Tertullian's Treatise Against Hermogenes

Loyola School of Theology

(Ateneo de Manila, Katipunan Ave, Loyola Heights, Q.C.)

Tertullian's Treatise against Hermogenes

Quintus Septimus Florens Tertullianus

Church History

Submitted to:

Fr. Antonio De Castro, SJ

Submitted by:

Marjeo L. Delfin, OMI

October 5, 2007

Chapter I

Introduction

When we think of something original, we think of something that is new, expensive, and innovative. Sometimes originality is coupled with authenticity. Moreover, we also think of its chronological dimension before we consider something as original. Tertullian is someone like whom every theologian would consider as blunt, innovative, authoritative and original. He is described as someone who "laminated fusion of arguments and scriptures in a way which breaks new ground." He is a person with a distinct personality who is known as the first Latin theologian who is known well in the West. He is an innovator who made his own way of saying things by using the common words and arranging them in such a way that it suits well to everybody's inner disposition with conviction.

He is also "the most prolific of the Latin Fathers. Of the fiery and rugged temperament, he is by nature a rebel and would hardly have fitted happily into any milieu." He wrote a number of works, which manifest his seemingly undesirable personality yet came out to be productive in the realm of theology and history of the church. One of those writings is Adversus Hermogenem, a doctrinal and polemical writing against the Gnostic and painter named Hermogenes. In that work, he defended vigorously the doctrine of creation which Hermogenes interpreted in a heretical manner. This paper would, therefore, disclose the argumentation between these two ancient personalities who throw from every possible points, different ways of thinking about opposing factors; God and matter, theology and philosophy, and science and scripture.

a. The church in the time of Tertullian

In understanding the life and writings of Tertullian, it is interesting to know more about the political and ecclesial setting of his time for he was both a member and worker of the city of Carthage, and the church there, though later, he became a separatist. His role in the church of his time contributes an important fact in understanding his thoughts. One may inquire why Tertullian's style of writing is somewhat blunt and straightforward that is because he was formed by his office and his position in the society.

The early life of the church, about fifty years after the death of the apostles or a century after the passing away of Jesus, has been filled with controversies and problems regarding the matters of faith and beliefs. In response to these, a number of apologists and defenders of the Church has arisen to defend her deposit of faith in order not to mislead the faithful. A major shift in culture happened also so that from the original language, that is Hebrew and Aramaic, it changed into Greek which most people were becoming much acquainted with. Later, Greek has become the language of the Christians, of the teachings of the church and even of commerce and travel. That lasted for long until another culture shift happened.

Towards the end of the second century the Greek language has developed so that it became the official language of the church and intelligentsia though it "has no clearly defined ecclesiology." There was a shift of language again from Greek to Latin for a growing number of people were becoming accustomed with Latin. More and more, church's documents were translated to Latin also. The first among the Latin Christians writers in this time was Marcus Minucius Felix with his work Octavius, an apologetical work in the form of a dialogue, which marked the beginning of Latin literature and Tertullian. During those times, the church in Africa has barely known though it was described as a city, Carthage was next to Rome when it comes to economical and military aspect. It is also the said that the beginnings of the church there "was actually heretical according to later standards, and that orthodoxy as defined by the church councils triumphed at a relatively late date." Perhaps this is what De Labriolle means when he says that "there are noteworthy Christians in that country who were hardly better informed than ourselves." In an introduction made by Dr. K. A. Heinr Kellner on the book Tertullians Private und Katechetische Schrifter which he translated, he says that, the church of Latin North Africa does not belong to those, which attributed their establishment to the Apostle and never requirement on this honor made.

In the later part of history however, it is interesting to note that the church of Northern Africa "gave to Christian literature a greater part of the writers who shed their luster on it for the space of nearly three centuries." Moreover, towards the end of the second century, around 180, the African church has become a home of martyrs. A short treatise of Tertullian, Ad Martyras, came out in 197 to "comfort a group of Christians who had been thrown into prison and were expecting martyrdom" which was the rampant event during that time. To this time, the church in Carthage was provided with all the organization which assured its vitality: it gained a good number of faithful, and the disputations on moral and doctrine excited there an interest which betrayed the ardor of her faith. Generally, in the beginning of Tertullian's life, he contributed much in the development of the church in Carthage and of the whole Catholic Church. He contributed much in the realm of theology and owed him the terminologies which are still functional even to this time. Later however, he has become problematic when he joined Montanism.

b. Life of Quintus Septimus Florens Tertullianus

Tertullian's brilliance was inevitably famous during his time. He was regarded as an icon of intelligence and scholarship. Despite that, he was also characterized by impetuous temperament, a wide writer whose works were widely known to the Carthaginian world. St. Jerome has it in his book On Illustrious Men that Tertullian