The classic Latin attack on Marcion's rejection of the Old Testament and two-god theology.
Tertullian
c. 155 – c. 220 · b. Carthage
TheologianApologistPresbyter
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 155, Carthage
- Died
- c. 220, Carthage
- Region
- africa
- Era
- ante nicene
- Significance
- Major Father(3/4)
- Also known as
- Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Tertullian gave the Latin West much of the vocabulary it still uses to speak about God.
- Best first read
- Apology
- Primary source
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 53
First major Latin Christian author; coined much of Western theological vocabulary (trinitas, persona, substantia). Apologeticus, Adv. Marcionem, De Praescriptione. Later joined the New Prophecy (Montanism).
Why Tertullian matters
Tertullian gave the Latin West much of the vocabulary it still uses to speak about God. He wrote when serious Christian theology was still mostly Greek, and he made Latin bear words such as Trinity, person, substance, sacrament, and New Testament. Augustine and later Western theologians could argue with greater precision because Tertullian had already made the language possible. His later Montanism kept him from the usual saintly category, but his words outlived the controversy.
Recommended reading near Tertullian
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 Tertullian?
- Tertullian (155–220) — First major Latin Christian author; coined much of Western theological vocabulary (trinitas, persona, substantia). Apologeticus, Adv. Marcionem, De Praescriptione. Later joined the New Prophecy (Montanism).
- Who did Tertullian oppose?
- Marcion of Sinope, Valentinus, and Pope Callixtus I.
Works
- Apologyc. 197
Public defense of Christianity to Roman governors — a masterpiece of early Christian rhetoric.
- Against Marcionc. 207
Five-book refutation of Marcion's two-god theology, foundational for canon and Old Testament theology.
- On Prescription Against Hereticsc. 200
Argues heretics have no right to argue from scripture; only the church has true apostolic succession.
- On Baptismc. 200
Earliest surviving Christian treatise on the sacrament; argues for adult baptism + against women's authority to baptize.
- Against Praxeasc. 213
Coined 'Trinity' (trinitas) in Latin; defends three persons in one substance.
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Sources for biography
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 53 primary
- Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 2.2, 2.25 primary
- Tertullian, Apologeticus primary
documented connections(3)
- opposed Marcion of SinopeTertullian's five books Adversus Marcionem are the most extensive ancient refutation.Tertullian, Adversus Marcionem
- opposed ValentinusTertullian's Adversus Valentinianos refutes the Valentinian school.Tertullian, Adversus Valentinianos
- opposed Pope Callixtus ITertullian's De Pudicitia attacks the unnamed bishop (commonly identified as Callixtus) for absolving adultery.Tertullian, De Pudicitia 1, 21
tradition connections(1)
- cited (incoming) Cyprian of CarthageJerome (late 4th c., De Vir. Ill. 53) reports that Cyprian read Tertullian daily, asking 'Da magistrum'. Cyprian himself never names Tertullian; the link is Jerome's anecdote 130+ years later.Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 53
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.📜Primary text on CCELChristian Classics Ethereal Library — full text in English, free.🔗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 Tertullian).