Tertullian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tertullian
Born	Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus 155 AD Carthage, Roman Empire
Died	220 AD (aged 64–65) Carthage, Roman Empire
Notable work	Apologeticus
Theological work
Era	Patristic age
Tradition or movement	Trinitarianism
Main interests	Soteriology, traducianism
Notable ideas	Hypostasis, ousia, sacrament, consubstantiality, persona

Tertullian (born around 155 AD – died around 220 AD) was an important early Christian writer from Carthage, a city in the Roman Empire (modern-day Tunisia). He was the first Christian author to write many books in Latin about Christian beliefs.

He was known as an early Christian apologist, which means he defended Christianity against its critics. He also argued against ideas he believed were wrong, like Christian Gnosticism, which was a different way of understanding Christianity. Many people call Tertullian "the father of Latin Christianity" and "the founder of Western theology" because his writings were so important.

Tertullian came up with new ideas about Christian beliefs and helped shape early Church teachings. He is especially famous for being the first writer in Latin to use the word trinity (Latin: trinitas). This word describes God as one, but existing in three "persons": the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

However, Tertullian is not recognized as a saint by the main Christian churches today. Some of his ideas were different from what became official Church teachings. For example, he believed the Son and Spirit were less important than the Father. He also strongly opposed remarriage for widows and believed Christians should not run away from danger during persecution. Later in his life, he joined a group called Montanism, which was seen as going against the main Church. Because of this, he is not considered a "Church Father," even though his writings were very influential.

Life of Tertullian

We don't have many clear details about Tertullian's life. Most of what we know comes from small mentions in his own books. The Roman province of Africa, where he lived, was famous for its speakers, and you can see this in Tertullian's writing style. He was a very educated person and even wrote at least three books in Greek, though these are now lost.

Some people think Tertullian was of Berber origin, or from the Punic people who lived in Carthage before the Romans. Tertullian himself wrote that he was "Punic among Romans" and called Africa his homeland. Church tradition says he grew up in Carthage and was the son of a Roman soldier.

Some sources say Tertullian was a trained lawyer and a priest. These ideas come from early church historians like Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome. However, other scholars question this. While Tertullian knew a lot about Roman law, his writings don't clearly show he was a lawyer. Also, he never described himself as a priest in his own writings. He seemed to see himself as a regular church member.

Tertullian became a Christian around 197–198 AD. We don't know exactly how it happened, but it seems it was a sudden and life-changing event for him. He believed that true Christians are "made, not born," meaning it takes a conscious decision to follow Christ. He was married to a Christian woman, as shown in two books he wrote to her.

Around 207 AD, Tertullian became interested in Montanism, a Christian movement that emphasized strict moral rules and new prophecies. Most experts today don't believe Tertullian completely left the main Church or was kicked out. For example, Cyprian, another important early Christian, respected Tertullian, and Cyprian was very strict about not breaking away from the Church.

Later, during the time of Augustine, there was a group in Carthage called "Tertullianists." It's not clear if this was just another name for the Montanists, or if Tertullian started his own group after leaving the Montanists. Tertullian lived to be old and his writings greatly influenced later Christian thinkers like Cyprian and Augustine.

Tertullian's Writings

Tertullian wrote many books and letters. Thirty-one of his works still exist today, along with parts of others. About fifteen of his books, written in Latin or Greek, are now lost. His writings cover many topics in Christian belief, such as defending Christianity against other religions, arguing against wrong teachings, and discussing how Christians should live their lives. His works give us a good picture of religious life and thought in his time.

Tertullian used the word paganus to mean a "civilian" person, as opposed to "soldiers of Christ." He saw Christians as soldiers fighting for Christ. He wrote that a faithful citizen is a soldier for Christ, just as a faithful soldier is a citizen.

What He Wrote About

It's hard to know the exact order in which Tertullian wrote his works. Some of them show his Montanist ideas, while others refer to earlier writings. His works can be grouped in two ways:

• Defending Christianity: These books defended Christians against accusations from non-Christians and argued against other religious or philosophical ideas. His Apologeticus is a strong defense of Christians to Roman officials. In it, he argued for freedom of religion and demanded fair trials for Christians. His five books against Marcion are very detailed and help us understand early Christian views on Gnosticism.
• Practical and Moral Advice: These writings gave advice on how Christians should live, including topics like marriage, modesty, patience, and prayer.

Surviving Copies

The oldest handwritten copies of Tertullian's works are from the 8th century, but most are from the 15th century. There are five main collections of his works. Some of his works are lost, and some collections of copies are also lost, though we have early printed versions of them.

Tertullian's Beliefs

Tertullian had many important beliefs about God and the Church.

God and the Trinity

Tertullian believed that God the Father is the ultimate creator of everything. He taught that the Father made the world through his Son, the Word. Tertullian used the word "corporeal" to mean something that truly exists, not necessarily something with flesh.

He is often seen as an early supporter of the idea of the Nicene doctrine, which describes the Trinity. In his book against Praxeas, Tertullian used words like "trinity," "economy" (referring to the three persons), "persons," and "substance." He said that the Father, Son, and Spirit are "one substance, not one person." He believed that the names "Father" and "Son" show that they are distinct persons. He said the Father is one, the Son is another, and the Spirit is another, yet they are united.

Some scholars note that Tertullian believed the Son was "subordinate" (lesser) to the Father. He also suggested that there was a time when God was not yet called "Father" because the Son had not yet been fully formed for creation. This idea of the Son being subordinate was later rejected by the Church in its official teachings.

Apostolic Succession

Tertullian strongly believed in the importance of apostolic succession. This means that the authority of the Church leaders (like bishops) comes directly from the apostles (Jesus's first followers). He challenged groups he considered heretics to show proof that their communities had this direct link to the apostles.

The Eucharist

Tertullian, like some other early Christian writers, used words like "figure" and "symbol" to describe the Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper). In one of his books, he suggested that Jesus's words "this is my body" should be understood as "a figure of my body." Some believe this means he thought of Jesus's presence in the Eucharist as spiritual.

Baptism

Tertullian advised that the baptism of young children and unmarried people should be delayed. He mentioned that it was common to baptize infants, with sponsors speaking for them. He worried that if infants were baptized, they might grow up and fall into sin, which could cause them to lose their salvation.

He described baptism as a cleansing process that prepares someone to receive the Holy Spirit. His writings include the earliest known prayer for blessing the water used in baptism. Tertullian believed that baptism worked regardless of the faith of the person receiving it. He also thought that in emergencies, regular church members (not just priests) could perform baptisms.

The Church

Tertullian believed that the passage in the Bible (Matthew 16:18-19) where Jesus speaks of "the rock" referred to Peter. For Tertullian, Peter represented the beginning of the one Church, which then spread into many local churches. However, as a Montanist, he later believed that the power to "bind and unbind" (forgive sins) had passed to the apostles and prophets of the Montanist church, not to the bishops of the main Church.

He criticized some church leaders, like Pope Callixtus I, for allowing people who had committed serious sins back into the church. Tertullian believed that those who committed grave sins, like sorcery and murder, should not be allowed back into the church. He also attacked church authorities, saying they cared more about their own power than listening to the Holy Spirit.

Marriage

Tertullian's views on marriage changed after he joined Montanism. Before, he thought marriage was good. But after becoming a Montanist, he believed it was not good. He wrote that Christians should not marry again after their first spouse died. He thought that being unmarried was the best state for a Christian. He believed that marriage made the body and spirit less sensitive to spiritual things.

Some modern scholars have criticized Tertullian's views on women and marriage as being misogynistic (showing prejudice against women).

Scripture

Tertullian did not have a fixed list of all the books in the Bible. However, he often quoted from many books that are now in the New Testament, such as 1 John, 1 Peter, Jude, Revelation, the letters of Paul, and the four Gospels. After he became a Montanist, he also started using the Shepherd of Hermas. He quoted most of the Old Testament, including some books that are now called deuterocanonical books. He defended the book of Enoch, believing it was left out of the Jewish Bible. He thought the epistle to the Hebrews was written by Barnabas.

For Tertullian, the Bible was the highest authority. He used it as his main source in almost all his writings. When interpreting the Bible, he sometimes saw passages as symbolic, and other times he took them literally. He believed that the Bible should be interpreted by looking at many texts together, and that they should all agree with each other.

Other Beliefs

• Mary: Tertullian did not believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, remained a virgin forever. He also thought she had imperfections.
• Priesthood: He believed in a concept similar to the priesthood of all believers, meaning that all Christians have a priestly role. He thought that the difference between clergy (priests) and regular church members was only due to church rules. In an emergency, he believed regular church members could act as priests.
• Images: Tertullian believed in Iconoclasm, which means he was against the use of religious images or idols.
• End Times: He believed in Historic premillennialism, meaning Christians would go through a difficult period, followed by Jesus ruling on Earth for 1,000 years.
• Philosophy: Tertullian strongly criticized the use of Ancient Greek philosophy in Christian theology. He famously asked, "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" He believed philosophy led to false religious ideas and heresies.
• Angels and Demons: His ideas about angels and demons were influenced by the Book of Enoch. He believed that the Nephilim were born when fallen angels mixed with human women. He thought angels were less important than humans and not made in God's image. He also believed angels could change their shape.

Montanism

Tertullian was drawn to Montanism because of its very strict moral rules. He felt that the main Church had become too worldly. Montanism in North Africa seemed to be a reaction against this. The Montanists in North Africa believed bishops were successors of the apostles and that the New Testament was the highest authority, unlike some other Montanist groups.

Tertullianists

Augustine mentioned a group called "Tertullianists" who had a church building in Carthage. Some scholars think Augustine believed Tertullian started his own group after joining the Montanists. Others believe "Tertullianists" was just another name for the North African Montanists and not a separate group.

Moral Principles

Tertullian was a strong supporter of strict rules and a very simple way of life for Christians. He was one of the main figures in the early Church who believed in a very strict approach to Christian living. These views likely led him to join Montanism, which also emphasized strictness and the idea that prophetic gifts continued.

In his writings, he expressed these views on public entertainment, how women should dress, and other topics:

• Entertainment: He believed Christians should stay away from theaters and amphitheaters. He argued that these places involved pagan religious practices, ignored modesty and purity, and didn't help Christians grow in their faith.
• Dress and Modesty: He thought women should not wear gold or expensive jewelry. He also believed that virgins should keep their faces strictly covered with veils.
• Marriage: He praised being unmarried as the best way of life. He urged Christians to be even more committed to celibacy (not marrying) than pagan priests. Tertullian's strong belief that no one should remarry led to his disagreement with the main Church, which allowed second marriages. He preferred the Montanist group because they also condemned second marriages.

Tertullian's Works

Tertullian's writings are available in large collections of early Christian texts. Many of his works have also been translated into English.

Apologetic (Defending Christianity)

• Apologeticus pro Christianis (Defense of Christians)
• Libri duo ad Nationes (Two Books to the Nations)
• De Testimonio animae (On the Witness of the Soul)
• Ad Martyres (To the Martyrs)
• De Spectaculis (On the Games)
• De Idololatria (On Idolatry)
• Accedit ad Scapulam liber (To Scapula)

Dogmatic (About Christian Beliefs)

• De Oratione (On Prayer)
• De Baptismo (On Baptism)
• De Poenitentia (On Repentance)
• De Patientia (On Patience)
• Ad Uxorem libri duo (Two Books to His Wife)
• De Cultu Feminarum lib. II (Two Books on Women's Dress)

Polemical (Arguing Against Other Ideas)

• De Praescriptionibus adversus Haereticos (On the Prescription of Heretics)
• De Corona Militis (On the Soldier's Garland)
• De Fuga in Persecutione (On Flight in Persecution)
• Adversus Gnosticos Scorpiace (Scorpiace Against the Gnostics)
• Adversus Praxeam (Against Praxeas)
• Adversus Hermogenem (Against Hermogenes)
• Adversus Marcionem libri V (Five Books Against Marcion)
• Adversus Valentinianos (Against the Valentinians)
• Adversus Judaeos (Against the Jews)
• De Anima (On the Soul)
• De Carne Christi (On the Flesh of Christ)
• De Resurrectione Carnis (On the Resurrection of Flesh)

On Morality

• De velandis Virginibus (On Veiling Virgins)
• De Exhortatione Castitatis (On Exhortation to Chastity)
• De Monogamia (On Monogamy)
• De Jejuniis (On Fasting)
• De Pudicitia (On Modesty)
• De Pallio (On the Ascetic Mantle)

Possible Order of Writings

Here is a possible order of when Tertullian wrote his works, suggested by Bishop John Kaye:

• Probably before he joined Montanism:
  • De Poenitentia (On Repentance)
  • De Oratione (On Prayer)
  • De Baptismo (On Baptism)
  • Ad Uxorem, lib. I & II (To His Wife)
  • Ad Martyras (To the Martyrs)
  • De Patientia (On Patience)
  • Adversus Judaeos (Against the Jews)
  • De Praescriptione Haereticorum (On the Prescription of Heretics)

• Uncertain time period:
  • Apologeticus pro Christianis (Apology for the Christians)
  • ad Nationes, lib. I & II (To the Nations)
  • De Testimonio animae (On the Witness of the Soul)
  • De Pallio (On the Ascetic Mantle)
  • Adversus Hermogenem (Against Hermogenes)

• Probably after he joined Montanism:
  • Adversus Valentinianus (Against the Valentinians)
  • ad Scapulam (To Scapula, Proconsul of Africa)
  • De Spectaculis (On the Games)
  • De Idololatria (On Idolatry)
  • De cultu Feminarum, lib. I & II (On Women's Dress)

• Definitely after he joined Montanism:
  • Adversus Marcionem, lib I (Against Marcion, Bk. I)
  • Adversus Marcionem, lib II
  • De Anima (On the Soul)
  • Adversus Marcionem, lib III
  • Adversus Marcionem, lib IV
  • De Carne Christi (On the Flesh of Christ)
  • De Resurrectione Carnis (On the Resurrection of Flesh)
  • Adversus Marcionem, lib V
  • Adversus Praxean (Against Praxeas)
  • Scorpiace (Antidote to Scorpion's Bite)
  • De Corona Militis (On the Soldier's Garland)
  • De velandis Virginibus (On Veiling Virgins)
  • De Exhortatione Castitatis (On Exhortation to Chastity)
  • De Fuga in Persecutione (On Flight in Persecution)
  • De Monogamia (On Monogamy)
  • De Jejuniis, adversus psychicos (On Fasting, against the materialists)
  • De Puditicia (On Modesty)

Works Not Written by Tertullian

Some works were once thought to be by Tertullian but were actually written by others. They are sometimes still published with his works because the real authors are unknown.

• Adversus Omnes Haereses (Against all Heresies)
• De execrandis gentium diis (On the Execrable Gods of the Heathens)
• Carmen adversus Marcionem (Poem against Marcion)
• Carmen de Iona Propheta (Poem about the Prophet Jonah)
• Carmen de Sodoma (Poem about Sodom)
• Carmen de Genesi (Poem about Genesis)
• Carmen de Judicio Domini (Poem about the Judgment of the Lord)

The famous Passio SS. Perpetuae et Felicitatis (Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas), which includes parts of a personal diary, was once thought to be edited by Tertullian. However, most scholars no longer believe this.

Influence on Novatianism

The Novatians were a Christian group who refused to forgive people who had committed serious sins, like worshipping idols. They often used Tertullian's writings to support their views, and some Novatians even joined the Montanists. The beliefs of Novatian, a leader of this group, about the Trinity and Christology (the study of Jesus Christ) were also greatly influenced by Tertullian.

Ronald E. Heine wrote that Novatianism had a similar spirit to Tertullian's ideas, especially regarding Christian discipline.

Images for kids

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  Depiction of Tertullian

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  Septimi Florensis Tertulliani Opera (1598)