Peter of Alexandria (Full Script)

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Peter of Alexandria

Post-Apostolic Church

INTRO

Peter of Alexandria was an overseer in Alexandria, Egypt around AD 310.

LIFE

At the church in Alexandria, Peter began as a reader of Scripture, then became a deacon, then became an overseer.  He was martyred during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian.

WORKS

Some of the important events in Peter's life involved Meletius, bishop of Lycopolis which is not far from Alexandria.  Peter and Meletius had disagreements over how to handle Christians who had sacrificed to pagan gods and wanted to return to the church in repentance.  Peter took a more lenient stance and Meletius took a more strict stance.  Meletius began a schism and was later demoted at the Council of Nicaea.

Peter was one of the first Christian writers to speak against Arianism which taught that the Son (Jesus Christ) was a separate God from the Father and had been created by the Father.  Peter was followed by Alexander of Alexandria who took up the charge against Arianism at the Council of Nicaea which declared Arianism as heretical.  After Meletius died, his followers joined the Arians.

There is a legend that during the persecution under Emperor Diocletian, Peter was imprisoned with Meletius.

Lactantius (Full Script)

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Lactantius

Post-Apostolic Church

INTRO

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius wrote from Gaul, or modern day France between AD 304 and 313.

LIFE

Before Lactantius was converted, he was active in Roman government.  He met Constantine before he became emperor.  Lactantius was converted around AD 303.  As a result, he resigned from his political office for fear of being persecuted by Emperor Diocletian.  He moved to Gall and survived the persecution under Diocletian.  Most of his writings were from this time.

Around AD 312, Emperor Constantine asked Lactantius, who was very old at the time, to be the tutor of his son, Crispus.

WORKS

Lactantius' writings are important because he is the last major Christian writer before the Council of Nicaea.  From his writings, one can see that very little had changed in what Christians believed from AD 100 to 310.

QUOTATIONS

About Christianity, Lactantius wrote,

The power of truth is so great that it defends itself even in small things by its own clearness.  (Lactantius.  AD 304-313.  ANF, vol 7, page 69.)

The things which you teach cannot have any weight unless you will be the first to practice them.  (Lactantius.  AD 304-313.  ANF, vol 7, page 125.)

There is nothing among men more excellent than religion, and that this should be defended with the whole of our power.  But as [wretched men] are deceived in the matter of religion itself, so also are they in the manner of its defense.  For religion is to be defended, not by putting to death, but by dying; not by cruelty, but by patient endurance; not by guilt, but by good faith.  For the former belong to evils, but the latter to goods.  It is necessary for that which is good to have place in religion, and not that which is evil.  For if you wish to defend religion by bloodshed, and by tortures, and by guilt, it will no longer be defended, but will be polluted and profaned.  (Lactantius.  AD 304-313.  ANF, vol 7, page 157.)

Arnobius of Sicca (Full Script)

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Arnobius of Sicca

Post-Apostolic Church

INTRO

Arnobius lived in Sicca, or modern day El Kef, Tunisia around AD 303.

Lactantius was a student of Arnobius.

WORKS

Arnobius used a lot of sarcasm to show the absurdities of various heretical teachings.  For example, Arnobius had this to say about the food and drink given to idols.

If you have confidence in what is done, disclose [it], point out why that liquor is offered; that is, why wine is poured on the altars.  For do the bodies of the deities feel parching thirst, and is it necessary that their dryness be tempered by some moisture?  Are they accustomed, as men are, to combine eating and drinking?  In like manner, also, after the [giving of the] solid food of cakes and pottages, and victims slain in honour of them, do they drench themselves, and make themselves merry with very frequent cups of wine, that their food may be more easily softened, and thoroughly digested?  I beg [you], give to the immortal gods drink; bring forth goblets, bowls, ladles, and cups.  And as they stuff themselves with bulls, and luxurious feasts, and rich food, [give them drink]—lest some piece of flesh hastily gulped down should stick in passing through the stomach.  Run up, hasten, give pure wine to Jupiter, the most excellent, the supreme, lest he chokes.  He desires to break wind, and is unable.  And unless that hindrance passes away and is dissolved, there is very great danger that his breathing will be stopped and interrupted, and heaven [would] be left desolate without its rulers.  (Arnobius.  AD 303.  ANF, vol 6, page 529.)