Tertullian’s Against the Valentinians

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.

In cataloging the heresies of the Valentinians, we find that Tertullian is largely following in the footsteps of Irenaeus. Tertullian's approach is simple: he merely expounds their doctrine, thus demonstrating that it is indeed silly. As he tells it, the Valentinians guarded their teachings by secrecy and initiation. Once initiated however able to learn the mysteries, it becomes clear that they sound like fairy tales. While in hindsight it is clear that the Valentinians were clearly deluded, let us remember that in our day there are many who believe in crystal healing, Scientology, Mormonism, and a flat Earth. One needs only briefly peruse the darker portions of the internet to be reminded that the Devil is still at work deceiving people. 

Despite its foolishness, there is much to be learned from the Valentinian heresy. First, we must be careful not to go beyond scripture and what God has revealed about himself. One of the hallmarks of the heresy is that these false teachers posit the existence of other gods beyond what is revealed in the Bible. Second, their error serves as a warning that secular philosophy, while given to humans under God’s common grace, needs to be applied carefully by Christians. As pointed out by Tertullian the Valentianian pantheon of eons sounds very much like the fables and stories of the gods taught to Children and their use of numbers and symbols largely parallels the thinking of philosophers, not Christ.

And now, please enjoy this rendition of Tertullian’s Against the Valentinians.

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