Tertullian Biography

Tertullian (about 160) – the famous theologian, born in Carthage, ca. 160 g., received his legal education and was considered an excellent lawyer. When converted to Christianity and under the influence of motive is unknown, but it is probably quite applicable to the same maxim: fiunt non nascuntur christiani, as is clear from his writings "De cultu feminaram". Was a presbyter, probably at Carthage, in full blossom deviated from Catholicism and fell into Montanism (about 202), which remained faithful to the end of life. Montanism could not be more consistent with his passionate and rigorous thinking. He died in extreme old age, year of death is unknown. His activities coincided with the rule of Septimius Severus and Caracalla. Scanty biographical information about him are in his writings, as well as in Jerome and Eusebius. Compositions T. extremely important for the history of the church and interested in a philosophical sense. They published several times, for example. in Paris in 1616 (J. Ramelii), the same in 1634 (Rigolti), in Halle in 1770 (Semler), in Leipzig in 1852 – 1854. (Oehleg). Some scholars (Monceaux, "Les Africains", P., 1892; Boissier, "L'Afrique romaine", P., 1895; Ger'e "The struggle for the unity of faith in the IV." Vestnik Evropy ", 1901, ¼ 1) explain the passion of African writers and features of their style properties inhabitants (Berbers), who absorbed an alien culture – first Semitic (Phoenician), then the Roman and the Greek part. T. – a typical early Christian writer III-th century on the African soil. Many household characteristics, scattered in the writings of T., make them indispensable for the historian of culture. T. is a characteristic example of Latin, the western Catholic writer, employed primarily on practical, as opposed to speculative directions eastern Christian writers. An interesting contrast between T. and his contemporary Origen. The latter embodies the idealism of Christian, first tries to consistently hold materialism, as he joined with Christianity. Origen is a mystical understanding of Christianity, with the allegorical interpretation of Scripture, T. literally trying to understand the texts. Origen's interest for the most speculative questions, TN – questions of discipline, the Christian life. Origen has a certain inclination toward gnosticism, T. Montanism carried away – the exact opposite of Gnosticism. T. man of extensive education, writing and on the Greek. language (Greek written. lost). The tone of his works are almost always sharp, passionate, polemical, his opponents, he does not spare, often resorting to insinuations, to sophistical turn of thought. Style is consistent with the original character of the author: unnatural, elevated, often wrong language, difficult to understand, but at the same time, rich comparisons and antithesis, the idea often expressed so succinctly and accurately what is saying. TV – direct predecessor bl. Augustine, one of the founders of the Western Latin theology, the first time they are raised and resolved some dogmatic issues.

Not all the works of T. came to us, in his writings and in Jerome are references to the unpreserved his works: "De spe idelium", "De paradiso", "Adversus Apelleiacos", "De censu animae adversus Hermogenem", "De fato" , "De ecstasi lib. VII" and others refer to the writings of T. are those who, in all probability, it does not belong, for example. "De execrandis gentium diis". All the works chronologically TA can be divided into two periods: the Roman Catholic and montanisticheskie; the content in either period, it can distinguish between 3 groups – the works on Christian living, apologetics and dogmatic. Some of TA returns, and this makes it possible to determine the change in its views. For all the originality of T., it is sometimes necessary to repeat what has been said Minutsiem Felix and Justin: This is inevitable with the common theme of all the apologists. The symptoms, which include works by T. Montanism period to lie in the prophecies referring to Montana, Maximillion and Priscilla, links to Paraklit (Holy Spirit), the special significance accorded to post, against a second marriage and escape in time of persecution for their faith, strict regard to the apostate (lapsi), eager to be accepted again in the Christian community, and, finally, the attacks on the psyche (ie, Catholic).Strict separation of essays on these groups do not always possible because some of essays written in a period Montanism have the task of combating Gnosticism and do not sign a nothing specifically montanisticheskogo. The first period includes the works of T., on the inner Christian life as something about prayer ("De oratione"), baptism ("De baptismo"), repentance ("De poenitentia") and patience ("De patientia")-virtue, which he did not have a TV. In them we encounter the first attempt to comment on the Lord's Prayer. The meaning of T. sees the spiritual sacrifice, which was the abolition of pagan sacrifice. Curious reference to the customs of early Christians, in whom are clearly visible features of the pagan and Jewish. The writing on baptism written against heresy Gayan, who denied the necessity of baptism. TA looks at baptism as a kind of magical effect, and water ascribes a special role in world genesis, and in particular in baptism. Foreign Christian subjects relating TG compositions of spectacles ("De spectaculis") and of idolatry ("De idolatria"). Here T. is trying to determine the relationship of a Christian to the Gentiles. Idolatry – the greatest sin. Christians are prohibited from engaging in arts and crafts, serving to decorate the idols, prohibits the employment of astrology, as it is demonic origin; Christians must not educate their children in pagan schools, should not participate in pagan festivals, hold positions in the pagan state, etc. One the most important works of T. – his apologetic treatise "Liber apologeticus", in which he has been very skillfully protection of Christianity. He proves that the persecution of Christians by the State is not justified by laws of the State, as referred to the famous letter to the emperor Trajan to Pliny, prohibiting wanted Christians. Being directed against Christians in charge of secret crimes nor are baseless, pagans, Christians pursuing disrespect for the gods, their gods were no longer believe. The true essence of pagan religion – demonic, ie, the direct opposite of faith in the divine principle. Direct proof of the truth of Christianity is the moral rebirth of the people who have adopted Christianity. The opinion prevalent among the Gentiles, that all the misfortunes in the history explains the role of Christians – is false. In the essay "De testimonio animae" TV demands freedom of conscience and freedom of the Church. He argues that Christianity has no political character and therefore can not be regarded as anti-government sect. In conclusion, T. examines the Christian doctrine, as compared with pagan philosophy, a fair assessment of Christian morality alternates with a severe indictment of pagan philosophy, created by demons and not given any knowledge of, and if in pagan philosophy, and there are glimpses of truth, they are taken from the St. Scripture. These opinions do not differ from what was said Tatian, etc. apologists. For the first period of the TA include essays on women's jewelry, the second marriage. The issue of mixed marriages and the second marriage was, by necessity, take the first Christian writer – and T. returns to him in his work, written later. Prominent in the work of T. occupy writings against heretics: in his treatise "De praescriptione haereticorum" heresy he regards as evil, made by God, and the resulting primarily from the philosophy. Every heresy is a novelty that can not be justified by the doctrine apostolic. By the second period T. is: "De corona militis", "Ad Scapulam", "De
fuga in persecutione", "Scorpiace", "De pallio", "De virginibus velandis", "De exhortatione castitatis", "De jejunio adversus psychicos "," De monogamia "," De pudicitia "," Adversus Hermogenern "," Adversus Valentinianos ", five books of" Adversus Marcionem "," Adversus Praxeam "," De anima "," De carne Christi "," De resurrectione carnis ". Typical Montanism principle was the recognition that the revelation of the Savior and the Apostles is not finished yet, but ends sequentially due to the influence of the Holy Spirit. The works, deals with the relationship of Christians to the Gentiles, T. carefully trying to eliminate all pagan. Eg. He protects (in the book "De corona militis") Christian soldier who refused to lay a wreath on his head.He blames the Christians, trying to flee to escape martyrdom, calls, referring to the Scripture, the nature and discipline of the church that Christian girls were not only on the streets, but in the church cover, prohibits the entry into a second marriage, requires a position that became necessary due to the fact that Adam tasted the forbidden fruit, but useful as a means of preservative from the wrath of God. In his treatise on modesty ("De pudicitia") TV sets 7 deadly sins (delicta ad mortem: ybiystvo, idolatry, deception, apostasy, blasphemy, adultery and fornication). Only sins committed before baptism can be forgiven for the church, after the baptism of the Church can forgive sins, only slightly (remissibilia), but not death (non remissibilia); deserve to be punished first, second – eternal damnation, but divine mercy can give forgiveness of mortal sin. And martyrs for the faith could not let go of mortal sins. Works against heresy Hermogenes T., Valentine and Marcion of great importance for the history of the church and heresy. T. likes to insist on the antithesis of morality and sensuality, divine revelation and human reason. The doctrine of Christ has made excessive curiosity, the need to destroy the gospel of science. A Christian should not ask and look for more than what is permitted to the apostles. Every Christian craftsmen found God, while Plato argues that it is difficult to find a builder Mipa. The opposite of faith and knowledge expressed in the famous formula TV: credo quia absurdum est. Of the ancient writers just Stoics, especially Seneca, like T. The reason for this sympathy is understandable, in the thinking of TA, we encounter an attempt to combine the same opposition, which joined the Stoics, ie supranaturalisticheskie trend with extreme materialism. In Ethics in Tertullian dualist tendencies in the theory of knowledge – sensationalist, in psychology – materialistic. Feelings do not lie, everything that exists – in body, even the God who made out of nothing the matter, has the body to the immortal soul just as corporeal. Nihil est incorporale nisi quod non est. If the soul was not the body, it could not affect the body. The soul of the child passes from the father through the seed. Thus T is a representative tradutsianizma, in contrast kreatianizmu (creation of the soul) and the theory of Plato's pre-existence. All souls are the offspring of Adam's soul. Hereditary qualities of the soul, which explains the original sin. God is One, eternal, free; the Holy Spirit came from God, like a sunbeam from the sun. God first son, but not in time, because the time arose only with the world. Peace be not eternal, as God created out of nothing.