Deuteronomy 13 in the early church

91 passages quote, allude to, or echo Deuteronomy 13, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 9 · 12 · 14 · 18

Deuteronomy 13:1

If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:1Antidote for the Scorpion's Sting 2 · Tertullianquotation, high confidenceca. 211–213
Deut 13:1Against Celsus 2.53 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 248
Deut 13:1Homilies 16.13 · Anonymousquotation, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Deut 13:1Homilies 16.15 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Deut 13:1Recognitions 2.45 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceGreek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407
Deut 13:1–3On the Witch of Endor 24 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
Deut 13:1–5On Not Sparing Those Who Sin against God 2 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361
Deut 13:1–3On Christian Doctrine 2.23 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, low confidenceBooks 1–3 ca. 396–397; completed 426–427
Deut 13:1The Conferences 13.14 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429
Deut 13:1The Conferences 15.1 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429
Deut 13:1Commonitory 10 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434
Deut 13:1Commonitory 17 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434
Deut 13:1Commonitory 18 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434

Deuteronomy 13:2

and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:2Against Celsus 2.53 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 248
Deut 13:2Homilies 16.13 · Anonymousquotation, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Deut 13:2Recognitions 2.45 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceGreek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407
Deut 13:2The Conferences 13.14 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429
Deut 13:2The Conferences 15.1 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429
Deut 13:2Commonitory 10 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434

Deuteronomy 13:3

you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:3Exhortation to Martyrdom 6 · Origenquotation, high confidence235
Deut 13:3Against Celsus 2.53 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 248
Deut 13:3To Quirinus 3.15 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Deut 13:3On Mortality 11 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence252–253
Deut 13:3To Fortunatus 9 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence253 or 257
Deut 13:3Homilies 16.13 · Anonymousquotation, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Deut 13:3Recognitions 2.45 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceGreek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407
Deut 13:3Letter 108.18 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 13:3Letter 130.28 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 386–430
Deut 13:3Letter 162.7 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 386–430
Deut 13:3Letter 205.16 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 386–430
Deut 13:3On Genesis against the Manichaeans 1.22 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 388–390
Deut 13:3Sermon 57.9 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 391-430
Deut 13:3Sermon 71.15 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 391-430
Deut 13:3The Lord's Sermon on the Mount 2.9 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 393–396
Deut 13:3Letters 5.8 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413
Deut 13:3The Harmony of the Gospels 2.71 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 399–400
Deut 13:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 43.5 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Deut 13:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 43.6 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Deut 13:3Tractates on the Gospel of John 43.8 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 406–420
Deut 13:3The Conferences 13.14 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429
Deut 13:3The Conferences 15.1 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429
Deut 13:3Commonitory 10 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434
Deut 13:3Commonitory 11 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434
Deut 13:3Commonitory 17 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434
Deut 13:3Commonitory 18 · Vincent of Lérinsquotation, high confidence434
Deut 13:3Commonitory 19 · Vincent of Lérinsallusion, high confidence434

Deuteronomy 13:4

You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:4Miscellanies 2.19.100 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 13:4 (13:5 LXX)Miscellanies 5.14.94 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 13:4Exhortation to Martyrdom 6 · Origenquotation, high confidence235
Deut 13:4Homilies on Psalms 36-38 9.12 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Deut 13:4Against Celsus 7.34 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 248
Deut 13:4Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 49 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Deut 13:4Commentary on Matthew 12.22 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 246–248
Deut 13:4Commentary on Romans 5.8 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Deut 13:4Preparation for the Gospel 11.13.7 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 313–324
Deut 13:4Preparation for the Gospel 12.30.4 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 313–324
Deut 13:4Preparation for the Gospel 13.13.14 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 313–324
Deut 13:4 (13:5 LXX)Oration IV Against the Arians 5 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidence4th century (disputed)
Deut 13:4Tractates on the Psalms 118.4.2 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Deut 13:4Tractates on the Psalms 118.5.9 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Deut 13:4On the Life of Moses 407 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 385–395
Deut 13:4Exposition of Psalm 118 4.3.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Deut 13:4Exposition of Psalm 118 5.26.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Deut 13:4On Fleeing the World 33 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-391
Deut 13:4Homily 1 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, medium confidenceca. 390–394

Deuteronomy 13:5

Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:5 (13:6 Vulg.)Letter 43.5 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Deut 13:5Homilies 16.13 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Deut 13:5Letter 109.3 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 13:5Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.5 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 13:5Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.24 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 13:5Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.25 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 13:5Tractates on the Gospel of John 114.4 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 406–420

Deuteronomy 13:6

If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:6Antidote for the Scorpion's Sting 2 · Tertullianquotation, high confidenceca. 211–213
Deut 13:6Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 805 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 220-254
Deut 13:6Commentary on Matthew 13.25 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Deut 13:6–10To Fortunatus 5 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence253 or 257
Deut 13:6Homilies 16.6 · Anonymousallusion, low confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Deut 13:6–10Demonstration 14.19 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Deut 13:6–10On Not Sparing Those Who Sin against God 2 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361
Deut 13:6Three Letters to Sympronianus 3.17 · Pacian of Barcelonaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-390
Deut 13:6Letter 109.3 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419

Deuteronomy 13:8

you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:8PG 12:1571 (Ps 114–115 LXX) · Origenquotation, medium confidenceca. 220-254
Deut 13:8Long recension, Philadelphians 3 · Anonymousquotation, high confidencelater 4th century (probable)
Deut 13:8Exposition of Psalm 118 8.26.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397

Deuteronomy 13:9

Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:9Homilies 16.13 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Deut 13:9Three Letters to Sympronianus 3.17 · Pacian of Barcelonaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-390
Deut 13:9Letter 109.3 · Jeromequotation, medium confidenceca. 370–419

Deuteronomy 13:12

If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:12Antidote for the Scorpion's Sting 2 · Tertullianallusion, high confidenceca. 211–213
Deut 13:12–18To Fortunatus 5 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence253 or 257

Deuteronomy 13:14

then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:14Defence before Constantius 13 · Athanasius of Alexandriaecho, low confidenceca. 353–357

Deuteronomy 13:18

because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 13:18On the Decrees of Nicaea 6 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 350–356