 4 — 4. Of lies are many sorts, which indeed all, universally, we ought to hate. For there is no lie that is not contrary to truth. For, as light and darkness, piety and impiety, justice and iniquity, sin and right-doing,…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 5 — 5. Well then, let us set before our eyes a cunning spy as he makes up to the person whom he has already perceived to be a Priscillianist; he begins with Dictinius the bishop, and lyingly bepraises either his life, if…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 6 — 6. It remains, then, that what the Priscillianists think, according to the nefarious falsity of their heresy, of God, of the soul, of the body, and the rest, we hesitate not with truthful pity to condemn; but what…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 7 — 7. And, what is more miserable, even they, already made as it were our own, cannot find how they may believe us. For if they suspect that even in the catholic doctrines themselves we speak lyingly, that we may…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 8 — 8. But now observe how more tolerable in comparison with us is the lying of the Priscillianists, when they know that they speak deceitfully: whom by our own lying we think right to deliver from those false things in…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 9 — 9. When therefore we teach ours to blaspheme God that the Priscillianists may believe them theirs, let us see what evil themselves say when they therefore lie that we may believe them ours. They anathematize…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 10 — 10. Ever, my brother, in such cases, it behoves with fear to recollect, “Whoso shall deny Me before men, I will deny him before My Father which is in heaven.” Or truly is it no denying of Christ before men, to deny…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 11 — 11. “But, hidden wolves,” thou wilt say, “clad in sheep’s clothing, and privily and grievously wasting the Lord’s flock, can we no otherwise find out.” Whence then have the Priscillianists become known, ere this way…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 12 — 12. “But,” thou wilt say, “we more easily penetrate their concealment if we pretend to be ourselves what they are.” If this were lawful or expedient, Christ might have instructed his sheep that they should come clad…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 13 — 13. Or haply is it so, that he who plots in this way to find out Priscillianists, denies not Christ, forasmuch as with his mouth he utters what with his heart he believes not? As if truly (which I also said a little…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 14 — 14. Wherefore, that which is written, “Who speaketh the truth in his heart,” is not so to be taken, as if, truth being retained in the heart, in the mouth one may speak a lie. But the reason why it is said, is,…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 15 — >15. And as for that saying of the Apostle, “Putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another,” far be it that we should so understand it, as though he had permitted…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 16 — 16. For there were even in the Apostles’ times some who preached the truth not in truth, that is, not with truthful mind: of whom the Apostle saith that they preached Christ not chastely, but of envy and strife. And…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 17 — 17. Wherefore, though there be indeed many ways in which latent heretics may be sought out, without vituperating the catholic faith or praising heretical impiety, yet if there were no other way at all of drawing out…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 18 — 18. It does indeed make very much difference, for what cause, with what end, with what intention a thing be done: but those things which are clearly sins, are upon no plea of a good cause, with no seeming good end,…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 19 — 19. Some man will say, “So then any thief whatever is to be accounted equal with that thief who steals with will of mercy?” Who would say this? But of these two it does not follow that any is good, because one is…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 20 — 20. But, what must be confessed, to human minds certain compensative sins do cause such embarrassment, that they are even thought meet to be praised, and rather to be called right deeds. For who can doubt it to be a…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 21 — 21. If then to sin, that others may not commit a worse sin, either against us or against any, without doubt we ought not; it is to be considered in that which Lot did, whether it be an example which we ought to…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 22 — 22. And to holy David indeed it might more justly be said, that he ought not to have been angry; no, not with one however ungrateful and rendering evil for good; yet if, as man, anger did steal over him, he ought not…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 23 — 23. But in all our doings, even good men are very greatly embarrassed in the matter of compensative sins; so that these are not esteemed to be sins, if they have such causes for the which they be done, and in the…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 24 — 24. Touching Jacob, however, that which he did at his mother’s bidding, so as to seem to deceive his father, if with diligence and in faith it be attended to, is no lie, but a mystery. The which if we shall call…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 25 — 25. Nor have I undertaken that in the present discourse, as it more pertains to thee, who hast laid open the hiding-places of the Priscillianists, so far as relates to their false and perverse dogmas; that they may…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 26 — 26. To show then that some things in the Scriptures which are thought to be lies are not what they are thought, if they be rightly understood, let it not seem to thee to tell little against them, that it is not from…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 27 — 27. There are some things of this sort even of our Saviour in the Gospel, because the Lord of the Prophets deigned to be Himself also a Prophet. Such are those where, concerning the woman which had an issue of blood,…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 28 — 28. Hence is also that which thou hast mentioned that they speak of, that the Lord Jesus, after He was risen, walked in the way with two disciples; and upon their drawing near to the village whither they were going,…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 29 — 29. Because, therefore, lying heretics find not in the books of the New Testament any precedents of lying which are meet to be imitated, they esteem themselves to be most copious in their disputation wherein they…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 30 — 30. But why do these persons think they may imitate Tamar telling a lie, and not think they may imitate Judah committing fornication? For there they have read both, and nought of these hath that Scripture either…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 31 — 31. But he who says that some lies are just, must be judged to say no other than that some sins are just, and therefore some things are just which are unjust: than which what can be more absurd? For whence is a thing…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 32 — 32. But, as for that which is written, that God did good to the Hebrew midwives, and to Rahab the harlot of Jericho, this was not because they lied, but because they were merciful to God’s people. That therefore…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 33 — 33. It remains then that we understand as concerning those women, whether in Egypt or in Jericho, that for their humanity and mercy they received a reward, in any wise temporal, which indeed itself, while they wist…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 34 — 34. But some man will say, Would then those midwives and Rahab have done better if they had shown no mercy, by refusing to lie? Nay verily, those Hebrew women, if they were such as that sort of persons of whom we ask…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 35 — 35. Since these things are so, because it were too long to treat thoroughly of all that in that “Pound” of Dictinius are set down as precedents of lying, meet to be imitated, it seemeth to me that this is the rule to…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 36 — 36. But for that we are men and among men do live, and I confess that I am not yet in the number of them whom compensative sins embarrass not, it oft befalleth me in human affairs to be overcome by human feeling, nor…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 37 — 37. Add to this, (and here is cause to cry out more piteously,) that, if once we grant it to have been right for the saving of that sick man’s life to tell him the lie, that his son was alive, then, by little and…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 38 — 38. But infirmity pleadeth its part, and with favor of the crowds proclaims itself to have a cause invincible. Where it contradicts, and says, “What way is there among men, who without doubt by being deceived are…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 39 — 39. But, some man will say, “Strong meat is for them that are perfect.” For in many things a relaxation by way of indulgence is allowed to infirmity, although in her utmost sincerity the things be nowise pleasing to…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 40 — 40. But sometimes a peril to eternal salvation itself is put forth against us; which peril, they cry out, we by telling a lie, if otherwise it cannot be, must ward off. As, for instance, if a person who is to be…vatican.va
- Against Lying Chapter 41 — 41. Either then we are to eschew lies by right doing, or to confess them by repenting: but not, while they unhappily abound in our living, to make them more by teaching also. But let him who thinks this, choose out…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 143 verses
Genesis 19:5 · Genesis 19:6 · Genesis 19:7 · Genesis 19:8 · Genesis 19:9 · Genesis 19:10 · Genesis 19:11 · Genesis 20:2 · Genesis 20:12 · Genesis 26:7 · Genesis 27:16 · Genesis 27:17 · Genesis 27:18 · Genesis 27:19 · Genesis 38:14 · Genesis 38:15 · Genesis 38:16 · Genesis 38:17 · Genesis 38:18 · Exodus 1:17 · Exodus 1:18 · Exodus 1:19 · Exodus 1:20 · Judges 9:8 · Judges 9:9 · Judges 9:10 · Judges 9:11 · Judges 9:12 · Judges 9:13 · Judges 9:14 · Judges 9:15 · 1 Samuel 21:13 · 1 Samuel 25:22 · 1 Samuel 25:23 · 1 Samuel 25:24 · 1 Samuel 25:25 · 1 Samuel 25:26 · 1 Samuel 25:27 · 1 Samuel 25:28 · 1 Samuel 25:29 · 1 Samuel 25:30 · 1 Samuel 25:31 · 1 Samuel 25:32 · 1 Samuel 25:33 · 1 Samuel 25:34 · 1 Samuel 25:35 · 1 Kings 21:10 · 1 Kings 21:13 · 2 Kings 10:31 · Job 2:5 · Psalm 5:6 · Psalm 5:7 · Psalm 6:7 · Psalm 15:2 · Psalm 18:44 · Psalm 31:22 · Psalm 55:5 · Psalm 84:4 · Psalm 116:11 · Psalm 116:15 · Psalm 119:142 · Proverbs 29:27 · Sirach 19:1 · Ezekiel 18:4 · Ezekiel 36:26 · Matthew 5:37 · Matthew 7:15 · Matthew 7:16 · Matthew 10:16 · Matthew 10:33 · Luke 8:45 · Luke 10:30 · Luke 10:31 · Luke 10:32 · Luke 10:33 · Luke 10:34 · Luke 10:35 · Luke 10:36 · Luke 10:37 · Luke 13:28 · Luke 13:29 · Luke 13:30 · Luke 15:11 · Luke 15:12 · Luke 15:13 · Luke 15:14 · Luke 15:15 · Luke 15:16 · Luke 15:17 · Luke 15:18 · Luke 15:19 · Luke 15:20 · Luke 15:21 · Luke 15:22 · Luke 15:23 · Luke 15:24 · Luke 15:25 · Luke 15:26 · Luke 15:27 · Luke 15:28 · Luke 15:29 · Luke 15:30 · Luke 15:31 · Luke 15:32 · Luke 24:28 · John 1:47 · John 11:34 · John 16:12 · Romans 3:7 · Romans 3:8 · Romans 6:13 · Romans 10:10 · 1 Corinthians 9:20 · 1 Corinthians 9:22 · 1 Corinthians 10:4 · 1 Corinthians 15:53 · 1 Corinthians 15:54 · 1 Corinthians 15:55 · 1 Corinthians 15:56 · 2 Corinthians 2:15 · 2 Corinthians 2:16 · 2 Corinthians 4:16 · Galatians 2:13 · Galatians 2:14 · Galatians 4:25 · Galatians 4:26 · Galatians 6:1 · Ephesians 4:25 · Ephesians 4:28 · Philippians 1:15 · Philippians 1:16 · Philippians 1:17 · Philippians 1:18 · 1 Timothy 1:13 · 1 Timothy 1:20 · Hebrews 5:14 · 1 Peter 5:8 · 1 John 1:8 · 1 John 2:21 · 1 John 3:4 · 1 John 3:9 · Revelation 5:5 · Revelation 14:5