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.)