Tertullian’s Against Praxeas

Tertullian, the founder of Latin Christianity and a man of great intellect, was born in Carthage to a proconsular centurion sometime around A.D. 145. He was likely educated in Rome as an expert in law and joined the Church around 185, becoming a presbyter in 190. His writings profoundly influenced Augustine and Cyprian who, in turn, provided inspiration to the Reformers in Europe and in the Anglican Church. 

In his later years Tertullian embraced Montanism, a movement, labeled a heresy by the Church, which claimed to have further revelation from the Holy Spirit, held to a strict moral code, and elevated female prophets. Tertullian perhaps embraced this because he was discontent with the orthodox church of his day and found the uncompromising morality of Montanism appealing. Despite this, he is recognized as the founder of Latin Christianity and an incredibly influential Christian thought leader and writer.

Here Tertullian argues against Praxeas, an individual who in Tertullian’s estimation severely misunderstood the nature of the Trinity, refusing to identify any sort of division between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In response, Tertullian lays out a coherent defense of the Trinity that strongly foreshadows that found in the Apostles’ creed. Through this, he provides the reader with a plethora of examples by which to understand this early Christian’s hermeneutic. Tertullian explicitly argues that clearer scripture should interpret the less clear. He identifies both literal and allegorical interpretations of prophecy. And he once again tends to assume that the plain sense reading of a passage is typically correct. In many ways Tertullian’s methodology of interpretation would be right at home in the modern Neo-Calvinism movement. 

It is also important to note that in the opening to this book Tertullian identifies the figures of Montanus, Prisca, and Maximilla as having prophetic gifts. Tertullian’s support for this offshoot of the official Church earned him the title of heretic in his day for, as he states in this letter, the Bishop of Rome ultimately rejected their prophecy as legitimate. In supporting the Montanists Tertullian falls into an odd category in the Church. While he clearly believed in the truthfulness and authority of Scripture he also believed that the Holy Spirit could provide new revelations. Unfortunately this tension still appears today: some churches assert that all prophetic gifts have ceased while others routinely experience visions, healings, and speak in tongues.

And now, please enjoy this rendition of Tertullian’s against Praxeas.

If you would like to read more of the writings of the Early Christian Fathers, please visit ccel.org to view the full collection.