The Hebrews Esteemed the Beard

“…the Hebrews esteemed the beard as one of the greatest ornaments of manhood. Hence they suffered it to grow, anointed and cherished it with care… It was an extreme disgrace for any one to have his beard cut off in whole or in part (2 Samuel 10:4; Isaiah 7:20); only in cases of deep sorrow was it plucked out (Ezra 9:3), or shaved away (Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 41:5), or neglected (2 Samuel 19:24), or covered, as a mark of grief that seeks silence (Ezekiel 24:17, 22).”

Excerpt taken from: The Protestant Theological and Ecclesiastical Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, 338.

Bearded Reformer: John Knox (A.D. 1513 - 1572)

“We know that the beard of man was created by God." - John Knox

Bearded Apologist: Tertullian (A.D. 155 - 240)

It was said by the early church father, Tertullian, that to shave the beard is “blasphemy against the face."

Bearded Theologian: Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150 - 215)

“[God] adorned man like the lions, with a beard, and endowed him as an attribute of manhood, with a hairy chest–a sign of strength and rule. This, then, is the mark of the man, the beard. By this, he is seen to be a man." - Clement of Alexandria

Bearded Bishop: Cyprian of Carthage (A.D. 210 - 258)

“The beard must not be plucked. ‘You will not deface the figure of your beard.’” - St. Cyprian

Bearded Theologian: Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354 - 430)

“The beard signifies the courageous; the beard distinguishes the grown men, the earnest, the active, the vigorous. So that when we describe such, we say, he is a bearded man."
- St. Augustine

Christian Beard Quote: 4th Council of Carthage (A.D. 398)

“The clergyman shall not let his hair grow, neither shall he remove his beard" - 4th Council of Carthage (A.D. 398)

Christian Beard Quote: Apostolic Constitutions (A.D. 375)

“Nor may men destroy the hair of their beards, and unnaturally change the form of a man." - Apostolic Constitutions (A.D. 375)