Tertullian

A Treatise on the Soul

3rd c.

Classic translation Public domain

Dogmatic & Doctrinal · English translation, 1890

Contents

• It is Not to the Philosophers That We Resort for Information About the Soul But…
• The Christian Has Sure and Simple Knowledge Concerning the Subject Before Us
• The Soul's Origin Defined Out of the Simple Words of Scripture
• In Opposition to Plato, the Soul Was Created and Originated at Birth
• Probable View of the Stoics, That the Soul Has a Corporeal Nature
• The Arguments of the Platonists for the Soul's Incorporeality, Opposed, Perhaps…
• The Soul's Corporeality Demonstrated Out of the Gospels
• Other Platonist Arguments Considered
• Particulars of the Alleged Communication to a Montanist Sister
• The Simple Nature of the Soul is Asserted With Plato. The Identity of Spirit…
• Spirit--A Term Expressive of an Operation of the Soul, Not of Its Nature. To Be…
• Difference Between the Mind and the Soul, and the Relation Between Them
• The Soul's Supremacy
• The Soul Variously Divided by the Philosophers; This Division is Not a Material…
• The Soul's Vitality and Intelligence. Its Character and Seat in Man
• The Soul's Parts. Elements of the Rational Soul
• The Fidelity of the Senses, Impugned by Plato, Vindicated by Christ Himself
• Plato Suggested Certain Errors to the Gnostics. Functions of the Soul
• The Intellect Coeval With the Soul in the Human Being. An Example From…
• The Soul, as to Its Nature Uniform, But Its Faculties Variously Developed…
• As Free-Will Actuates an Individual So May His Character Change
• Recapitulation. Definition of the Soul
• The Opinions of Sundry Heretics Which Originate Ultimately With Plato
• Plato's Inconsistency. He Supposes the Soul Self-Existent, Yet Capable of…
• Tertullian Refutes, Physiologically, the Notion That the Soul is Introduced…
• Scripture Alone Offers Clear Knowledge on the Questions We Have Been…
• Soul and Body Conceived, Formed and Perfected in Element Simultaneously
• The Pythagorean Doctrine of Transmigration Sketched and Censured
• The Pythagorean Doctrine Refuted by Its Own First Principle, That Living Men…
• Further Refutation of the Pythagorean Theory. The State of Contemporary…
• Further Exposure of Transmigration, Its Inextricable Embarrassment
• Empedocles Increased the Absurdity of Pythagoras by Developing the Posthumous…
• The Judicial Retribution of These Migrations Refuted With Raillery
• These Vagaries Stimulated Some Profane Corruptions of Christianity. The…
• The Opinions of Carpocrates, Another Offset From the Pythagorean Dogmas, Stated…
• The Main Points of Our Author's Subject. On the Sexes of the Human Race
• On the Formation and State of the Embryo. Its Relation With the Subject of This…
• On the Growth of the Soul. Its Maturity Coincident With the Maturity of the…
• The Evil Spirit Has Marred the Purity of the Soul From the Very Birth
• The Body of Man Only Ancillary to the Soul in the Commission of Evil
• Notwithstanding the Depravity of Man's Soul by Original Sin, There is Yet Left…
• Sleep, the Mirror of Death, as Introductory to the Consideration of Death
• Sleep a Natural Function as Shown by Other Considerations, and by the Testimony…
• The Story of Hermotimus, and the Sleeplessness of the Emperor Nero. No…
• Dreams, an Incidental Effect of the Soul's Activity. Ecstasy
• Diversity of Dreams and Visions. Epicurus Thought Lightly of Them, Though…
• Dreams Variously Classified. Some Are God-Sent, as the Dreams of…
• Causes and Circumstances of Dreams. What Best Contributes to Efficient Dreaming
• No Soul Naturally Exempt From Dreams
• The Absurd Opinion of Epicurus and the Profane Conceits of the Heretic Menander…
• Death Entirely Separates the Soul From the Body
• All Kinds of Death a Violence to Nature, Arising From Sin.--Sin an Intrusion…
• The Entire Soul Being Indivisible Remains to the Last Act of Vitality; Never…
• Whither Does the Soul Retire When It Quits the Body? Opinions of Philosophers…
• The Christian Idea of the Position of Hades; The Blessedness of Paradise…
• Refutation of the Homeric View of the Soul's Detention From Hades Owing to the…
• Magic and Sorcery Only Apparent in Their Effects. God Alone Can Raise the Dead
• Conclusion. Points Postponed. All Souls Are Kept in Hades Until the…