In this lecture His Holiness Pope Shenouda treats the biography of Tertullian, his position and ideas in the history of early Christian writers, highlighting both his strong defense of the faith and his end in extremism and heresies.

Origin, Education and Conversion

Tertullian was born in Carthage in Africa and grew up educated in both Latin and Greek, studied philosophy, medicine, logic and rhetoric, then was moved by the courage of the martyrs and became Christian and entered Christianity as a defender of the faith.

His Literary and Theological Defense

He was prolific in writing and debate, vigorously defended against paganism, Judaism and Gnostic heresies and wrote on important issues: the resurrection, the Trinity, and the nature of body and soul, thus being one of the great literary defenders of the truth.

Doctrinal and Behavioral Extremes

His thought became extreme as he adopted ascetic and stringent positions: an exaggerated emphasis on holiness, his stance on remarriage after widowhood, and his stance on accepting some penitents, to the point of rejecting the church’s role in forgiving certain sins after baptism.

His Relationship with the Church and His Schism

Tertullian attacked the church and its bishops when they opposed his extremism, joined the Montanist movement and became one of its leaders, thus distancing himself from the official ecclesial communion and being judged outside by some later fathers.

Spiritual and Ecclesial Lessons

His life shows a double example: intense zeal in defending the faith and a legitimate spiritual zeal, but the danger of pride and extremism can end the way and lead away from the body of the Church; therefore we need to distinguish between holy zeal and deviation.

Conclusion

Tertullian was a man of powerful literary output and influence and zeal, yet he teaches us how extremism and audacity without submission to the Church can lead to schism and heresies; let us learn from his failure to temper zeal with humility and obedience to spiritual succession.

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