Here are 10 excerpts from the Ante-Nicene Fathers that support the doctrine of total depravity (the belief that human nature is thoroughly corrupted by sin and incapable of pleasing God without divine grace):
1. Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD)
“For the whole human race will be found to be under a curse. For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them.’ And no one has accurately done all, nor will you venture to deny this.”
Source: Dialogue with Trypho, Ch. 95. (ANF Vol. 1, p. 248)
2. Irenaeus (c. 130–202 AD)
“For as the human race, having been conquered by sin, was bound in the chains of death, so it was necessary that man should be set free by the victory of Christ.”
Source: Against Heresies, Book V, Ch. 21.1 (ANF Vol. 1, p. 550)
3. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215 AD)
“For the soul, being a lover of the body, and fallen into its impure delights, is rendered blind by its pleasures.”
Source: The Instructor, Book I, Ch. 6 (ANF Vol. 2, p. 220)
4. Tertullian (c. 155–240 AD)
“Man is condemned to death from the moment of his birth; he begins to live dying, and his whole life is but a progress to death.”
Source: On the Resurrection of the Flesh, Ch. 6 (ANF Vol. 3, p. 548)
5. Origen (c. 184–253 AD)
“For the human soul is by nature inclined to sin, and unless it be healed by the grace of God, it cannot be freed from its disease.”
Source: Commentary on Romans, Book V, Ch. 9 (ANF Vol. 9, p. 446)
6. Cyprian (c. 200–258 AD)
“No one ought to flatter himself with a false persuasion, as though he were pure and innocent, since it is written, ‘No one is clean from sin, not even if his life be but one day long.’”
Source: Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer, Ch. 21 (ANF Vol. 5, p. 454)
7. Lactantius (c. 250–325 AD)
“Man is born in sin, and his nature is inclined to evil from his youth.”
Source: Divine Institutes, Book VI, Ch. 24 (ANF Vol. 7, p. 198)
8. Methodius (c. 260–312 AD)
“For the soul, being defiled by sin, is unable to approach God unless it be purified by the blood of Christ.”
Source: The Banquet of the Ten Virgins, Discourse VIII, Ch. 8 (ANF Vol. 6, p. 341)
9. Arnobius (c. 255–330 AD)
“Man is so deeply sunk in vice that he cannot even perceive his own wretchedness.”
Source: Against the Heathen, Book II, Ch. 5 (ANF Vol. 6, p. 438)
10. Novatian (c. 200–258 AD)
“The whole human race is guilty before God, and no one can be justified by his own works.”
Source: On the Trinity, Ch. 10 (ANF Vol. 5, p. 622)
Bibliographical Note:
All citations are from The Ante-Nicene Fathers (ANF), a 10-volume collection of early Christian writings edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson (first published 1885–1887). The volume and page numbers correspond to the standard reprint editions (Eerdmans, Hendrickson, etc.).
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