Answers from church history on today's questions
What Christian writers said, from about AD 107 to 1930.
27 passages · 14 writers · 10 centuries
Few writers in this collection treat flattery at length. Of the 27 passages here, 10 state a position on it and 17 mention it in passing. Six of the 10 statements come from one work, Richard Allestree's The Government of the Tongue (1674); the others are from Lactantius (about 303), Augustine, Aquinas, and Matthew Henry. These writers class flattery with lying and deceit and say it harms the person praised, by working their ruin unseen or by consenting to their wrongdoing. Aquinas writes that flattery of another's sin is said to harm spiritual goods more than the persecutor's sword does, though not as effectively, since no one can be the sufficient cause of another's sinning. The mentions, from Ignatius (about 107) to A. T. Robertson (1930), name flattery as a kind of lying, as smooth speech that covers hostility, or as a vice in lists. No Orthodox writer after the early church appears, and the only Catholic writers after the early church are Aquinas and Bernard of Clairvaux.
3 passages · 3 writers · 300s to 1700s
Writers define flattery as false praise or feigned kindness and so class it with lying.
For if false witness by falsehood is injurious to him against whom it is spoken, and deceives him in whose presence it is spoken, we must therefore never speak falsely, because falsehood always deceives or injures. Therefore he is not a just man who, even without inflicting injury, speaks in idle discourse. Nor indeed is it lawful for him to flatter, for flattery is pernicious and deceitful; but he will everywhere guard the truth.
Lactantius, The Divine Institutes 8.60
I shall instance in three viz. Lying, Servility, and Treachery, which being detestably deformed single must in conjunction make up a loathsome Monstrous guilt. Now, though Flattery has two Branches, yet these lie so at the Root as equally to influence both: for whether you take it as it is the giving of praise where it is not due, or the professing of kindness which is not real, these Properties are still is Constitutive parts.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 9
A flattering lie, which secretly works the ruin of those it is spoken to. In the former the mischief is plain, and men guard against it as well as they can, but in this it is little suspected, and men betray themselves by being credulous of their own praises and the compliments that are passed upon them. A wise man therefore will be more afraid of a flatterer that kisses and kills than of a slanderer that proclaims war.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Proverbs 26.19
3 passages · 3 writers · 300s to 1600s
Writers say flattery is a deadly wound to the person praised, harms spiritual goods, and consents to evil.
Of the malevolence and deceit, brethren, of certain men he speaketh, who by adulation, though they know what they hear to be evil, yet lest they offend those from whom they hear, not only by not reproving but by holding their peace do consent. Too little is it, that they do not say, Thou hast done evil: but they even say, Thou hast done even well: and they know it to be evil: but their mouth aboundeth in malice, and their tongue embraceth deceit. … It is too little that thou doest it, thou art delighted too; thou praisest openly, thou laughest to thyself.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 50
The passages quoted speak of the flatterer who praises another's sin. Flattery of this kind is said to harm more than the sword of the persecutor, since it does harm to goods that are of greater consequence. namely, spiritual goods. Yet it does not harm so efficaciously, since the sword of the persecutor slays effectively, being a sufficient cause of death; whereas no one by flattering can be a sufficient cause of another's sinning, as was shown above (Q[43], A[1], ad 3; FS, Q[73], A[8] , ad 3; FS, Q[80], A[1] ).
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q115.A2
The last of Verbal injuries to our Neighbor which I shall mention, is Flattery. This is indeed the fatalest wound of the Tongue, carries least Smart, but infinitely more of Danger, and is as much superior to the former, as a Gangrene is to a Gall or Scratch; this may be sore and vexing, but that stupifying and deadly. Flattery is such a Mystery, such a Riddle of iniquity, that its very softnesses are its cruelest rigor, its Balm corrodes, and (to comprise all in the Psalmist’s excellent Description) its words are smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 9
4 passages · 1 writer · 1600s
Writers describe the flatterer as treacherous, false as a friend, and foolish, and say that refusing flattery rests on the person addressed.
Tis a common observation of Flatterers, that they are like the Heliotrope, open only towards the sun, but shut and contract themselves at night, and in cloudy weather. Let the object of their adoration be but eclipsed, they can see none of those excellencies which before dazzled their eyes: and how ever inconstant they may seem to others, they are indeed very constant to themselves, true to their fixed principle, of courting the greatness not the man; in pursuit whereof their old Idol is often made a sacrifice to their new: all malicious discovery is made of their falling friend, to buy an interest in the rising one.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 9
This is certainly the blackest color wherein we can view a Parasite, his false light makes the shadow the more dismal: as the Ape has a peculiar deformity above other brutes by that awkward and ungraceful resemblance he has to a man, so sure a Flatterer is infinitely the more hateful for being the ugly counterfeit of a Friend. And as this Treachery lies at the bottom of the Panegyrics, so also does it of all the caresses and exuberant kindness of a Flatterer, which if they aimed not at any particular end of circumvention must yet in the general be Treacherous by being false.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 9
But after all that hath or can be said, the suppression of Flattery will most depend upon those Persons to whom it is addressed: if it be not repulsed there, nothing else will discourage it, and if it be, tis crushed in the egg, and can produce no viper.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 9
These are those lineaments of this vice of Flattery, which sure do together make up a face of most extreme deformity. … Men of this art do sometimes drop their vizard before they have got the prize, and then there is nothing in the world that appears so contemptible, so silly; a barefaced Flatterer being everybody’s scorn. The short is, wherever this game is played there is always a fool in the case: if the Parasite be detected, it falls to his share: if he be not, to his whom he deludes.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 9
2 passages · 2 writers · 1500s to 1800s
Writers name flattery in passing as a way of deceiving a neighbor or as a species of lying.
Every man speaketh deceit. David in this verse sets forth that part of unrighteousness which is contrary to truth. He says that there is no sincerity or uprightness in their speech, because the great object upon which they are bent is to deceive. He next describes the manner in which they deceive, namely, that every man endeavors to ensnare his neighbor by flattery He also points out the fountain and first cause of this, They speak with a double heart.
John Calvin, Commentary on the Psalms, Vol. 1 12.1
Boasting (Da 7:25) is, like flattery, a species of lying.
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Psalms 12
6 passages · 4 writers · 400s to 1800s
Writers read Psalm 55:21 and similar texts as warning that flattering speech can hide malice, and say it can be worse than open enmity.
But often a feigned patience excites to anger more keenly than words, and a spiteful silence exceeds the most awful insults in words, and the wounds of enemies are more easily borne than the deceitful blandishment of mockers, of which it is well said by the prophet: “Their words are smoother than oil, and yet they are darts:” and elsewhere “the words of the crafty are soft: but they smite within the belly:”
John Cassian, The Conferences of John Cassian. Part II. Containing Conferences XI-XVII 7.18
Your uncle, who has already lost his own soul, seeks yours. The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile. Do not learn, my son, to do evil (Ps. xxxvi. 4). Do not turn aside to vanities and falsehoods (Ps. xl. 4). Behold in the way in which you walk he hides snares—he has stretched nets. His discourses are smooth as butter, and yet they are sharp spears (Ps. lv. 21). See, my son, that you are not taken with lying lips and a deceitful tongue. Let divine fear transfix your flesh, that the desire of the flesh may not deceive you. It flatters, but under its tongue is suffering and sorrow; it weeps, but betrays; it betrays to catch the poor when it has attracted him (Ps. x. 9).
Bernard of Clairvaux, Some Letters of Saint Bernard 46
Observe here, Malice is folly and wickedness. 1. It is so when it is concealed by flattery and dissimulation: He is a fool, though he may think himself a politician, that hides hatred with lying lips, lest, if it break out, he should be ashamed before men and should lose the opportunity of gratifying his malice. Lying lips are bad enough of themselves, but have a peculiar malignity in them when they are made a cloak of maliciousness.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Proverbs 10.17
By telling lies to him. They flattered him with professions and protestations of friendships, and promises of kindness and service to him, that they might the more securely and without suspicion carry on their designs against him, and might have an opportunity, by betraying his counsels, to do him a mischief. They smiled in his face and kissed him, even when they were aiming to smite him under the fifth rib. The most dangerous enemies, and those which it is most hard to guard against, are such as carry on their malicious designs under the colour of friendship.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalms 120.1
Hypocrisy designing ill. It is not only the murderer with his sword, but the hypocrite with his mouth, that destroys his neighbour, decoying him into sin, or into mischief, by the specious pretences of kindness and good-will. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, but no tongue more fatal than the flattering tongue.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Proverbs 11.8
The first thing which demands our attention in these verses, is the flattering language with which our Lord was accosted by His enemies."Teacher," they said, "we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter who you teach, for you aren't partial to anyone." How well these Pharisees and Herodians talked! What smooth and honeyed words were these! They thought, no doubt, that by good words and fair speeches they would throw our Lord off His guard. It might truly be said of them, "his mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords."
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew Matthew 22:15-22
3 passages · 3 writers · 100s to 1700s
Writers include flattery or fawning in lists of vices of opponents or of a corrupt age.
He glorifies himself, for he is full of arrogance. He is lying, fraudulent, soothing, flattering, treacherous, rhapsodical, trifling, inharmonious, verbose, sordid, and timorous.
Ignatius of Antioch, The Epistles of Ignatius 9
The first (1), the spirit of fornication, dwelleth in the nature and in the senses; the second (2) spirit of insatiateness in the belly; the third (3) spirit of fighting in the liver and the gall. The fourth (4) is the spirit of fawning and trickery, that through over-officiousness a man may be fair in seeming.
Anonymous (ANF), The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 3
When dissimulation and flattery have corrupted and debauched all conversation, then the times are very bad ( v. 2 ), when men are generally so profligate that they make no conscience of a lie, are so spiteful as to design against their neighbours the worst of mischiefs, and yet so base as to cover the design with the most specious and plausible pretences and professions of friendship. Thus they speak vanity (that is, falsehood and a lie) every one to his neighbour, with flattering lips and a double heart. They will kiss and kill (as Joab did Abner and Amasa in David's own time), will smile in your face and cut your throat. This is the devil's image complete, a complication of malice and falsehood.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalms 12.1
3 passages · 3 writers · 300s to 1600s
Writers say flattery draws others into sin, indulges their vices, or feeds them.
“Their throat is an open sepulchre.” It may be referred to signify gluttony, for the sake of which men very often lie by flattery. And admirably has he said, “an open sepulchre:” for this gluttony is ever gaping with open mouth, not as sepulchres, which, on the reception of corpses, are closed up. This also may be understood hereby, that with lying and blind flattery men draw to themselves those whom they entice to sin; and as it were devour them, when they turn them to their own way of living. And when this happens to them, since by sin they die, those by whom they are led along, are rightly called open sepulchres: for themselves too are in a manner lifeless, being destitute of the life of truth; and they take in to themselves dead men, whom having slain by lying words and a vain heart, they turn unto themselves.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 5
The preachers of the gospel have also their courtesy and their pleasing manner, but joined with honesty, so that they neither soothe men with vain praises, nor flatter their vices: but impostors allure men by flattery, and spare and indulge their vices, that they may keep them attached to themselves.
John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 16.2
And accordingly, we see that men used only to applauses are so fooled with them that their insolences are intolerable. And this they are sometimes taught to their cost, when they happen among free men, who will not submit to all they say, nor commend all they do. And finding these uneasy contradictions when they come abroad, they are willing to return to their most complaisant company: and so this Sycophant Devil having once got them within his circle, may enchant them as he pleases, lead them from one wickedness to another.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 9
3 passages · 3 writers · 1700s to 1900s
Writers contrast flattery with reproof, plain preaching, and honest courtesy, and note what it costs the flatterer.
Flatterers may please those for a time who, upon second thoughts, will detest and despise them. If ever they come to be convinced of the evil of those sinful courses they were flattered in, and to be ashamed of the pride and vanity which were humoured and gratified by those flatteries, they will hate the fawning flatterers as having had an ill design upon them, and the fulsome flatteries as having had an ill effect upon them and become nauseous. 2. Reprovers may displease those at first who yet afterwards, when the passion is over and the bitter physic begins to work well, will love and respect them.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Proverbs 28.23
There are many kinds of pleasant words, some of which are not like ‘honey,’ but like poison hid in jam. Insincere compliments, flatteries when rebukes would be fitting, and all the brood of civil conventionalities, are not the words meant here. Truly pleasant ones are those which come from true Wisdom, and may often have a surface of bitterness like the prophet’s roll, but have a core of sweetness.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Kings from Chap. VIII, and Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes 1.8.20
Using words of flattery (εν λογω κολακειας). Literally, in speech of flattery or fawning . Old word, only here in N.T., from κολακς, a flatterer. An Epicurean, Philodemus, wrote a work Περ Κολακειας (Concerning Flattery). Milligan (Vocabulary, etc.) speaks of "the selfish conduct of too many of the rhetoricians of the day," conduct extremely repugnant to Paul.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 14.2
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