L'Apologetique et Les Prescriptions de Tertullien by Gourcy

Hardcover. Condition: Good+. 1825. Vanlinthout & Vandenzande. 1st Edition.

"The Apologetics and Prescriptions of Tertullian"

The foremost of Tertullian's works, the Apologeticum or Apologeticus (see below) is a defense of Christianity against the unreasoning and unreasonable criticism of the unbelievers. It was composed in the summer or autumn of 197, and addressed to the provincial governors of the Roman Empire. It seems likely that it was written after the Ad Nationes and perhaps Adversus Judaeos, which it draws upon.

It opens with a request that the truth, being forbidden to defend itself publicly, may reach the ears of the rulers by the hidden path of silent literature.

It falls into two parts, dealing with the two types of accusations against the Christians:

• To be a Christian means taking part in vile and contemptible crimes like ritual incest, and baby-eating, and is a superstition of the ignorant.
• Christianity involves high treason and contempt for the state religion.

Tertullian refutes these as nonsense, and concludes by asserting the absolute superiority of the Christian religion overall, as a revealed religion. He realised that no war is won by remaining on the defensive, and so goes over to attack the indefensible attitudes of the unbelievers, who presumed to judge people who were infinitely their superiors, even by their own standards. With this, the victory of Christianity became possible.

Leather bound with moderate edge-wear. Ex-libris by one small stamp on title page and one small stamp on copyright page. Else no other marks, clean interior, well bound.