Answers from church history on today's questions
What Christian writers said, from about AD 140 to 1938.
71 passages · 30 writers · 10 centuries
Of the 71 passages here from 30 writers, 35 state a position on truthfulness and 36 mention it in passing, many of them in commentary on verses about speaking truth, lying, or deceit. Aquinas (1265) argues that saying what is true is a virtue and that lying is directly opposed to it, and Lactantius, Ambrose, and Francis de Sales also link true speech to virtue and the Christian life. Hermas, Watson, the Heidelberg Catechism, Matthew Henry, and Hodge ground the duty to speak truthfully in God's character, the commands of Scripture, and the terms of human society. Writers divide on exceptions: Augustine and Matthew Henry forbid every lie while allowing silence or concealment, Cassian allows a lie in some cases, and Clement of Alexandria allows deception used as medicine. No passage here dates from between AD 425 and AD 1265.
9 passages · 5 writers · 300s to 1700s
Writers define truthfulness as a virtue, connect it to righteousness and the Christian life, and say what it is opposed to.
The other things which the worshipper of God ought to observe are easy, when these virtues are comprehended, that no one should ever speak falsely for the sake of deceiving or injuring. For it is unlawful for him who cultivates truth to be deceitful in anything, and to depart from the truth itself which he follows. In this path of justice and all the virtues there is no place for falsehood.
Lactantius, The Divine Institutes 6.18
But it is certain that nothing feigned or false can bear the form of true virtue; nay, it cannot even last. At first it flour ishes, then, as time goes on, like a floweret it fades and passes away, but what is true and sincere has a deep root.
Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 3.22
On the contrary, The Philosopher both in the Second and in the Fourth Book of Ethics places truth among the other virtues. I answer that, Truth can be taken in two ways. First, for that by reason of which a thing is said to be true, and thus truth is not a virtue, but the object or end of a virtue: because, taken in this way, truth is not a habit, which is the genus containing virtue, but a certain equality between the understanding or sign and the thing understood or signified, or again between a thing and its rule, as stated in the FP, Q[16], A[1] ; FP, Q[21], A[2] .
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q109.A1
Secondly, truth may stand for that by which a person says what is true, in which sense one is said to be truthful. This truth or truthfulness must needs be a virtue, because to say what is true is a good act: and virtue is "that which makes its possessor good, and renders his action good." … Yet this does not suffice for it to be an act of virtue, since it is requisite for that purpose that it should also be clothed with the due circumstances, and if these be not observed, the act will be sinful.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q109.A1
The truth of doctrine consists in a certain manifestation of truths relating to science wherefore neither does this truth directly pertain to this virtue, but only that truth whereby a man, both in life and in speech, shows himself to be such as he is, and the things that concern him, not other, and neither greater nor less, than they are.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q109.A3
On the part of the act, to observe the mean is to tell the truth, when one ought, and as one ought.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q109.A1
Therefore it is evident that lying is directly an formally opposed to the virtue of truth. Reply to Objection 1: We judge of a thing according to what is in it formally and essentially rather than according to what is in it materially and accidentally. Hence it is more in opposition to truth, considered as a moral virtue, to tell the truth with the intention of telling a falsehood than to tell a falsehood with the intention of telling the truth.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q110.A1
Assuredly straightforward honesty and sincerity in speech is a great beauty in the Christian life.
Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life 3.30
He that makes conscience of speaking truth, and representing every thing fairly, to the best of his knowledge, whether in judgment or in common conversation, whether he be upon his oath or no, he shows forth righteousness; he makes it to appear that he is governed and actuated by the principles and laws of righteousness, and he promotes justice by doing honour to it and serving the administration of it. … We are all concerned to possess ourselves with a dread and detestation of the sin of lying ( Ps. cxix. 163 ) and with a reigning principle of honesty.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Proverbs 12.17
7 passages · 5 writers · 100s to 1800s
Writers ground the duty to speak truthfully in God's character, in the commands of Scripture, in the new life of the believer, and in the terms of human society.
Again he said to me, “Love the truth, and let nothing but truth proceed from your mouth, that the spirit which God has placed in your flesh may be found truthful before all men; and the Lord, who dwelleth in you, will be glorified, because the Lord is truthful in every word, and in Him is no falsehood. They therefore who lie deny the Lord, and rob Him, not giving back to Him the deposit which they have received. For they received from Him a spirit free from falsehood. If they give him back this spirit untruthful, they pollute the commandment of the Lord, and become robbers.”
Hermas, The Pastor of Hermas 3.3
1 Rather, I should avoid, under penalty of God’s wrath, 2 every kind of lying and deceit as the very works of the devil; and, in court and everywhere else, I should love the truth, speak it candidly, and openly acknowledge it.
Reformed Churches, Heidelberg Catechism 111
Let us be like God in truth. (1.) We must be true in our words. … A liar is most opposite to the God of truth.
Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity 3.10
The God of truth, who requires truth in the heart ( Ps. li. 6 ), requires it also in the tongue: Neither lie one to another, either in bargaining or common converse. This is one of the laws of Christianity ( Col. iii. 9 ): Lie not one to another.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Leviticus 19.2
"You must never tell a lie, but always speak as you think, and as the matter is, to the best of your knowledge: Speak you every man the truth to his neighbour, both in bargains and in common converse; dread every word that looks like a lie." This precept the apostle quotes ( Eph. iv. 25 ), and backs it with this reason, We are members one of another.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Zechariah 8.2
It is the character of God's people that they are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. All who have grace make conscience of speaking the truth, and would not tell a deliberate lie for the greatest gain and benefit to themselves.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Ephesians 4.3
It arises out of the very nature of human society, and from the relation in which men of necessity stand to each other, that every man is expected to speak the truth, and is under a tacit but binding promise not to deceive his neighbours by word or act. If in any case he is guilty of intentional deception, he must be able to show that in that particular case the obligation does not exist; that is, that the party deceived has no right to expect the truth, and that no virtual promise is violated in deceiving him.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology III.19.13
4 passages · 3 writers · 300s to 1600s
Writers hold that truthful speech means saying what one believes and means, and they reject flattery, pretense, and double-dealing in speech.
If, however, either thinking that to be true which is false, or accounting as known that which is to us unknown, or believing what we ought not to believe, or uttering it when need is not, we yet have no other aim than to make that believed which we utter; we do not stand clear indeed of the error of temerity, but we do stand clear of all lying. For there is no need to be afraid of any of those definitions, when the mind has a good conscience, that it utters that which to be true it either knows, or opines, or believes, and that it has no wish to make any thing believed but that which it utters.
Augustine of Hippo, On Lying 4
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, because it is possible that a man may speak with his mouth a truth which profiteth him nothing, if he hold it not in his heart, that is, if what he speaketh, himself believe not; as the heretics, and, above all, these same Priscillianists do, when they do, not indeed believe the catholic faith, but yet speak it, that they may be believed to be of us. They speak therefore the truth in their mouth, not in their heart.
Augustine of Hippo, Against Lying 14
LET your words be kindly, frank, sincere, straightforward, simple and true; avoid all artifice, duplicity and pretence, remembering that, although it is not always well to publish abroad everything that may be true, yet it is never allowable to oppose the truth. Make it your rule never knowingly to say what is not strictly true, either accusing or excusing, always remembering that God is the God of Truth.
Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life 3.30
(II.) Truth in words is opposed to dissembling. The heart and tongue should go together, as the dial goes exactly with the sun. To speak fair to one's face, and not to mean what one speaks, is no better than a lie. … Falsehood in friendship is a lie.
Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity 3.10
9 passages · 6 writers · 100s to 1700s
Writers divide on whether truthfulness admits exceptions: most distinguish concealing the truth from lying and forbid every lie, while a few allow a lie to prevent a greater harm or to heal.
Whatever, therefore, he has in his mind, he bears on his tongue, to those who are worthy to hear, speaking as well as living from assent and inclination. For he both thinks and speaks the truth; unless at any time, medicinally, as a physician for the safety of the sick, he may deceive or tell an untruth, according to the Sophists.
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 7.9
For that which is may not be spoken to all as it is, on account of those who hear wickedly and treacherously; yet it is not proper to deceive, on account of those who desire to hear the truth sincerely.
Pseudo-Clement, Pseudo-Clementine Literature 3.5.1
67. But inasmuch as the word “guileless” may mislead some who are desirous of obeying God’s precepts, so that they may think it wrong, at times, to conceal the truth, just as it is wrong at times to speak a falsehood, and inasmuch as in this way,—by disclosing things which the parties to whom they are disclosed are unable to bear,—they may do more harm than if they were to conceal them altogether and always, He very rightly adds: “Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” For the Lord Himself, although He never told a lie, yet showed that He was concealing certain truths, when He said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”
Augustine of Hippo, Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount 3.20
Let what is chaste be so loved, as that what is true be not denied. For what evil thought may they not have even concerning their own flesh, who believe that the tongue of the Apostle, in that very place, wherein he was commending virginity of body, was not virgin from corruption of lying. In the first place, therefore, and chiefly, let such as choose the good of virginity, hold most firmly that the holy Scriptures have in nothing spoken lies; and, thus, that that also is true which is said, “And if thou shall have taken a wife, thou hast not sinned; and, if a virgin shall have been married, she sinneth not.”
Augustine of Hippo, Of Holy Virginity 18
For in general we hide truths not by telling a lie, but by holding our peace. For the Lord lied not when He said, “I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” He held His peace from true things, not spoke false things; for the hearing of which truths He judged them to be less fit.
Augustine of Hippo, Against Lying 23
For then we may rightly and pardonably acquiesce in the wrong of a lie, when, as we said, a greater harm depends on telling the truth, and when the good which results to us from speaking the truth cannot counterbalance the harm which will be caused by it.
John Cassian, The Conferences of John Cassian. Part II. Containing Conferences XI-XVII 8.20
It may be lawful occasionally to conceal or disguise the truth, but this should never be done save in such special cases as make this reserve obviously a necessity for the service and glory of God. … Worldly prudence and artifice belong to the children of this world; but the children of God go straight on with a single heart and in all confidence;—falsehood, deceit and duplicity are sure signs of a mean, weak mind.
Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life 3.30
All truths are not to be spoken at all times, though an untruth is not to be spoken at any time.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Esther 2.1
Note, Though we must be harmless as doves, so as never to tell a wilful lie, yet we must be wise as serpents, so as not needlessly to expose ourselves to danger by telling all we know.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Jeremiah 38.2
6 passages · 5 writers · 300s to 1800s
Writers rank truthful speech against safety, advantage, shame, and other goods of body and mind.
And yet if any man should propose to himself so to love truth, not only that which consists in contemplation, but also in uttering the true thing, which each in its own kind of things is true, and no otherwise to bring forth with the mouth of the body his thought than in the mind it is conceived and beheld; so that he should prize the beauty of truth-telling honesty, not only above gold and silver and jewels and pleasant lands, but above this temporal life itself altogether and every good thing of the body, I know not whether any could wisely say that that man errs. And if he should prefer this and prize it more than all that himself hath of such things; rightly also would he prefer it to the temporal things of other men, whom by his innocence and benevolence he was bound to keep and to help.
Augustine of Hippo, On Lying 41
For faith hath its name in the Latin tongue, from that the thing is done which is said: and thus it is manifest that one doth not exhibit when telling a lie. And even if this faith be less violated, when one lies in such sort that he is believed to no inconvenience and no pernicious hurt, with added intention moreover of guarding either one’s life or corporal purity; yet violated it is, and a thing is violated which ought to be kept safe in chastity and sanctity of mind.
Augustine of Hippo, On Lying 41
3. Never lie before a king or a great person, nor stand in a lie when thou art accused, nor offer to justify what is indeed a fault; but modestly be ashamed of it, ask pardon, and make amends.Quem Deus tegit vercundiae pallio, hujus maculas hominibus non ostendit.—Maimon. … For he that blushes not at his crime, but adds shamelessness to his shame, hath no instrument left to restore him to the hopes of virtue.
Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living 2.5.3
Note, There are many who are more afraid of the shame of lying than of the sin, and therefore scruple not to speak that which they know to be false concerning their own thoughts and apprehensions, their affections and intentions, or their remembering or forgetting of things, because in those things they know nobody can disprove them.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Matthew 21.4
Nothing could tempt the Christian martyrs to save their own lives or the lives of their brethren by denying Christ, or by professing to believe in false gods; in these cases the obligation to speak the truth was in full force.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology III.19.13
The true king is the man who stands up a true man and speaks the truth, and will die but not lie. … Of the men who before Christ bare witness to the truth, some were sawn asunder, some subdued kingdoms; it mattered nothing which: they witnessed.
George MacDonald, Unspoken Sermons 6
6 passages · 6 writers · 100s to 1800s
Writers comment on Ephesians 4:25 and similar commands to put away lying and speak truth.
5. Observe, therefore, my children, the commandments of the Lord, and keep His law; and depart from wrath, and hate lying, that the Lord may dwell among you, and Beliar may flee from you. Speak truth each one with his neighbour, so shall ye not fall into lust and confusion; but ye shall be in peace, having the God of peace, so shall no war prevail over you.
Anonymous (ANF), The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 9
“Speak ye truth, each one,” saith he, “with his neighbor”; then what is more touching to the conscience still, “because we are members one of another.” Let no man deceive his neighbor.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 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 to speak a lie with those who are not yet with us members of the body of Christ. But the reason why it is said, is, because each one of us ought to account every man to be that which he wishes him to become, although he be not yet become such; as the Lord showed the alien Samaritan to be neighbor to him unto whom he showed mercy.” A neighbor then, and not an alien, is that man to be accounted, with whom our concern is that he remain not an alien; and if on the score of his not being yet made partaker of our Faith and Sacrament, there be some truths that must be concealed from him, yet is that no reason why false things should be told him.
Augustine of Hippo, Against Lying 15
Having concluded from the truth of the gospel, that righteousness and holiness ought to be true, he now argues from the general statement to a particular instance, that every man should speak truth with his neighbour. Lying is here put for every kind of deceit, hypocrisy, or cunning; and truth for honest dealing. He demands that every kind of communication between them shall be sincere; and enforces it by this consideration, for we are members one of another . That members should not agree among themselves, — that they should act in a deceitful manner towards each other, is prodigious wickedness.
John Calvin, Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians Ephesians 4.7
1. Take heed of lying, and be ever careful to speak the truth ( v. 25 ): " Wherefore, since you have been so well instructed in your duty, and are under such obligations to discharge it, let it appear, in your future behaviour and conduct, that there is a great and real change wrought in you, particularly by putting away lying. " Of this sin the heathen were very guilty, affirming that a profitable lie was better than a hurtful truth; and therefore the apostle exhorts them to cease from lying, from every thing that is contrary to truth.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Ephesians 4.3
25. Wherefore—From the general character of "the new man," there will necessarily result the particular features which he now details. putting away—Greek, "having put away" once for all. lying—"falsehood": the abstract. … Union to one another in Christ, not merely the external command, instinctively leads Christians to fulfil mutual duties. One member could not injure or deceive another, without injuring himself, as all have a mutual and common interest.
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Ephesians 4
2 passages · 2 writers · 100s to 1900s
Writers name lying among sins to put away, or say that all people know it is wrong.
Put away also from yourselves covetousness, and lying, and drunkenness, and slandering, and requiting evil for evil: for all these are alien and strange to the God proclaimed by us; but rather live in faith, and meekness, and holiness, and hope, in which God rejoices, that ye may become His servants, having received from Him gracious gifts, which few or none receive.
Anonymous (ANF), Apocrypha of the New Testament 33.2.4
(e) The Gentiles, by their very moral constitution, “by nature,” approve the things of the Law: that is, all men know it is wrong to lie, steal, and murder. I asked Chinese who had never heard the Law or the gospel if they knew these things were wrong; they all admitted they did. Consequently, (f) They are said to be “a law unto themselves, since they show the work of the Law, written in their heart.”
William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 2
3 passages · 2 writers · 300s to 1700s
Writers describe lying as the devil's work, as wickedness, or as a weapon against truth.
Having regard to the successive and diversified attacks of my enemies against me, I thought that I ought to keep silence and to bear their successive assaults without reply, and without attempting to contradict foes armed with a lie, that terrible weapon which too often drives its point through the heart of truth herself. You did well in urging me not to abandon the defence of truth, but rather to convict our calumniators, lest haply, by the success of lies, many be hurt.
Basil of Caesarea, The Letters 189
Wisdom's doctrines, upon which her laws are founded, are such as we may venture our immortal souls upon: My mouth shall speak truth ( v. 7 ), the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, for it is a testimony to the world. Every word of God is true; there are not so much as pious frauds in it, nor are we imposed upon in that which is told us for our good. Christ is a faithful witness, is the truth itself; wickedness (that is, lying) is an abomination to his lips. Note, Lying is wickedness, and we should not only refrain from it, but it should be an abomination to us, and as far from what we say as from what God says to us.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Proverbs 8.1
Lying makes us like the devil (who is the father of lies ), and is a prime part of the devil's image upon our souls; and therefore we are cautioned against this sin by this general reason: Seeing you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, v. 10 . The consideration that we have by profession put away sin and espoused the cause and interest of Christ, that we have renounced all sin and stand engaged to Christ, should fortify us against this sin of lying.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Colossians 3.3
4 passages · 4 writers · 100s to 1700s
Writers list truthful speech among the habits of Christians, of the saints, of magistrates, and of the baptized.
And in speaking we do not utter falsehood.
Tatian, Tatian's Address to the Greeks 2.32
The man that was before Baptism was wanton, covetous, grasping at the goods of others, a reviler, a liar, a slanderer, and all that is kindred with these things, and consequent from them. Let him now become orderly, sober, content with his own possessions, and imparting from them to those in poverty, truthful, courteous, affable—in a word, following every laudable course of conduct. For as darkness is dispelled by light, and black disappears as whiteness is spread over it, so the old man also disappears when adorned with the works of righteousness.
Gregory of Nyssa, On the Baptism of Christ 41
68. So sacred was one’s plighted word held in those days that no one would believe that others could try to deceive. Who could find fault with the saints in this, namely, that they should consider others to have the same feelings as themselves, and suppose no one would lie because truth was their own companion? They know not what deceit is, they gladly believe of others what they themselves are, whilst they cannot suspect others to be what they themselves are not.
Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 4.10
For integrity and honesty— men of truth, whose word one may take, and whose fidelity one may rely upon, who would not for a world tell a lie, betray a trust, or act an insidious part. [4.] For noble and generous contempt of worldly wealth— hating covetousness, not only not seeking bribes nor aiming to enrich themselves, but abhorring the thought of it; he is fit to be a magistrate, and he alone, who despiseth the gain of oppressions, and shaketh his hands from the holding of bribes, Isa. xxxiii. 15 .
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Exodus 18.3
4 passages · 3 writers · 200s to 1700s
Writers treat truthful speech under oath, in testimony, and in promises.
Moreover, see to it, that a promise made with a vow be made good in fact. This, too, is proper to fools, that they are unreliable. But be thou true to thy word, knowing that it is much better for thee not to vow or promise to do anything, than to vow and then fail of performance.
Gregory Thaumaturgus, Acknowledged Writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus 2.5
Therefore the accused is in duty bound to tell the judge the truth which the latter exacts from him according to the form of law. Hence if he refuse to tell the truth which he is under obligation to tell, or if he mendaciously deny it, he sins mortally. If, on the other hand, the judge asks of him that which he cannot ask in accordance with the order of justice, the accused is not bound to satisfy him, and he may lawfully escape by appealing or otherwise: but it is not lawful for him to lie.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q69.A1
A man's concealing the truth when he was sworn as a witness to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. … Now ( v. 1 ), If a soul sin (that is, a person, for the soul is the man), if he hear the voice of swearing (that is, if he be adjured to testify what he knows, by an oath of the Lord upon him, 1 Kings viii. 31 ), if in such a case, for fear of offending one that either has been his friend or may be his enemy, he refuses to give evidence, or gives it but in part, he shall bear his iniquity.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Leviticus 5.1
He who, for favour to one side or malice to the other, gives in a false evidence, or makes an affidavit of that which he knows to be false, or at least does not know to be true, if it be discovered, his reputation will be ruined. … 2. The praise of him that is conscientious: He who hears (that is, obeys) the command of God, which is to speak every man truth with his neighbour, he who testifies nothing but what he has heard and knows to be true, speaks constantly (that is, consistently with himself); he is always in the same story; he speaks in finem — to the end; people will give credit to him and hear him out; he speaks unto victory; he carries the cause, which the false witness shall lose; he shall speak to eternity.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Proverbs 21.27
9 passages · 7 writers · 100s to 1800s
Writers condemn deceit, flattery, and double-dealing, contrast them with simplicity and sincerity, and say that falsehood is found out.
6. Take heed therefore ye also, my children, to the commandments of the Lord, following the truth with singleness of face, for they that are double-faced receive twofold punishment.
Anonymous (ANF), The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 12
3. Do not ye therefore, my children, wear two faces like unto them, of goodness and of wickedness; but cleave unto goodness only, for in goodness doth God rest, and men desire it. From wickedness flee away, destroying the devil by your good works; for they that are double-faced serve not God, but their own lusts, so that they may please Beliar and men like unto themselves.
Anonymous (ANF), The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 12
He who wishes to persuade men, is led to act tortuously and insincerely, and to employ deceit and falsehood, in order to engage the assent of his hearers. But he who addresses himself to God, and desires to please Him, needs simplicity and purity of mind, for God cannot be deceived. Whence it is plain that I have thus written to you not from the love of rule, or to gain disciples, or to receive honor at your hands. My endeavor has been to please God, not man.
John Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians 1
What we wish to be thought, such let us be; and let us show openly such feelings as we have within us. Let us not say an unjust word in our heart that we think can be hid in silence, for He hears things said in secret Who made things secret, and knows the secrets of the heart, and has implanted feelings within.
Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 3.19
Wherefore it belongs directly to simplicity to guard oneself from deception, and in this way the virtue of simplicity is the same as the virtue of truth as stated above ( Q[109], A[2] , ad 4). There is, however, a mere logical difference between them, because by truth we mean the concordance between sign and thing signified, while simplicity indicates that one does not tend to different things, by intending one thing inwardly, and pretending another outwardly.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q111.A3
He that barely relates what he has heard, and leaves the hearer to judge of the probability, does as much (I am sure more civilly) entertain that company, as he that throws down his gauntlet in attestation. He as much satisfies the itch of telling news; he as much persuades his hearers: nay, very much more (for these over earnest asseverations serve by to give men suspicion that the Speaker is conscious of his own falseness:) and all this while he has his retreat secure, and stands not responsible for the truth of his relation. Nay indeed, though men speak never so known and certain truths, tis most advisable not to press them too importunately. For boldness, like the Bravoes and Banditti, is seldom employed but upon desperate services, and is so known a Pander for lying, that truth is but defamed by its attendance.
Richard Allestree, The Government of the Tongue 12
Truth will transpire, and often comes to light strangely, to the confusion of those that make lies their refuge.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Second Kings 5.4
It is to no purpose to dissemble, for, sooner or later, truth will come out; and a lying tongue is but for a moment. If you speak in darkness that which is unbecoming you, and is inconsistent with your public professions, it shall be heard in the light; some way or other it shall be discovered, a bird of the air shall carry the voice ( Eccl. x. 20 ), and your folly and falsehood will be made manifest. " The iniquity that is concealed with a show of piety will be discovered, perhaps in this world, as Judas's was, and Simon Magus's, at furthest in the great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest, Eccl. xii. 14; Rom. ii. 16 . If men's religion prevail not to conquer and cure the wickedness of their hearts, it shall not always serve for a cloak.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Luke 12.1
Knowing that I am to go to the realities of another state of being, I cannot flatter people. I must tell them the exact and simple truth." There could be no better preventive of flattery than this. The conviction that we are soon to appear before God, where all are on a level, and where every mask will be stripped off, and everything appear as it is, would prevent us from ascribing to others qualities which we know they do not possess, and from giving them titles which will only exalt them in their own estimation, and hide the truth from their minds.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible Job 32:22
2 passages · 2 writers · 1700s to 1800s
Writers say whether an evasive answer or a false profession of faith counts as a lie.
Stoddard taught it to be the duty of converts, on many occasions, to profess their faith and love and other graces before men, by relating their experiences in conversation: but it would be great wickedness, for such as know themselves to be not saints, thus to do; because they would speak falsely, and utter lies in so doing. Now, for the like reason, it would be very sinful, for men to profess and seal their consent to the covenant of grace in the Lord’s supper, when they know at the same time that they do not consent to it, nor have their hearts at all in the affair.
Jonathan Edwards, Inquiry Concerning Qualification for Communion 6
Let us notice, lastly, in this passage, the falsehood of which our Lord's enemies were guilty.In reply to our Lord's question whether John's baptism was from heaven or of men, "they answered that they did not know." This was a downright untruth. They could have told, but they would not. They knew that if they said what they really believed they would condemn themselves.
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Luke Luke 20:1-8
2 passages · 2 writers · 200s to 300s
Two writers treat coloring the face or hair as a departure from sincerity and truth.
But are sincerity and truth preserved, when what is sincere is polluted by adulterous colours, and what is true is changed into a lie by the deceitful dyes of medicaments? Your Lord says, “Thou canst not make one hair white or black;” and you, in order to overcome the word of your Lord, will be more mighty than He, and stain your hair with a daring endeavour and with profane contempt.
Cyprian of Carthage, The Treatises of Cyprian 2
Now can sincerity and truth continue to exist when what is sincere is polluted, and what is true is changed by meretricious coloring and the deceptions of quackery into a lie?
Augustine of Hippo, On Christian Doctrine 4.21
4 passages · 4 writers · 300s to 1700s
Writers state their own refusal to lie, or their dislike of artifice.
3. You must not refuse to believe what I say, unless you regard me as quite a desperate character, who thinks nothing of the great sin of lying. Put away all suspicion of me in relation to the business, and for the future reckon my affection for you as beyond the reach of all calumny. Imitate Alexander, who received a letter, saying that his physician was plotting his death, at the very moment when he was just about to drink his medicine, and was so far from believing the slanderer that he at one and the same time read the letter and drank the draught. I refuse to admit that I am in any way inferior to the men who have been famous for their friendship, for I have never been detected in any breach of mine; and, besides this, I have received from my God the commandment of love, and owe you love not only as part of mankind in general, but because I recognise you individually as a benefactor both of my country and of myself.
Basil of Caesarea, The Letters 272
Since I am addressing a man who does not love falsehood, and who is the keenest man I know at detecting it in another, however it may be twined in skilful and varied labyrinths; and, moreover, on my own part I will say it, though against the grain I do not like artifice, either, both from my natural constitution, and because God’s Word has formed me so. There fore I write what presents itself to my mind; and I beg you to excuse my plain speaking, or you will wrong the truth by depriving me of my liberty, and forcing me to restrain within myself the pain of my grief, like some secret and malignant disease.
Gregory of Nazianzus, Select Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 3.8
Many men require from us evil counsels, counsels of lying, of fraud; thinking that they please us thereby. But by the Name of Christ, if what we are saying is pleasing to the Lord, no such man has tempted us, and found what he wished in us.
Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 89
Dare to be true; nothing can need a lie.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Second Samuel 14.1
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