GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS
(Gregory the Theologian)
This is the earliest rendition of this statement used by politicians throughout the centuries.
This was a culturally radical position for his to have taken at the time.
Note the opposition to freedom of speech for contrary theological views. This has been typical of most religions whenever they could exercise or influence state power.
From what is now Turkey. Once the Christians had become established, critics or reformers, were hard to understand as the Christians were a few hundred years earlier.
Gregory of Nazianzus, also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen, was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople and theologian. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age.[6] As a classically trained orator and philosopher, he infused Hellenism into the early church, establishing the paradigm of Byzantine theologians and church officials.
