Tertullian of Carthage (Full Script)

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Tertullian of Carthage

Post-Apostolic Church

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, or simply: Tertullian, was an overseer in Carthage and wrote between AD 197 and AD 215.

Tertullian was born to pagan parents and received a classical education in Roman law.  When he was converted around AD 185, he sought to transform his own personality to become truly like Christ.  His wife was also a Christian.

Because of his familiarity with Roman law, many of Tertullian's works are in Latin.  Tertullian is called the father of Latin Christianity, and rightfully so.  [2.3] It was in Carthage, not Rome, that Christians first wrote in Latin.  Tertullian had to translate Greek thought into the Latin language, possibly creating Latin words and phrases that had not existed before.

He was the first major revolutionary Christian thinker.  His writings greatly advanced theology in the church.

Tertullian was very conservative and strict, so he often wrote in a very strong and harsh spirit.  He lived to be an old man, perhaps even to the age of 85.  His most famous works include Apology, The Shows, Against Praxis, and The Veiling of Virgins.

Later in life, perhaps around AD 210, Tertullian joined the Montanists.  This was a schism of Christianity started by Montanus which he called the New Prophecy.

Cyprian was an overseer in Carthage about 50 years after Tertullian.  Jerome wrote,

I have seen a certain old man, Paul of Concordia, [from] a town of Italy.  While he was a very young man, he had been secretary to the blessed Cyprian who was already advanced in age.  He said that he had seen how Cyprian was accustomed never to pass a day without reading [the works of] Tertullian and that he frequently said to him, "Give me the master," meaning Tertullian.  [Tertullian] was presbyter of the church until middle life.  Afterwards, [he was] driven by the envy and abuse of the clergy of the Roman church to lapse into the doctrine of Montanus, and mentions the New Prophecy in many of his [later] books.  (Jerome.  AD 400.  APNF2, vol 3, page 373.)

About Christianity, Tertullian wrote,

Men are made [Christians], not born Christians.  (Tertullian.  AD 197.  ANF, vol 3, page 32.)

The more often we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow.  The blood of Christians is seed.  (Tertullian.  AD 197.  ANF, vol 3, page 55.)

Condemn the truth if you have the heart, but only after you have examined it.  (Tertullian.  AD 197.  ANF, vol 3, page 128.)

We read that "the flesh is weak" and for this reason we soothe ourselves in some cases.  Yet, we also read that "the spirit is strong." ...  Then why do we, too given to excuse ourselves, put forward in our defense the weak part of us and not look at the strong?  Why shouldn't the earthly yield to the heavenly?  If the spirit is stronger than the flesh--because it is of nobler origin, it is our own fault if we follow the weaker.  (Tertullian.  AD 205.  ANF, vol 4, page 41.)