Tertullian: Apologetical Works, and Minucius Felix, Octavius
Overview
Tertullian (ca. 150–222 AD) is the father of Latin-language Christian apologetics, and of Latin Christianity as a whole. Known for being the earliest known Latin writer to use the term “Trinity”, Tertullian left an important legacy for the ancient church in Apologeticus, where he proclaimed freedom of religion as an inalienable human right and that Christians should have a fair trial before they are condemned to death. His experience as a lawyer and his extensive training in medicine, law, and culture, provided him the background he needed to defend Christianity and establish a strong foundation for the future of Christian literature and philosophy.
Minucius Felix, another early Latin Christian apologist of unknown date, is exclusively known for his Octavius, a dialogue between the pagan Caecilius Natalis and the Christian Octavius Januarius.
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For more of the church fathers, check out the Fathers of the Church: Greek Fathers of the Ante—Nicene Era (23 vols.).
Top Highlights
“Yet, your tortures accomplish nothing, though each is more refined than the last; rather, they are an enticement to our religion. We become more numerous every time we are hewn down by you: the blood of Christians is seed.” (Page 125)
“But, with us, murder is forbidden once for all. We are not permitted to destroy even the fetus in the womb, as long as blood is still being drawn to form a human being.6 To prevent the birth of a child is a quicker way to murder. It makes no difference whether one destroys a soul already born or interferes with its coming to birth. It is a human being and one who is to be a man, for the whole fruit is already present in the seed.” (Pages 31–32)
“Consult your histories: you will find in them that Nero was the first to rage with the imperial sword against this religion which was just at that particular time coming to life at Rome.” (Page 21)
“We affirm that thou dost continue to exist after the extinction of life and to await the day of judgment; and that, according to thy deserts, thou wilt be delivered either to torture or to bliss, both eternal; and that, in order to be capable of it, thy former substance must necessarily return to thee, the matter and memory of the same human being. For, thou couldst feel neither evil nor good without the agency of the sensitive body, and there would be no reason for judgment without the presentation of the very one who deserved the severity of judgment.” (Page 137)
“As to his personality, his qualities are not all praiseworthy. He is an aggressive, disputatious, headstrong, and uncompromising individual who is inclined to push his principles to the extreme, letting his logic run into paradox or driving home his points with remorseless wit and sarcasm. Moderation and appreciation of the opponent’s point of view were alien to his fiery nature and irascible character.” (Page ix)
- Title: Apologetical Works and Octavius
- Authors: Minucius Felix, Tertullian
- Series: The Fathers of the Church
- Volume: 10
- Publisher: Catholic University of America
- Print Publication Date: 1950
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Pages: 449
- Era: era:ante-nicene
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Theology › Early works to 1800; Apologetics › Early works to 1800
- ISBNs: 9780813215556, 0813215552
- Resource ID: LLS:PLGTCLWRKSCTVS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:37:53Z
Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (c. 160–c. 220 AD), was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. He is the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature. He also was a notable early Christian apologist and a polemicist against heresy. Tertullian has been called “the father of Latin Christianity” and “the founder of Western theology.”
Minucius Felix was a Roman lawyer and one of the earliest Christian apologists to write in Latin.