Genesis 12 in the early church
202 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 12, 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 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 15 · 17 · 18 · 19
Genesis 12:1
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2–6 | Commentary on John 20.69 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 12:2 | Lines 167–190 · Commodian | allusion, medium confidence | 3rd century (disputed) |
| Gen 12:2 | Commentary on Romans 4.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 12:2 | Prophetic Extracts 1.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Gen 12:2–3 | Demonstration of the Gospel 8.1.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 12:2 | Question 108, section 4 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 12:2 | Question 109, section 18 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 12:2 | Homilies on Matthew 53.3 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 12:2 | Historia monachorum, chapter 2 · Rufinus of Aquileia | echo, medium confidence | Greek original ca. 394-395; Rufinus's Latin ca. 404-406 |
| Gen 12:2 | On Catechizing the Uninstructed 27 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–405 |
| Gen 12:2 | City of God 18.2 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:4
So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Genesis 12:5
And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:5 | Fragment 9 · Julius Africanus | allusion, high confidence | after 221 |
| Gen 12:5 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.16.4 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 12:5–6 | City of God 16.18 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 12:7
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | Commentary on John 20.70 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 12:7–8 | Commentary on John 20.71 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 12:7 | Homily on Luke 3 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 233–250 |
| Gen 12:7 | On the Trinity 18 · Novatian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240–250 |
| Gen 12:7 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 0.78 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Gen 12:7 | Against Celsus 2.66 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| Gen 12:7 | Against Celsus 6.4 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 248 |
| Gen 12:7 | Recognitions 1.32 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 12:7 | Prophetic Extracts 1.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Gen 12:7 | Demonstration of the Gospel 5.9.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 12:7 | Oration III Against the Arians 14 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 339–346 |
| Gen 12:7 | Letter 129.3 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 12:7 | Ancoratus 53.2 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, medium confidence | 374 |
| Gen 12:7–8 | Apostolic Constitutions 7.37.2 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380 |
| Gen 12:7 | On the Trinity 2.10 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| Gen 12:7 | On the Trinity 3.11 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| Gen 12:7 | City of God 16.18 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 12:7–20 | City of God 16.19 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 12:7 | Part 12 · Eutherius of Tyana | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 431-440 |
Genesis 12:8
From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:8–9 | Commentary on John 20.72 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 12:8–20 | Genesis, lines 426–449 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
| Gen 12:8–17 | Book 3, lines 357–382 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
Genesis 12:10
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
Genesis 12:11
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:11–13 | On the Dress of Women 2.2 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 197–206 |
| Gen 12:11–20 | Against Secundinus the Manichaean 23 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399 |
Genesis 12:12
and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:12 | Tractates on the Psalms 138.4 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 360–367 |
Genesis 12:13
Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:13 | Miscellanies 6.12.101 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Gen 12:13 | PG 12:1639 (Ps 127–128 LXX) · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 12:13 | On the Duties of the Clergy 1.24 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Gen 12:13 | Homilies on Matthew 56.6 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 12:13 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.33 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Gen 12:13 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.98 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
Genesis 12:15
When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:15 | Recognitions 3.61 · Anonymous | allusion, low confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 12:15 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.17.6 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 12:15 | Tractates on the Psalms 127.7 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Gen 12:15 | Letter 22.39 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 12:15 | Exposition of Psalm 118 17.23.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Gen 12:15 | Homilies on Matthew 53.3 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 12:15 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 32.4 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Gen 12:15 | On the Governance of God 1.35 · Salvian of Marseilles | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 439-451 |
Genesis 12:17
The LORD, however, afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:17 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.17.7 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 12:17 | Demonstration of the Gospel 4.15.25 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 12:17 | On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.16 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370 |
| Gen 12:17 | Homilies on Matthew 14.3 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 12:17 | Homilies on Matthew 53.3 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 12:17 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.20.8 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Gen 12:17 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.33 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
Genesis 12:18
So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:18–20 | Book 3, lines 383–407 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
Genesis 12:19
Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:19 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.17.7 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |