Being a primitive Christian, I’m often asked about Cornelius. Cornelius is also a primitive Christian. He was in the military before he converted to Christianity. I’m a pacifist. Was Cornelius?
“Cornelius and Other Christian Soldiers
Early Christian writers seemed to unanimously confirm the pacifism of primitive Christianity, yet the position was not accepted by all. Those who argue against the pacifism of early Christianity often point to the story of Cornelius. The conversion of Cornelius, a centurion and Gentile, stirred a controversy over circumcision (Acts 10). However, there is no evidence of apostolic concerns that Cornelius should resign from the military because he was a soldier in the Italian corps of the Roman army. During and after the decade A.D. 170-80, patristic scholars have found evidence of growing numbers of Christian soldiers. It has been argued by some that, like our present ethos, pacifism may have been proclaimed by an elitist group apart rather than being the widespread conviction of grassroots believers.
The most comprehensive discussion of this issue I have found is from a major church historian of the seventeenth century. In 1696 Gottfried Arnold published a book in German based on patristic studies. Its translated title was: The First Love, That is, The True Portrayal of the First Christians. Because the issue is complicated, I will attempt to summarize Arnold’s comprehensive discussion in the section of his book entitled “What They Believed Concerning War and the Soldier’s Life” (vol. 5, chap. 5, sect. 1-18, 40-49).
First, apostolic congregations made a distinction between those who were soldiers before their conversion and those who became soldiers after being converted. Christians were convinced that the lives of soldiers were filled with idolatry, horrors, and sin. They questioned whether a believer could embrace such a life and carry a flag that mocks the victory of Christ. They believed that warfare emerged as a result of the Fall of the human race, which was created in the image of God. It was the intention of Christ, they believed, that fallen humanity would be restored to their former glorious condition.
Second, anyone who was either a Christian or a catechumen was forbidden to join the army. Church leaders responded to military efforts to recruit their members by saying that Christians trust not human but godly weapons. They argued that if priests in the pagan temples were required to keep their hands clean from blood, how much more should Christians, who all are priests of God, keep their hands clean.
Third, perhaps influenced by the Cornelius story, the church allowed those who were soldiers before their conversion to remain soldiers as long as their conscience would permit. Some soldier converts did resign, declaring they were now soldiers of Christ. One testified: ‘From now on I cease to be a soldier of gods of wood and stone.’ Other soldiers were dismissed by officers who could not tolerate Christians in their ranks. Emperor Diocletian removed some soldiers from military service, forcing them to dig up lime and work in stone quarries.
This represents the beginning of what we know as alternative service. Many suffered martyrdom. Christian soldiers numbering 1,107 were executed in Armenia under Julian. One Christian marched with weapons in a large military procession. When many onlookers were puzzled by his actions, he threw down the weapons at the feet of the commander. He declared that his duty had changed in that he had taken up the weapons of peace, so he would no longer arm himself with iron and steel because he had put on the armor of Christ. Another soldier was ordered to wear a victory wreath on his head. He carried it instead in his hand and suffered martyrdom.”
(Dale W. Brown, Biblical Pacifism, Second Edition, pp. 34-35)
Where does Cornelius fit in all this? How long was in the military before his conversion? How long did he continue in military service after his conversion? Did he retire when, or soon after, he converted? Did he die somewhere in a military conflict? Did he kill before he was converted? If so, how many did he kill? Men, women, children? Did he kill after he was converted? Did he worship the emperor after he was converted? Did he keep his conversion a secret or did his superiors know that he became a Christian? What exactly was his role in the military? Before his conversion? After his conversion?
We don’t know. The only extant record we have regarding him is what is written in the New Testament.
“Cornelius and Other Christian Soldiers
Early Christian writers seemed to unanimously confirm the pacifism of primitive Christianity, yet the position was not accepted by all. Those who argue against the pacifism of early Christianity often point to the story of Cornelius. The conversion of Cornelius, a centurion and Gentile, stirred a controversy over circumcision (Acts 10). However, there is no evidence of apostolic concerns that Cornelius should resign from the military because he was a soldier in the Italian corps of the Roman army. During and after the decade A.D. 170-80, patristic scholars have found evidence of growing numbers of Christian soldiers. It has been argued by some that, like our present ethos, pacifism may have been proclaimed by an elitist group apart rather than being the widespread conviction of grassroots believers.
The most comprehensive discussion of this issue I have found is from a major church historian of the seventeenth century. In 1696 Gottfried Arnold published a book in German based on patristic studies. Its translated title was: The First Love, That is, The True Portrayal of the First Christians. Because the issue is complicated, I will attempt to summarize Arnold’s comprehensive discussion in the section of his book entitled “What They Believed Concerning War and the Soldier’s Life” (vol. 5, chap. 5, sect. 1-18, 40-49).
First, apostolic congregations made a distinction between those who were soldiers before their conversion and those who became soldiers after being converted. Christians were convinced that the lives of soldiers were filled with idolatry, horrors, and sin. They questioned whether a believer could embrace such a life and carry a flag that mocks the victory of Christ. They believed that warfare emerged as a result of the Fall of the human race, which was created in the image of God. It was the intention of Christ, they believed, that fallen humanity would be restored to their former glorious condition.
Second, anyone who was either a Christian or a catechumen was forbidden to join the army. Church leaders responded to military efforts to recruit their members by saying that Christians trust not human but godly weapons. They argued that if priests in the pagan temples were required to keep their hands clean from blood, how much more should Christians, who all are priests of God, keep their hands clean.
Third, perhaps influenced by the Cornelius story, the church allowed those who were soldiers before their conversion to remain soldiers as long as their conscience would permit. Some soldier converts did resign, declaring they were now soldiers of Christ. One testified: ‘From now on I cease to be a soldier of gods of wood and stone.’ Other soldiers were dismissed by officers who could not tolerate Christians in their ranks. Emperor Diocletian removed some soldiers from military service, forcing them to dig up lime and work in stone quarries.
This represents the beginning of what we know as alternative service. Many suffered martyrdom. Christian soldiers numbering 1,107 were executed in Armenia under Julian. One Christian marched with weapons in a large military procession. When many onlookers were puzzled by his actions, he threw down the weapons at the feet of the commander. He declared that his duty had changed in that he had taken up the weapons of peace, so he would no longer arm himself with iron and steel because he had put on the armor of Christ. Another soldier was ordered to wear a victory wreath on his head. He carried it instead in his hand and suffered martyrdom.”
(Dale W. Brown, Biblical Pacifism, Second Edition, pp. 34-35)
Where does Cornelius fit in all this? How long was in the military before his conversion? How long did he continue in military service after his conversion? Did he retire when, or soon after, he converted? Did he die somewhere in a military conflict? Did he kill before he was converted? If so, how many did he kill? Men, women, children? Did he kill after he was converted? Did he worship the emperor after he was converted? Did he keep his conversion a secret or did his superiors know that he became a Christian? What exactly was his role in the military? Before his conversion? After his conversion?
We don’t know. The only extant record we have regarding him is what is written in the New Testament.
