The key text for public apostolic tradition, anti-gnostic argument, and the chain from John to Polycarp to Irenaeus.
Lactantius
c. 250 – c. 325 · b. Africa Proconsularis
ApologistTheologianLayman
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 250, Africa Proconsularis
- Died
- c. 325, Trier
- Region
- africa
- Era
- ante nicene
- Significance
- Notable(2/4)
- Also known as
- Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Latin rhetorician and apologist, called the 'Christian Cicero.' Author of Divinae Institutiones and De Mortibus Persecutorum.
- Primary source
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 80
Latin rhetorician and apologist, called the 'Christian Cicero.' Author of Divinae Institutiones and De Mortibus Persecutorum. Tutor to Constantine's son Crispus.
Recommended reading near Lactantius
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was Lactantius?
- Lactantius (250–325) — Latin rhetorician and apologist, called the 'Christian Cicero.' Author of Divinae Institutiones and De Mortibus Persecutorum. Tutor to Constantine's son Crispus.
- Who taught Lactantius?
- Arnobius of Sicca.
Sources for biography
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 80 primary
- Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum primary
documented connections(1)
- cited Minucius FelixLactantius praises Minucius Felix's Octavius in his survey of Latin apologists.Lactantius, Divinae Institutiones 5.1
tradition connections(2)
- taught by Arnobius of SiccaJerome (De Vir. Ill. 80, c. 393) states Lactantius was a pupil of Arnobius at Sicca; no contemporary attestation, and Lactantius himself does not name Arnobius.Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 80 · Jerome, Chronicon ad ann. 327
- knew of Constantine the GreatJerome reports that in his old age Lactantius was tutor in Latin to Crispus, son of Constantine, in Gaul. Lactantius dedicated De Mortibus Persecutorum within Constantine's circle.Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 80 · Jerome, Chronicon ad ann. 318
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for Lactantius).