Lecture 8: Tertullian and African Christianity in Third Century Dr. Ann T. Orlando 28 September 2017 Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Introduction Montanists Forgiveness of sins Baptism in Early Church Baptism and Martyrdom Controversies in Third Century African Church Current Implications Roman Liturgical Developments Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity

Montanism: Background Started by Montus and two female disciples: Prisca and Maximillia Originated in Phrygia in Asia Minor c. 160 Quickly spread around Mediterranean, took strong root in North Africa Seems to have died out or morphed into other movements (Donatism) by mid-Third Century in North Africa Tertullian’s later works may be the only Montanists documents extant (On Flight, On Modesty, Against Praxeas) Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Montanism: Beliefs Believed in continuing Prophecy in Church through the action of Holy Spirit Prophecy took the form of ecstatic utterances and actions; equal in value to Scripture Encouraged excessive disciplinary practices Opposed remarriage after death of spouse Encouraged active seeking of martyrdom Once a person was Baptized, and then sinned, they could not be forgiven Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Response of Bishops Some question as to whether or not to accept the New Prophecy Admiration for spirituality Respect and honor for martyrs But New Prophecy seemed at odds with the importance of Apostolic Succession as guarantor of Truth Excessive disciplinary practices, including no forgiveness of sins was not accepted by bishops Condemned by Pope Eleutherius c. 180 Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian’s Montanists View Did not believe in spousal remarriage Encouraged martyrdom Did not completely accept authority of bishop Tertullian held there were three classes of sins Unforgivable sins: idolatry, apostasy, adultery (No readmittance to Church) Grave but forgivable sins: murder Daily sins: anger, evil speech Broke with Catholic bishop of Carthage (Agrippinus) over forgiveness of sins; felt bishop could not forgive adultery Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian and Bishop of Rome Tertullian claimed that Pope Eleutherius had approved of the Montanists Claimed that Pope Victor was led astray by Praxeas to condemn Montanists (Against Praxeas) Also chastised Pope Victor for forgiving sins of adultery: I hear that there has even been an edict set forth, and a peremptory one too. The Pontifex Maximus -that is, the bishop of bishops -issues an edict: "I remit, to such as have discharged (the requirements of) repentance, the sins both of adultery and of fornication." On Modesty I Pontifex Maximus: Tertullian is being sarcastic; this was the term for the pagan high priest in Rome Tertullian, North African Christianity

Controversies About Martyrs Recall that did not have to die to be a martyr Suffer for the sake of The Name Martyrs in life and death were considered heroes of the Church with great personal spiritual power Popularly believed that they could forgive sins, especially the sin of apostasy Should the Church encourage martyrdom? Official stance by most bishops was not to actively seek it, but if pushed, not to deny the faith Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Decian Persecutions First Empire-wide persecutions promulgated by Emperor Decius, 250 Political instability within Empire Increased threats from Persia and Northern barbarians Required that everyone offer sacrifice for the Empire; Required that everyone show their libellus (little book) or certificate to prove that they offered sacrifice Required that Christians hand over their sacred books to be burned Anyone who did not comply was condemned to death as a traitor Tertullian, North African Christianity

Response of Christians Some fled cities Some complied Some bought libelli from others Some refused to comply and were martyred A few bishops did hand over the Scriptures to be burned Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Response of Church Once the persecutions had abated (i.e., when Decius was overthrown as Emperor) What to do about those who had complied or avoided persecution Validity of sacraments offered by bishops who had handed over Scriptures Led to Novation and Donatists Controversies Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Novation Roman priest, opposed election of Pope Cornelius in 251 Thought Cornelius too lax in re-admitting lapsed (lapsi) Christians back into Church Set himself up as a rival Pope, drawing support from around Empire, especially from Montanists Driving force opposing Novation: St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity St. Cyprian Teacher of Rhetoric before his conversion c. 248 Almost immediately, he was elected bishop of Carthage Tertullian was a major influence on him During Decian persecutions, he fled Carthage, but remained in contact with the Church there Martyred in persecutions of Valerian, 257 (as was Novation) St. Cyprian will be a major influence on the greatest of Western theologians: Augustine Tertullian, North African Christianity

St. Cyprian and Re-Baptism As noted above, Cyprian accepted lapsed into the Church with appropriate penance However, he did not recognize the validity of Baptism by heretics or schismatics This put him in conflict with Pope Stephen; the Roman Church seems to have always recognized Baptism by anyone as long as water and the Trinitarian formula were used Cyprian thought the orthodoxy and validity of the minister was important in administering the sacrament Note, Cyprian also opposed the forgiveness of sins by martyrs (libelli martyrum) for the same reason: the validity of the minister Cyprian, and many others, wanted Christians Baptized by heretics to be re-Baptized Pope St. Stephen prevailed Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Key Issue at Stake What is the relationship of the minister to the sacrament? Does the validity of the sacrament depend on the personal virtue of the minister? Official Catholic doctrine from the mid-Third Century (and from the beginning in Rome) is: the validity of the sacrament is independent of the personal spiritual state of the minister However, this issue continued to be hotly contested; leading to the Donatist movement in North Africa Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Donatism Started c. 313 in North Africa, named for a Christian Bishop in North Africa who protested the ordination of presbyters by a lapsed bishop Followers of Montanist and Novatian joined with Donatists to form a schismatic Church, more numerous than the Catholic Church in North Africa. Wanted the Church to be the ‘Church of the Pure’ especially the ministers Looked to Tertullian and Cyprian as ‘fathers in faith’ Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Preview: Augustine Born near Carthage, 354 Bishop of Hippo Augustine rejected the notion of validity of minister need for validity of sacrament No one is without sin Efficacy of sacrament depends on intention of recipient Augustine fought Donatists throughout his life ‘fought’ literally, because they tried to assassinate him Augustine’s theological understanding and teaching on this became standard in the Church Tertullian, North African Christianity

Back to Tertullian, On Baptism Note the use of OT images Discussion of Jesus’ Baptism by John Discussion of Objections to Baptism Jesus did not Baptize Paul did not Baptize What about holy men and women of OT Passover best time for Baptism Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity To the Martyrs Addressed to Christians in prison Holy Spirit in prison with them World more of a prison Images of battle and combat Examples from pagans Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity On Prayer Titles for Jesus Meditation on “Our Father” Christ as our daily bread Relation between debt and sin How we should pray Tertullian, North African Christianity

Tertullian, North African Christianity Assignment Read On Baptism, To the Martyrs, On Prayer CCC 1212-1246, 1256 (Baptism) Benedict XVI, General Audience 6 June 2007, St. Cyprian, http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070606_en.html Write short paper on Tertullian Tertullian, North African Christianity