Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus

Kristillisen perinteen keskuudessa on ajoittain esiintynyt taipumusta hylätä juutalaisten pyhä kirja, Vanha testamentti, ja vedota pelkästään Uuden testamentin avaamiin näköaloihin. Edellisen kokoelman Jumala olisi ankara ja tuomitseva, jälkimmäisen taas lempeä, ylittämättömän hyvä ja pelkästään armollinen. Vanha olisi hylättävä ja tartuttava uuteen. Tämän tulkintamallin klassinen edustaja on Markion Sinopelainen (n. 85–160 jKr.). Varhaiset kristityt olivat kuitenkin juutalaisia Jeesuksen oppilaita, jotka löysivät häntä koskeviin kokemuksiinsa taustan ja selityksen juuri omista pyhistä kirjoituksistaan. Myöhemmin syntyneet Uuden testamentin tekstit kertovat, miten se on tapahtunut ja millä tavoin uusi rakentuu vanhan perustalle yhden ja saman Jumalan toimintana ihmisten hyväksi. Tämän Tertullianus (n. 165–220 jKr.) osoittaa laajassa ja perusteellisessa teoksessaan Vastakirjoitus Markionille. Asetelma on yhä ajankohtainen. Siksi on hyvä tutustua tähän klassiseen tekstiin.

Containing Tertullian's (ca. 160-220 A. D.) De Spectaculis, De Idolatria, De Cultu Feminarum, De Corona Militis, De Testomonio Animae, De Execrandis Gentium Diis and Carmen Genesis. This book uses the versions from The Latin Library, cross-referenced with the Patrologia Latina and Corpus Christianorum, enhanced with more than 280 footnotes of scriptural references and critical commentary (highlighting the differences between the online version and the two aforementioned sources). Greek text has been restored and I have enacted uniform punctuation and spelling practices. Neatly formatted with original forward. Please visit: VitaScriptorium.com for more.

Containing Tertullian's (ca. 160-220 A. D.) De Spectaculis, De Idolatria, De Cultu Feminarum, De Corona Militis, De Testomonio Animae, De Execrandis Gentium Diis and Carmen Genesis. This book uses the versions from The Latin Library, cross-referenced with the Patrologia Latina and Corpus Christianorum, enhanced with more than 280 footnotes of scriptural references and critical commentary (highlighting the differences between the online version and the two aforementioned sources). Greek text has been restored and I have enacted uniform punctuation and spelling practices. Neatly formatted with original forward. Please visit: VitaScriptorium.com for more. This book is also available in hard back --- Link: https: //www.lulu.com/shop/quintus-septimius-florens-tertullianus-and-brooks-hayden-romedy/opera-tertulliani/hardcover/product-47vvpg.html?q=opera+tertulliani&page=1&pageSize=4

The principal crime of the human race, the highest guilt charged upon the world, the whole procuring cause of judgment, is idolatry. For, although each single fault retains its own proper feature, although it is destined to judgment under its own proper name also, yet it is marked off under the general account of idolatry. Set aside names, examine works, the idolater is likewise a murderer. Do you inquire whom he has slain? If it contributes ought to the aggravation of the indictment, no stranger nor personal enemy, but his own self. By what snares? Those of his error. By what weapon? The offense done to God. By how many blows? As many as are his idolatries. He who affirms that the idolater perishes not, will affirm that the idolater has not committed murder. Further, you may recognize in the same crime adultery and fornication; for he who serves false gods is doubtless an adulterer of truth, because all falsehood is adultery. So, too, he is sunk in fornication. For who that is a fellow-worker with unclean spirits, does not stalk in general pollution and fornication? And thus it is that the Holy Scriptures use the designation of fornication in their upbraiding of idolatry. The essence of fraud, I take it, is, that any should seize what is another's, or refuse to another his due; and, of course, fraud done toward man is a name of greatest crime. Well, but idolatry does fraud to God, by refusing to Him, and conferring on others, His honors; so that to fraud it also conjoins contumely. But if fraud, just as much as fornication and adultery, entails death, then, in these cases, equally with the former, idolatry stands unacquitted of the impeachment of murder. - Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (Tertullian)

The Apology (Latin: Apologeticum or Apologeticus) is Tertullian's most famous work, consisting of apologetic and polemic; In this book Tertullian defends the Christian Church, demanding legal toleration and that Christians be treated as all other sects or religions of the Roman Empire. It is in this treatise that one finds the phrase: "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."