Do believers carry on their own individual work?

The scholar Tertullian responds in some detail to the accusation that Christians are lazy and unproductive.¹⁰²⁰ He affirms that Christians participate in every kind of work just as pagans do, and that Christians do not despise any profession so long as it does not corrupt the spiritual life. He says, “We do not forget the debt of gratitude we owe to God, our Lord and Creator; we reject no creature of His hands, though certainly we exercise restraint upon ourselves, lest of any gift of His we make an immoderate or sinful use. So we sojourn with you in the world, abjuring neither forum, nor shambles, nor bath, nor booth, nor workshop, nor inn, nor weekly market, nor any other places of commerce. We sail with you, and fight with you, and till the ground with you, even in the various arts we make public property of our works for your benefit.”¹⁰²¹

The Didache says, “Everyone who comes ‘in the Name of the Lord’ is to be made welcome, though later on you must test him and find out about him. You will be able to distinguish the true from the false. If the newcomer is only passing through, give him all the help you can — though he is not to stay more than a couple of days with you, or three if it is unavoidable. But if he wants to settle down among you, and is a skilled worker, let him find employment and earn his bread [cf. 2 Thess. 3:10]. If he knows no trade, use your discretion to make sure that he does not live in idleness simply on the strength of being a Christian (cf.

1018 Minucius Felix, The Octavius 37 (ANF 4:196).

1019 St. Augustine of Hippo, Letters 130 (FOTC 18:386).

1020 Tertullian, Apology 42 (ANF 3:49).

1021 Tertullian, Apology 42 (ANF 3:49).

Matt. 12:31). Unless he agrees to this, he is only trying to exploit Christ [cf. 1 Tim. 6:5]. You must be on your guard against men of that sort.”¹⁰²²

Origen says, “No one is slow in the house of the wise man.”¹⁰²³ St. Clement of Rome also writes in a letter that is attributed to him, “Let us consider, in the fear of God, the manner of life of these holy men. Lo! We find it written concerning Moses and Aaron, that they acted and lived in the company of men, who themselves also followed a course of conduct like theirs. And thus did Joshua also, the son of Nun.”¹⁰²⁴ St. Clement of Alexandria believes that if one labors only to become rich, he does not labor for a Christian goal.¹⁰²⁵

And the Didache asks priests to dedicate themselves to their service, saying they have the right to be supported from that service, just as any manual laborer supports himself by his work.¹⁰²⁶