Church Father Quotes on Usury

Gregory the Great

But know further that it has come to our ears concerning him, that he has given money on usury; which thing you ought to enquire into thoroughly, and, if it is so, elect another, and without delay hold yourselves aloof from a person of this kind. For we will on no account lay hands on lovers of usury.[1]

Leo the Great

[H]e who gets deceitful gain from lending his money on usury is shown to be both an alien from God’s tabernacle and an exile from His holy hill, and in seeking to enrich himself by other’s losses, he deserves to be punished with eternal neediness.[2]

Gregory Nazianzen

Another has defiled the land with usury and interest, both gathering where he had not sowed and reaping where he had not scattered, farming, not the land, but the necessity of the needy.[3]

Basil of Caesarea

A taker of usury, if he consent to spend his unjust gain on the poor, and to be rid for the future of the plague of covetousness, may be received into the ministry.[4]

John Chrysostom

For nothing, nothing is baser than the usury of this world, nothing more cruel.[5]

John Cassian

For every one who, from love of the praise of men dispenses the words of God, of which it is said “the words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried by the fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times,” puts out his money upon usury, and will deserve for this not merely no reward, but rather punishment.[6]

Clement of Alexandria

His money he will not give on usury, and will not take interest…This is a righteous man. He shall surely live, saith the Lord. These words contain a description of the conduct of Christians, a notable exhortation to the blessed life, which is the reward of a life of goodness – everlasting life.[7]

Lactantius

If he shall have lent any money, he will not receive interest, that the benefit may be unimpaired which succours necessity, and that he may entirely abstain from the property of another. For in this kind of duty he ought to be content with that which is his own; since it is his duty in other respects not to be sparing of his property, in order that he may do good; but to receive more than he has given is unjust. And he who does this lies in wait in some manner, that he may gain booty from the necessity of another.[8]

Cyprian of Carthage

In the thirteenth Psalm: “He that has not given his money upon usury, and has not received gifts concerning the innocent. He who does these things shall not be moved forever.” Also in Ezekiel: “But the man who will be righteous, shall not oppress a man, and shall return the pledge of the debtor, and shall not commit rapine, and shall give his bread to the hungry, and shall cover the naked, and shall not give his money for usury.” Also in Deuteronomy: “You shall not lend to your brother with usury of money, and with usury of victuals.”[9]

Cyril of Jerusalem

From every kind of intemperance stand aloof, giving yourself neither to gluttony nor licentiousness, rising superior to all covetousness and usury.[10]

Ambrose

Nations have often been ruined by usury, and this has been the cause of public destruction.[11]

If anyone takes usury, he commits robbery and no longer has life.[12]

Augustine

I would not have you be lenders of money on usury; and I would not have you be such for this reason, because God would not have you….Whence does it appear that God would not have it so? It is said in another place, “He that puts not out his money to usury.” And how detestable, odious, and execrable a thing it is, I believe that even usurers themselves know.[13]

More quotes:

http://www.saintsquotes.net/Selection%20-%20Usury.html

[1] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360210062.htm

[2] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360317.htm

[3] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310216.htm

[4] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202188.htm

[5] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200105.htm

[6] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/350814.htm

[7] http://www.earlychristiancommentary.com/early-christian-dictionary/usury/

[8] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/07016.htm

[9] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/050712c.htm

[10] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310104.htm