Early Church Fathers Scripture Index : Texts

Exodus 1:20

There are 2 footnotes for this reference.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 3, page 460, footnote 3 (Image)

Augustine: On the Holy Trinity, Doctrinal Treatises, Moral Treatises

Moral Treatises of St. Augustin (HTML)

On Lying. (HTML)

Section 5 (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 2305 (In-Text, Margin)

... which all agree, let us inquire, whether it be sometimes useful to utter a falsehood with will to deceive. They who think it is, advance testimonies to their opinion, by alleging the case of Sarah, who, when she had laughed, denied to the Angels that she laughed: of Jacob questioned by his father, and answering that he was the elder son Esau: likewise that of the Egyptian midwives, who to save the Hebrew infants from being slain at their birth, told a lie, and that with God’s approbation and reward:[Exodus 1:19-20] and many such like instances they pick out, of lies told by persons whom you would not dare to blame, and so must own that it may sometimes be not only not blameworthy, but even praiseworthy to tell a lie. They add also a case with which to urge not ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 3, page 495, footnote 6 (Image)

Augustine: On the Holy Trinity, Doctrinal Treatises, Moral Treatises

Moral Treatises of St. Augustin (HTML)

Against Lying. (HTML)

Section 32 (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 2444 (In-Text, Margin)

32. But, as for that which is written, that God did good to the Hebrew midwives, and to Rahab the harlot of Jericho,[Exodus 1:17-20] this was not because they lied, but because they were merciful to God’s people. That therefore which was rewarded in them was, not their deceit, but their benevolence; benignity of mind, not iniquity of lying. For, as it would not be marvellous and absurd if God on ac count of good works after done by them should be willing to forgive some evil works at another time before committed, so it is not to be marvelled at that God beholding at ...