Book Description
Was Tertullian of Carthage a schismatic? How did he view the church and its bishops? In this study David Rankin sets the writings of Tertullian in the context of the early third-century church and its developments, and discusses Tertullian's own theology of the church, his imagery and his perception of church office and ministry. Tertullian's contribution to the development of the church has often been misunderstood, and this thorough exploration provides a timely reassessment of its nature and importance. ... Read more

Book Description
The principal, and indeed(3) the whole, contention lies in the point of number: whether two Gods may be admitted, by poetic licence (if they must be),(4) or pictorial fancy, or by the third process, as we must now add,(5) of heretical pravity. But the Christian verity has distinctly declared this principle, "God is not, if He is not one;" because we more properly believe that that has no existence which is not as it ought to be.Download Description
The principal, and indeed(3) the whole, contention lies in the point of number: whether two Gods may be admitted, by poetic licence (if they must be),(4) or pictorial fancy, or by the third process, as we must now add,(5) of heretical pravity. But the Christian verity has distinctly declared this principle, "God is not, if He is not one;" because we more properly believe that that has no existence which is not as it ought to be. ... Read more

Book Description
Hermogenes was still living when Carthage's native son took up his pen to oppose him; but that did not make Tertullian's polemic more considerate, or his satire less passionate and biting. Hermogenes taught a form of materialism. Tertullian brilliantly convicts him of contradiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A solid translation of a difficult text
The subject of the work is the origin of the world, and therefore creation. Hermogenes, a second century painter, cod-stoic, and heretic, following Stoic ideas, believed that matter was coeternal with God. Tertullian was by no means unwilling to make use of Stoic technical concepts himself, but drew the line at importing Stoic religious ideas in preference to the biblical teaching; and so was led to write this work. This volume is the translation made by J.H. Waszink, the eminent Dutch scholar. Waszink also published the Latin text from which this translation was made: Tertullianus: Adversus Hermogenem liber. Ed. by J.H. Waszink. (Stromata patristica et Mediaevalia). Utrecht, 1956. He went on to publish a text and German translation of Tertullian's work De Anima, also against Hermogenes, in which he established the definitive edition of that difficult work and make real progress in understanding the difficult terminology involved.

Waszink was primarily a philologist of considerable reputation, and his text is oriented at solving the many problems which the inadequate state of the manuscripts pose for a work on so obscure a subject.

The translation is the most recent in English of the work. At points it can be a little stilted, since the subject is difficult, English was not Waszink's first language, and in any event he wanted to give the literal meaning, not a paraphrase. However it is superior to the only other English version available, the 19th century Ante-Nicene Fathers version based on the now very dated and inferior Oehler text. The notes are philological rather than theological.

The most up to date version of both text and translation is the new Sources Chretiennes Latin-French text. However Waszink's translation will be the standard where quotation in English is a desideratum.

In summary, a good workmanlike translation of a little-known work. ... Read more

Book Description
1872. Part Eleven of Twenty-four. The translations of the writings of the early Church writers from the time of Christ till the Council of Nicea in 325 into English, known as the Ante-Nicene Library. Contents of Volume Eleven: The Writings of Tertullian, Volume I; To the Martyrs; On the Spectacles; On the Testimony of the Soul; To Scapula; Apology; On Idolatry; On Prayer; Of Patience; On Baptism; On Repentance; To his Wife; On Female Dress; On the Soldier's Chaplet; On Flight in Persecution; The Antidote to the Scorpion's Bite; and To the Nations. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

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270 pp. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Catholic Insight, published by Thomson Gale on May 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1472 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Tertullian.(FATHERS OF THE CHURCH X)
Author: Barry Baldwin
Publication: Catholic Insight (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 13Issue: 5Page: 40(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tertullianus: Orator Christianus
Sider's book is an excellent case of good and thorough philological work. It presents Tertullian as a man considerably depending on the "classical" education. With the detailed analysis of almost all of Tertullian's treatises, Sider shows us, that every Tertullian's work can be described with terms of classical antique rhetoric and that the schemes of the latter can be clearly seen in these works too. Sider's book then is a very important step for better understanding of Tertullian's method of writing and of his handling of "pagan" heritage. ... Read more