APOLOGETICS AND MARTYRS: Tertullian's Enduring Influence | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2023

Author: George K Paul

Intro: George K Paul writes about Tertullian, brilliant thinker, staunch defender, and key figure in early Christian theology.

Every now and then, we come across the quote, ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.’ It's a phrase that resonates deeply with Christians, but not everyone is familiar with the man behind those words – Tertullian. This brilliant thinker coined the term ‘Trinity,’ a word not found in the Bible, to help us grasp the nature of God as described in the New Testament. Tertullian, a key figure in early Latin Christian theology before Augustine of Hippo, played a pivotal role in defending the Church against its adversaries while fortifying the faith of the persecuted. The place of apologetics in Tertullian's era is indeed indispensable.

Tertullian was born in Carthage around 155-160 AD, a time when Carthage rivalled Rome as a hub of culture and education in the Western world. He received a stellar education in grammar, rhetoric, literature, philosophy, and law. Although little is known about his early years, we do know that his parents were pagans, and his father possibly served as a non-commissioned officer in a legion stationed in Africa under the province's governor. After his education in Carthage, he headed to Rome, likely in his late teens or early twenties, to further his studies and potentially embark on a legal career.

Tertullian's legacy is preserved in 31 writings that cover a wide array of topics, from apologetic treatises to polemical refutations of heresies and moral reflections. His Apologeticum, a staunch defence of the Christian faith, features one of the earliest and most eloquent pleas for religious freedom. He argued that the Church was self-sustaining and contributed law-abiding citizens to the state, making them deserving of protection rather than persecution. Tertullian astutely noted that the more the Roman authorities persecuted the Church, the more it grew: ‘It is bait that wins men for (our) school. The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow: the blood of Christians is seed of the Church.’

While in Rome, Tertullian's interest in the Christian movement began to take root. However, it wasn't until he returned to Carthage in the late 2nd century that he converted to Christianity. Although he left no detailed account of his conversion, his early works, such as Ad Martyrs, Ad Nationes, and Apologeticum, indicate his fascination with certain Christian values and beliefs, including the steadfastness of martyrs, moral strictness, and unwavering faith in one God.

By the end of the 2nd century, the Church in Carthage had become a significant, well-established, and organised force in North Africa. Tertullian emerged as a prominent figure within the African Church, serving as a teacher for both the unbaptised and the faithful and as a literary defender of Christian beliefs and practices.

Tertullian's Apologeticum was directed at the authorities of the Roman Empire, Ad Scapulam at a North African governor, and Ad Nationes at the general non-Christian populace. The Apolgeticum carries the distinct flavour of a legal defence throughout, with Tertullian presenting his case like a defence counsel in a court trial. However, Tertullian's defence transcends mere legal matters; it primarily seeks to provide a religious justification for the Christian faith beneath its judicial context. He denounces the irrationality of Christian trials, where conventional legal norms are disregarded.

Demonstrating the existence of God

Tertullian's arguments for the existence of God differ from the more objective and philosophically grounded approaches of Anselm and Aquinas. While his reasoning may not align with the scientific atheism of our times, it possesses its own merits. Tertullian's defence of Christianity starts by proclaiming the existence of one God, emphasising God's role as the Creator of the universe. He describes God as invisible, incomprehensible, and infinite, emphasising that humans should seek to know and worship this divine being. Tertullian then offers two ways to prove God's existence.

First, he argues that the existence and order of the cosmos point to a divine Creator. Tertullian contends that the well-organised universe cannot have created and governed itself, referring to it as ‘the proof from the works of His hands.’ The second proof stems from the human soul's innate yearning for God, which becomes evident when the soul awakens from its worldly desires. Tertullian supports this claim by noting the frequent reference to ‘God’ in pagan speech, highlighting the soul's natural inclination to acknowledge a higher power.

Tertullian then turns to the idea of revelation, explaining that the transcendent, invisible God has revealed himself so that we can attain a more authoritative understanding of him. This knowledge was first imparted to the prophets of Israel, who taught the existence of one Creator God with his divine law and plan for eternal judgement. Tertullian emphasises the importance of the Scriptures of Israel, noting that those who earnestly seek to understand them will be compelled to believe. He also delves into the promise of the Messiah and Christ's role as the Son and Word of God.

Thus Tertullian begins by asserting the existence of one God and presenting two ways to demonstrate his existence. He then underscores the role of Jesus Christ in revealing God's nature and providence more comprehensively. However, Tertullian's perspective on the ability of human reason to grasp the existence of God doesn't equate to a general admiration for the Greco-Roman philosophers. In fact, in his work To the Nations, he contends that these philosophers, through their diverse and conflicting views, often obscured rather than clarified human wisdom about God. While the Platonists believed that God was immanent in the world and concerned with worldly matters, the Epicureans held that God did not exist at all, and the Stoics perceived the world itself as divine. This diversity among philosophers resulted in not just ignorance but genuine doubt regarding the divine, according to Tertullian. His appreciation for the capacity of human reason to establish God's existence and his incorporation of these proofs at the outset of his discussion on the Christian God do not lead him to unquestioningly embrace ancient philosophical theories.

Tertullian's strong commitment to truth is evident in his writings, where he vehemently opposes heresies and defends orthodox Christian beliefs, especially the doctrine of the Trinity. He was a passionate and articulate advocate who fearlessly challenged the might of the Roman Empire, stood up for oppressed believers, and rebuked Christians who compromised their faith.

George Paul is a Communication Designer currently working with the Catholic Health Association of India. An avid student of Theology, Philosophy and History, George is still active in JY, helping youngsters connect with the Catholic intellectual tradition.