Early Christian Theology_ Tertullian of Carthage

   Tertullian of Carthage(160-220)

·         1st significant theological works in Latin

·         Opposed gnostic, Marcion, docetists.

·         Became a Montanist(early "charismatic" group later declared heretical).

·         Influenced by Stoic materialism

 

Epistemolgy

a.     On prescription of Aheretics: the heretics have no right even to enter debate with the church; for the church has the   apostolic rule of faith in Scripture, the only criterion of Christian truth. Note presupposional thrust. Hence, "What indeed   has Athens to do with Jerusalem?"

b.    On the Flesh of Christ: our concepts of possibility do not apply to G. Thus even though the incarnation appears to be   impossible (a change in an unchangeable being), we may believe it. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ are to be   believed because they are absurd and impossible.

·         Non-Christian irrationalism?

·         Main emphasis of the context, however, is the offense which the gospel brings against the "wise" of this world.

·         In context he argues that the cross and resurrection are possible because of the divine transcendence. He did not think   that these were impossible.

 

c.     Vs. Plato : sense-experience is not to be despised. Sense and intellect are mutually dependent.

d.    Apology: Christians get their ethical principles from divine revelation, not mere human authority.

e.     Sum

·         Stands firm on Scripture as Ireneaeus, and sees this as the …

 

 

Theology

a.     First to formulate the Latin terminolgy for the trinitarian ad Christological distinctions (substance, person, nature), but tell   into subordiantioism …

 

b.    The soul

1.     Critique of Plato:

·         If the soul is essentially divine, whence ignorance?

·         If union with the body eliminates knowledge, how can anything be know?

·         Note here T. presses the implicaiton …

 

4.     It has independence form G(autexousion)

5.     It has very little being; its closeness ot non-being introduces the possibility of sin

6.     Though man is always free, nevertheless our union with Adam transmits an uncontrollable subjection to temptation. It is   transmitted with the natural generation of the soul(traducianism)

Evaluation:

Much more self-consciously Christian in epistemology Some remnants of "chain of being" thought deriving from logos   speculation; some confusion of ethical and metaphysical.