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General Character ($ 1). Chronology and Contents ($ 2). |
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:General Character (§ 1). :Chronology and Contents (§ 2). |
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General Character ($ 1). Specific Teachings ($ 2). |
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:General Character (§ 1). :Specific Teachings (§ 2). |
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Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullian, the first great writer of Latin Christianity and one of the grandest and most original characters of the ancient Church, was born at Carthage about A.D. 150 or 160, and died there between 220 and 240. Of his life very little is known, and that little is based upon passing references in his own writings, and upon Eusebius, Hist. eccl., II, ii. 4, and Jerome, De vir. ill., liii. . His father held a position (centurio proconsularis, "aide-de-camp") in the Roman army in Africa, and Tertullian's Punic blood palpably pulsates in his style, with its archaisms or provincialisms, its glowing imagery, its passionate temper. He was a scholar, having received an excellent education. He wrote at least three books in Greek, to which he himself refers; but none of these are extant. His principal study was jurisprudence, and his methods of reasoning reveal striking marks of his juridical training. He shone among the advocates of Rome, as Eusebius reports. His conversion to Christianity took place about 197-198 (so Harnack, Bonwetsch, and others), but its immediate antecedents are unknown except as they are conjectured from his writings. The event must have been sudden and decisive, transforming at once his own personality; he himself said that he could not imagine a truly Christian life without such a conscious breach, a radical act of conversion: "Christians are made, not born" (Apol, xviii). In the church of Carthage he was ordained a presbyter, though he was married-- a fact which is well established by his two books to his wife. In middle life (about 207) he broke with the Catholic Church and became the leader and the passionate and brilliant exponent of Montanism?, that is, he became a schismatic. The statement of Augustine ((Haer., lxxxvi) that before his death Tertullian returned to the bosom of the Catholic Church is very improbable. His party, the Tertullianists, still had in the times of Augustine a basilica in Carthage, but in that same period passed into the orthodox Church. Jerome says that Tertullian lived to a great age. In spite of his schism, Tertullian continued to fight heresy, especially Gnosticism; and by the doctrinal works thus produced he became the teacher of Cyprian, the predecessor of Augustine, and the chief founder of Latin theology. |
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Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullian, the first great writer of Latin Christianity and one of the grandest and most original characters of the ancient Church, was born at Carthage about A.D. 150 or 160, and died there between 220 and 240. Of his life very little is known, and that little is based upon passing references in his own writings, and upon Eusebius, Hist. eccl., II, ii. 4, and Jerome, De viris illustribus, (On famous men) chapter 53. His father held a position (centurio proconsularis, "aide-de-camp") in the Roman army in Africa, and Tertullian's Punic blood palpably pulsates in his style, with its archaisms or provincialisms, its glowing imagery, its passionate temper. He was a scholar, having received an excellent education. He wrote at least three books in Greek, to which he himself refers; but none of these are extant. His principal study was jurisprudence, and his methods of reasoning reveal striking marks of his juridical training. He shone among the advocates of Rome, as Eusebius reports. His conversion to Christianity took place about 197-198 (so Harnack, Bonwetsch, and others), but its immediate antecedents are unknown except as they are conjectured from his writings. The event must have been sudden and decisive, transforming at once his own personality; he himself said that he could not imagine a truly Christian life without such a conscious breach, a radical act of conversion: "Christians are made, not born" (Apol, xviii). In the church of Carthage he was ordained a presbyter, though he was married-- a fact which is well established by his two books to his wife. In middle life (about 207) he broke with the Catholic Church and became the leader and the passionate and brilliant exponent of Montanism?, that is, he became a schismatic. The statement of Augustine ((Haer., lxxxvi) that before his death Tertullian returned to the bosom of the Catholic Church is very improbable. His party, the Tertullianists, still had in the times of Augustine a basilica in Carthage, but in that same period passed into the orthodox Church. Jerome says that Tertullian lived to a great age. In spite of his schism, Tertullian continued to fight heresy, especially Gnosticism; and by the doctrinal works thus produced he became the teacher of Cyprian, the predecessor of Augustine, and the chief founder of Latin theology. |
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water of baptism, which (upon a partial quotation of John iii. 5) is made necessary (De baptismate, vi.), |
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water of baptism, which (upon a partial quotation of John 3:5) is made necessary (De baptismate, vi.), |
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" fish "), are born in water (De baptismate, i.). In |
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"fish"), are born in water (De baptismate, i.). In |
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penance " two planks " on which the sinner may be |
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penance "two planks" on which the sinner may be |
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(5) With reference to the rule of faith, it may be said that Tertullian is constantly using this expression and by it means |
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(5) With reference to the rule of faith, it may be said that Tertullian is constantly using this expression and by it means |
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instrumentum and testamentum (Adv. Marcionem, iv. 1). He distinguishes between the four Gospels and |
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instrumentum and testamentum (Adv. Marcionem, iv. 1). He distinguishes between the four Gospels and |
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Tertullian was a determined advocate of strict discipline and an austerecode of practise, one of the leading representatives |
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Tertullian was a determined advocate of strict discipline and an austere code of practise, one of the leading representatives |
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external links to translated texts: Jerome's [On Famous Men] |
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