H. Richard Niebuhr, The Social Sources of Denominationalism (1929), p. 3
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In adapting itself to the conditions of a civilization which its founder had bidden it to permeate with the spirit of divine love, [the church] found that it was easier to give to Caesar the things belonging to Caesar if the examination of what might belong to God were not too closely pressed.

— H. Richard Niebuhr on Church

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "In adapting itself to the conditions of a civilization which its founder had bidden it to permeate with the spirit of divine love, [the church] found that it was easier to give to Caesar the things belonging to Caesar if the examination of what might belong to God were not too closely pressed." in the context of "H. Richard Niebuhr, The Social Sources of Denominationalism (1929), p. 3" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Church" (N) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
H. Richard Niebuhr

About H. Richard Niebuhr

H. Richard Niebuhr (September 3, 1894 – July 5, 1962) was a Christian theological ethicist. He was the the younger brother of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.