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The Early Church Fathers on Prayers for Government Rulers

The Early Church Fathers on Prayers for Government Rulers

Last updated on: October 24, 2026 at 8:02 pm by Al Baker

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The Early Church Fathers on Prayers for Government Rulers 2026-10-24T20:02:14-05:00 Al Baker

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How Early Christian Writers Followed the Apostolic Mandates

Protesters wearing masks and dressed in riot gear.

In the first article of this series we looked at the texts in the NT giving Christians directives to pray for their government leaders and to refrain from speaking against them. It seems that the NT writers wanted the Church to be “at peace” with the government.

In this article we are going to look at the expectations of leaders in the second and third centuries:
How Christians should respond to their governmental leaders.
As the title above suggests, these post-apostolic Christian leaders followed the teachings of the apostles. The amazing thing is that beginning with Nero Christians were a persecuted sector of the Empire.

Wikimedia: Clement of Rome - Mosaic from St. Sophia of Kyiv

Wikimedia: Clement of Rome – Mosaic from St. Sophia of Kyiv

Clement of Rome (c. 96 AD)
In one of the earliest surviving post-biblical texts, Clement offers a formal prayer for earthly authorities:
“Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability,
so that they may exercise without offense
the sovereignty which you have given them.” 1 Clement 61

Although a fairly good administrator, Domitian was a cruel Roman leader. He was most hated for insisting that he be addressed as “master and god.” It is this Emperor that Clement prays will have good health and peace. Despite reports from some of the early Christian writers, there is very little evidence that Domitian singled out Christians. A few of his fellow leaders and officials were charged with treason and execution for being friendly with “atheists” and “Jewish traditions.” When this news spread among the Christians it felt like persecution was coming. Clement urges Christians to keep their heads down, stay out of trouble and pray for peace in the midst of social/political tension.

Wikimedia: Martyrdom of Polycarp of Smyrna

Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 135–155 AD)
At 86 years old, Polycarp was dragged before the Roman proconsul unwilling pinch salt on the altar and give a mighty “Hail, Caesar!” He was mocked by the soldiers and the crowd in the amphitheater. Prior to his execution Polycarp explicitly stated the Christian rule of civic engagement:

“We have been taught to render all due honor to the rulers and authorities appointed by God, so long as it does not harm us.”
The Martyrdom of Polycarp 10.2

Wikimedia: Public DomainJustin Martyr

Wikimedia: Public Domain
Justin Martyr

Justin Martyr
(c. 150–155 AD)
Writing a defense of the faith addressed to Emperor Antoninus Pius, Justin emphasizes that Christians are the empire’s most law-abiding subjects. [this document certainly did not actually get to the Emperor; writings like this Apology were written to Christian leaders and as an appeal to educated philosophers and pagans.]

“…we try to pay the taxes and assessments to those
whom you appoint…We worship God alone, but in other things we gladly serve you,
acknowledging you as kings and rulers of men…”
First Apology 17

Wikimedia Commons: Public Domain - Tertullian of N. Africa

Wikimedia Commons: Public Domain Tertullian of N. Africa

Tertullian of N. Africa – (c. 155 – c. 220 AD)
Tertullian pushed back heavily against charges that Christians were guilty of treason by explaining that the Roman Empire held back global chaos:

“We offer prayer for the safety of our emperors to the eternal, true, and living God…We have another and a greater need to pray for the emperors…because we know that a mighty shock hanging over the whole earth…is delayed by the Roman empire.”
Apology 30.1; 32.1

He also says that Christians pray for the empire and for the emperor’s success:

“Without ceasing, for all our emperors we offer prayer. We pray for life prolonged; for security to the empire; for protection to the imperial house; for brave armies,
a faithful senate, a virtuous people, the world at rest, whatever, as man or Caesar, an emperor would wish. Apology 30.4

Tertullian confirms that “most clearly, the Scripture says, ‘Pray for kings, and rulers, and powers, that all may be peace with you’.“ Apology 31.3

He writes these things knowing full well the horrible persecution of Christians in 177AD in Lyons:

In the year A.D. 177 a similar persecution broke out in Lyons and Vienne owing to popular passion, and these churches also wrote a letter about it to Asia Minor. The vivid descriptions in this letter arouse the deepest emotions in every new generation of readers…the Christians were genuinely hunted out… A History of the Early Church, Hans Lietzmann, Vol.2, p.161

Photo: Wikimedia - Public Domain: Origen of Alexandria

Photo: Wikimedia – Public Domain: Origen of Alexandria

Origen of Alexandria (c. 248 AD)
Similar to Tertullian, in Origen’s response to Celsus, who accused Christians of being unpatriotic:

“We provide a special army—an army of piety—by offering our prayers to God on behalf of the one who fights in a righteous cause, and on behalf of the king who reigns righteously.” Contra Celsum VIII.73–75

There are more citations from the early church fathers, but these are enough to illustrate that Christian leaders have ALWAYS called the Church to pray for our government leaders – positive prayers, not public slanders.
The early fathers insisted that believers should NOT take part in public disturbance and that believers certainly should NOT break the law.

They did not want Christians to cause trouble – in the Roman Empire if/when you joined a street riot you put yourself at the mercy of Roman soldiers who were instructed to kill trouble-makers.
We are supposed to be model citizens.

The Tension in the USA

As Christians living in the USA we have certain rights: free speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble with those of like mind.

But we are living in an age where protesters on the Left are paid to travel around the nation stirring up dissension, pushing the boundaries of “peaceful” protests. The mainstream media denounce these statements as propaganda, but the website INDIVISIBLE gives you an idea of how they are connected.

Just think about it: every time we have something controversial within a day or two the streets are filled with protesters. How do all these people travel around and spend so many days in a city protesting?
How do they afford to do this?
Do they have real jobs?

Conservatives like to say they keep their heads down and go to work.
This movement of protesters has been uncovered by some independent journalists…and yes, they are being paid.

Christians should not be involved in protests to burn buildings, cars, block highways, and throw bricks at law enforcement which can injure and/or kill.

Christians should not be supportive of non-peaceful protesters.
Read more on organized protests.
https://www.hilobrow.com/2012/04/30/mask/
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52879000

If we were living in a fascist state these protesters would all be dead.

The Roman Empire did not allow any kind of violence in the streets.
Around 304AD some Donatist Christians were killed by Roman soldiers in N. Africa for beating “catholic” Christians, taking their church buildings and refusing to exit the buildings when the Roman troops ordered them to leave.
Force was used…people died. A sad chapter in early church history.
Breaking the law is something a Christian should only do to save a person from death or in an extreme emergency.

Europe is on Fire
We are watching riots and destruction in France. There has been violent attacks in Belgium and now Germany is sitting on the edge of such violence. Some of my fellow Christians appear to support such violence. They will stand against Trump, ICE and deportations. Who do they blame for what’s happening in Europe?
We have clear mandates in the biblical texts and from early Christian leaders.
As Christians we should not support violence in the streets.

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What the New Testament Says About Obeying Rulers