Heterodox / condemned

Tertullian

c. 155–220 3rd c. 33 works

Tertullian was a Christian writer of Carthage active around the turn of the third century. He is recognized as the first major Christian author to compose his works in Latin, and he became a formative influence on the vocabulary of Western theology — among his lasting contributions the language later used to articulate the doctrine of the Trinity and the concept of a divine “person.”

A North African born at Carthage around the middle of the second century, he was well educated in literature, rhetoric, and law. Raised in a pagan household, he converted to Christianity as an adult and became a vigorous and combative controversialist; in later life he was drawn to the rigorist Montanist movement and broke with the mainstream Church over its demanding moralism.

His writings span apologetic, doctrinal, and moral subjects: the Apology, a defense of Christians addressed to the Roman authorities; Against Marcion, a five-book refutation of the heretic Marcion; On the Prescription of Heretics; On Baptism; and a large body of further moral and polemical treatises.

Despite his immense influence on later Latin Christianity, Tertullian is not venerated as a saint, owing in large part to his adoption of Montanism and his break with the Church; later writers treated him unfavorably even while acknowledging the force of his intellect.

Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica — Tertullian Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent) — Tertullian

Available works

Classic translation

A Treatise on the Soul

Tertullian3rd c.4h 5m read

A 3rd c. dogmatic work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Ad Martyras

Tertullian3rd c.13m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Ad Nationes

Tertullian3rd c.2h 56m read

A 3rd c. apologetic work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Against All Heresies

Tertullian3rd c.27m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Against Hermogenes

Tertullian3rd c.1h 56m read

A 3rd c. polemical work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Against Praxeas

Tertullian3rd c.2h 37m read

A 3rd c. polemical work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Against the Valentinians

Tertullian3rd c.1h 15m read

A 3rd c. polemical work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

An Answer to the Jews

Tertullian3rd c.1h 49m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Apology

Tertullian3rd c.3h 11m read

A 3rd c. apologetic work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

De Fuga in Persecutione

Tertullian3rd c.49m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Baptism

Tertullian3rd c.48m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Exhortation to Chastity

Tertullian3rd c.39m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Fasting

Tertullian3rd c.59m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Idolatry

Tertullian3rd c.1h 14m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Modesty

Tertullian3rd c.2h 9m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Monogamy

Tertullian3rd c.1h 8m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Patience

Tertullian3rd c.51m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Prayer

Tertullian3rd c.48m read

A 3rd c. spiritual work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On Repentance

Tertullian3rd c.47m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On the Apparel of Women

Tertullian3rd c.54m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On the Flesh of Christ

Tertullian3rd c.1h 41m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On the Pallium

Tertullian3rd c.39m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On the Resurrection of the Flesh

Tertullian3rd c.3h 49m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

On the Veiling of Virgins

Tertullian3rd c.53m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

Scorpiace

Tertullian3rd c.1h 12m read

A 3rd c. treatise by Tertullian.

Classic translation

The Chaplet, or De Corona

Tertullian3rd c.51m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

The Five Books Against Marcion

Tertullian3rd c.15h 31m read

A 3rd c. polemical work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas

Tertullian3rd c.37m read

A 3rd c. saint’s life by Tertullian.

Classic translation

The Prescription Against Heretics

Tertullian3rd c.1h 45m read

A 3rd c. polemical work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

The Shows, or De Spectaculis

Tertullian3rd c.57m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

The Soul's Testimony

Tertullian3rd c.23m read

A 3rd c. apologetic work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

To His Wife

Tertullian3rd c.48m read

A 3rd c. pastoral work by Tertullian.

Classic translation

To Scapula

Tertullian3rd c.15m read

A 3rd c. apologetic work by Tertullian.

Free ebooks by Tertullian

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Known works

Complete known works in the Clavis catalog — 8 of 35 are in the archive (✓). The catalog is drawn from Wikidata and the Patristic Text Archive, and covers only part of the printed Clavis.

Ad martyras — available in the archive
To the Nationes · not yet in the archive
Apologeticus · not yet in the archive
The Soul's Testimony — available in the archive
On the Prescription of Heretics · not yet in the archive
De spectaculis · not yet in the archive
De oratione · not yet in the archive
De baptismo · not yet in the archive
Of Patience · not yet in the archive
De paenitentia · not yet in the archive
On Female Dress · not yet in the archive
To his Wife — available in the archive
Against Hermogenes — available in the archive
Against Marcion · not yet in the archive
De pallio · not yet in the archive
Adversus Valentinianos · not yet in the archive
On the Soul · not yet in the archive
De Carne Christi · not yet in the archive
De resurrectione mortuorum · not yet in the archive
De exhortatione castitatis · not yet in the archive
The Chaplet · not yet in the archive
Scorpiace — available in the archive
On Idolatry — available in the archive
To Scapula — available in the archive
De fuga in persecutione — available in the archive
Adversus Praxean · not yet in the archive
De virginibus velandis · not yet in the archive
De monogamia · not yet in the archive
De ieiunio adversus psychicos · not yet in the archive
De pudicitia · not yet in the archive
De fato · not yet in the archive
Adversus Apelleiacos · not yet in the archive
De exstasi · not yet in the archive
De censu animae contra Hermogenem · not yet in the archive
Adversus Iudaeos · not yet in the archive

Canon data: Wikidata (CC0) and the Patristic Text Archive / BBAW (CC BY-SA 4.0).