Tertullian trinity quote. Quotations. Judged according to any received explanation of the Trinity at the present day, the attempt to save Tertullian from condemnation would be hopeless. He is known for his fiery rhetoric and for being the first Christian author to write in Latin. The Teachings of Sabellius were most vigorously opposed by Tertullian in North Africa and Hippolytus in Rome, who both proposed a hierarchical trinity of subordinate persons. The view apparently taught by Praxeas has come to be called ' modalism ', thanks to that designation appearing in Adolf von Harnack's History of Dogma (1897). As the following quotes illustrate, Christians have from the beginning recognized that the correct form of baptism requires one to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We, however, as we indeed always have done (and more especially since Dec 19, 2022 · ANSWER: This is one of the most important verses in the Bible on the doctrine of the Trinity and one of the most important witnesses to the full Deity of Jesus Christ; and for the following reasons I am convinced that 1 John 5:7 as it stands in the Greek Received Text and the King James Bible is divinely inspired Scripture. Hippolytus and Methodius of Olympus also mention or quote him. Discover the story that changes everything. " Now, I think I know what you're thinking. Either boasting or lamenting Tertullian attested, "We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross. Tertullian quote: We worship unity in trinity, and trinity in unity; neither confounding the person nor dividing the substance. Enjoy the best Tertullian quotes and picture quotes! Irenaeus quotes Justin twice [23] and shows his influence in other places. Feb 27, 2015 · We can come to a clear understanding of the doctrine of the trinity in Christianity by reading what the early church fathers taught about God. Quotes from Tertullian Tertullian, full name Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, c. Although the Carthaginian Christian theologian Tertullian contributed significantly and even foundationally to the complex notion of God as Trinity,2 subsequent Christian tradition has struggled with his own com-plexity. Jun 18, 2022 · Tertullian used Roman law to persuade the empire against the persecution of tax-paying, law-abiding Christians, and good citizens who even prayed for the Emperor. He emphasized an economic view of the Trinity, aligning God's essence with a plan of creation and redemption. "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Tertullian was an early Christian author from the Roman Empire, living in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. 1 of the Aug 18, 2025 · File:Tertullian 2. "The doctrine of" "The doctrine of the Trinity so easily appears to be an intellectual puzzle with no relevance to the faith of most Christians" - K. That word Trinity, and what it represents, baffles theologians and scholars. ) Enjoy the best Tertullian Quotes at BrainyQuote. Quoting an author like Tertullian, so prone to paradox, irony and biting wit, can be a hazardous business, made worse by Tertullian's inability to resist a good phrase. There is one person 1. He was a major influence on later Christian writers and a key figure in the development of early Christian theology. But when he is examined against the background of his immediate Sep 29, 2025 · Tertullian was a brilliant early church father who defended Christianity and coined the term "Trinity. Next, it's teaching kids the word Trinity. Discover Tertullian famous and rare quotes. Tertullian famous quotes, For what war should we not be fit and eager, even though unequal in numbers, we who are so willing to be slaughtered-if, according to that discipline of ours, it was not more lawful to be slain than to slay? It is our care for the helpless, our practice of lovingkindness, that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponents. Jan 4, 2022 · Tertullian was ordained a presbyter in the church at Carthage, North Africa, and began writing books addressing the issues facing the church of his day. 46 quotes from Tertullian: 'How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in home, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice . Truth persuades by teaching, but does not teach by persuading. Tertullian, The Trinity, Greek and Latin resources with English translations for the study of Early Church History Mar 20, 2015 · The Church Fathers, Tertullian and Augustine both explained the trinity in regards to man being created in the image of God. The external relationships of the persons of the Trinity mirror their internal relationships. He is the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature. 2 below and section 3. He played a vital role in shaping Christian doctrine, particularly in developing the concept of the Trinity. Blood, Church Today, Christianity. The early Christians clearly understood, as we do today, that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are three divine persons who are one divine being (God). ” He lived 155-220 CE, and was an early Christian author and apologist. 155 – c. Tertullian Quotes On The Trinity Mar 14, 2007 · In addition, we have direct quotations of “these three are one” verse, referring to the Trinity in John 5:7,8, from the following Latin fathers. It was the way they approached this dilemma that caused them insoluble problems and led them into subordinationism. See how they love one another, they say, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred; how they are ready even to die for one another, they say, for they themselves will sooner put to death (The Apology, ch. In his treatise Adversus Praxean, Tertullian refers to the “ Trinitas unius Divinitatis, Pater et Filii et Spiritus Sancti ” (the Trinity of the One Divinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Nov 24, 2008 · The following quotes show that the doctrine of the Trinity was indeed alive-and-well before the Council of Nicea: Polycarp (70-155/160). , Credo quia absurdum est. 21, and a longer and more detailed statement in Adversus Praxean. He was the first to use the term “trinity” to describe the relation of Father, Son, and Spirit, and he pioneered the description of Jesus as one person with a divine and a human nature. Tertullian is the first Christian writer to use the term trinity, although his views on the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit was not the orthodox position of the Catholic Church. Feb 5, 2019 · Tertullian, called the Father of Latin Theology, was the passionate and brilliant theologian who gave form and structure to Western Christian doctrine. Tertullian – Originator of the Trinity Tertullian's Legend At the end of the second century there were three main centers of church organization – in Antioch, in Alexandria, and in Rome. Before becoming a heretic Tertullian’s views were considered Orthodox. Truth does not blush. "What kind of a kid's book is this?" First, it tries to have them say the name Tertullian. [3] According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to consume his body. The first quote in this list is a famous quote about martyrdom that is credited to Tertullian. The language used in the church writings was Greek. You can't undo anything you've already done, but you can face up to it. ~ Barton W. 220 AD) was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. " Learn about his life, writings, and lasting impact. Stone By stating that there were three persons but only one God, Tertullian was asserting that all three major roles in the great drama of human redemption are Jun 17, 2022 · Despite this, what Tertullian began to do here had a great impact on how the Christians of the next century would understand the Trinity. "I believe that the Spirit proceeds not othrwise than from the Father through the son" - Tertullian Trinity isn't necessary in faith. Disciple of John the Apostle. 240 AD, was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. When God 's Spirit descends, then Patience accompanies Him indivisibly. Tertullian's profound works, such as "Apology" and "Against Praxeas," defended Christianity against its critics, emphasizing its uniqueness. And then let God do the rest. Jul 15, 2024 · Discover Tertullian and his legacy as an influential Church Father whose vigorous writings shaped early Christian theology amidst theological controversies in second and third-century North Africa. His defense of Though Tertullian made great and lasting contributions to a wide scope of Catholic doctrines (Trinity, Christology, ecclesiology, sacratmental theology, etc), he always had a tendency towards severity and rigorism. Apr 12, 2019 · As for this quote, I can see how powerfully it seems to identify Tertullian as a full-blown trinitarian, especially when read anachronistically, assuming later trinitarian theology. Thus had this saying become a fact, “Hereby shall The numerical order and distribution of the Trinity they assume to be a division of the Unity. He also was a notable early Christian apologist and a polemicist against heresy. 2. Where in his writing can I find this? I tried to do a fuzzy search. [99][100] Tertullian Sourced quotations by the Tunisian Theologian Tertullian (155 — 220) about soul, man and reason. . Augustine remarks of some of his phrases, "this is said with more spirit than truth" 1 Aug 18, 2025 · File:Tertullian 2. “Look how they are prepared to die for one another” (they themselves being readier to kill each other). Tertullian, in his Adversus Valentinianos, calls Justin a philosopher and a martyr and the earliest antagonist of heretics. [Lat. . Scripture reveals that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is one of the Latin Apologists of the second century. 125 – c. Jul 14, 2015 · The Greek trias, translatable as “triad” or (I think misleadingly) “Trinity,” had been used a few decades before. —The passages in Tertullian's writings which are of greatest importance for ascertaining his doctrine of the Trinity are a short statement in Apologeticus, c. Content may require purchase if you do not have access. All believers are one in spirit, purpose, and mind—and this is the oneness which our Lord prayed they might have—this was the oneness of Paul and Apollos. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Tertullian on trinity, marriage His application of it to the divine trinitarian figures need not represent a knowledge of the comma, but rather a continuance of the reflections of Tertullian combined with a general patristic tendency to invoke any scriptural group of three as symbolic of or applicable to the Trinity. Indeed, in Tertullian ‘we first find the accurate definition and technical terms that passed over into Catholic theology Alvan Lamson extensively quotes from Tertullian's writings to show that "he regarded the Son as inferior," and concludes: We might multiply our quotations without number, but it is unnecessary. " However, Tertullian also revealed the practice of "signing" the cross on objects like the woman who made the sign of the cross on her bed before retiring at night. He promoted strict moral standards and celibacy not only for the "See how these Christians love one another. An adherent of the ascetic movement called “New Prophecy,” later to be labelled the heresy of Montanism,3 his theology and his influ-ence have been received with a certain Sep 29, 2025 · Tertullian was a brilliant early church father who defended Christianity and coined the term "Trinity. The Western Church commonly uses a version of the Nicene creed which has the Latin word filioque (“and the Son”) added after the declaration that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. Categories: Theologians, Christians, 3rd century deaths, Pacifists, Romans, Vegetarians, Church Fathers. Stone By stating that there were three persons but only one God, Tertullian was asserting that all three major roles in the great drama of human redemption are Jun 25, 2023 · I believe Tertullian was the first to realize a fundamental Trinitarian truth: "Father creates son, and son creates father. The mind, word and spirit is what separate man from all other created things. • Three heresies ruled out by the Church were (i) Adoptionism – Jesus was a human being who became a member of the Trinity at baptism (ii) Modalism that there is one God in three modes (this ignores how each of the three persons is distinct) and Jan 29, 2021 · Overall the work of Tertullian went a long way in defending the Trinity. Tertullian has the true formula for the Holy Trinity, tres Personae, una Substantia. For more on Tertullian, listen to this episode of the podcast. 1. Although early Christian theologians speculated in many ways on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, no one clearly and fully asserted the doctrine of the Trinity as explained at the top of the main entry until around the end of the so-called “Arian” controversy. 160 – c. (See 3. He also was a notable early Christian apologist and a polemicist against heresy, including contemporary Discover Tertullian's pivotal role in shaping early Christian theology and identity in a predominantly pagan world with his innovative contributions. 220? CE) Tertullian, an early Christian author and polemicist, helped to establish Latin -- rather than Greek, which was the most widely used language at that time -- as an ecclesiastical language and as a vehicle for Christian thought in the West. Aug 24, 2018 · [Imaginary portrait of Tertullian. Can someone help me with his interpretation on the Trinity as although he says… From Logos to Trinity - January 2012 Access options Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. ” Tertullian, important early Christian theologian, polemicist, and moralist who, as the initiator of ecclesiastical Latin, was instrumental in shaping the vocabulary and thought of Western Christianity. Tertullian Trinity Quotes & Sayings Enjoy reading and share 4 famous quotes about Tertullian Trinity with everyone. TERTULLIAN AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY I. Mar 20, 2015 · The Church Fathers, Tertullian and Augustine both explained the trinity in regards to man being created in the image of God. You can judge the quality of their faith from the way they behave. Jul 14, 2001 · THE TRINITY. You can seek forgiveness. This tendency sadly drew him into a rigorist heretical sect called the Monanists around 210 AD. Prayer cleanses from sin, drives away temptations, stamps out persecutions, comforts the fainthearted, gives new strength to the courageous, brings travellers safely home, calms the waves, confounds robbers, feeds the poor, overrules the rich, lifts up the fallen, supports those who are falling, sustains those who stand firm. Jun 23, 2022 · Origen was not only a key member of the church fathers, but a defender of the faith who was prepared to die for what he believed. Eusebius of Caesarea deals with him at some length, [24] and names the following works: Polycarp (/ ˈpɒlikɑːrp /; Greek: Πολύκαρπος, Polýkarpos; Latin: Polycarpus; AD 69 – 155) was a Christian bishop of Smyrna. Tertullian's notion of temporal paternity distances him from the Nicene view of eternal generation. Bishop of Smyrna. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are numerically distinct, and each is God; they are of one substance, one state, and one power. Tertullian introduced vital terms 'substance' and 'person' for Trinitarian discourse, influencing future orthodoxy. He reflects a subordinationist tendency, showing affinities with Nov 9, 2009 · The influence of Tertullian's account of the trinity has been variously assessed. Share with your friends. QUINTUS SEPTIMIUS FLORENS TERTULLIAN Carthaginian ecclesiastic (c. • The term ‘Trinity’ is not in the Bible; it was coined by Tertullian in the 3rd Century. Tertullian. There is one person Jan 31, 2021 · The Best Tertullian Quotes Listed below are some of the best Tertullian quotes, along with Tertullian trinity quotes. Tertullian is often portrayed as a prescient figure who accurately anticipated the Nicene consensus about the Trinity. Jun 25, 2023 · I believe Tertullian was the first to realize a fundamental Trinitarian truth: "Father creates son, and son creates father. " To be a father, one must have a son, and to be a son, one must have a father. He also held unorthodox views on a number of other topics, including the perpetual virginity of Mary. (Among his contributions to theology was the term “Trinity” to explain the Bible’s teaching on Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian (c. " - Tertullian quotes from BrainyQuote. "We worship unity in trinity, and trinity in" The theological enterprise begun by the Apologists and Irenaeus was continued in the West by Hippolytus and Tertullian The ante-Nicene Fathers did their best to explain how the one God could be a Trinity of three persons. ABSTRACT. Introduction This supplementary document discusses the history of Trinity theories. ” Tertullian holds this concept of a unity of the persons within the Godhead in spite of opposition, apparently viewing it as a key method of preserving the true faith. " - Tertullian. What is amazing is that Tertullian says this just four sentences before his statement which the Watchtower quotes in their attempt to claim that Tertullian believed that Jesus is separate from God [and] that he is not God! It becomes painfully obvious that the Watchtower with the heretics of Tertullian’s time are the subjects of his rebuke. Irenaeus (/ ɪrɪˈneɪəs / or / ˌaɪrɪˈniːəs /; Ancient Greek: Εἰρηναῖος, romanized: Eirēnaîos; c. You can tell the truth. In response to a heresy about the Godhead, Tertullian wrote Against Praxus, which for the first time used the word trinity to describe the Godhead. It was just easier to be a modalist. Here is what you need to know about this early Christian figure. 22 sourced quotes. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Just as the Father externally sent the Tertullian of Carthage (Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus) (b. com There was a heretic movement in Carthage with Praxeas as the leader, and Tertullian opposed this heresy, especially on the level of the Trinity, as most of the Christians in Carthage - the so-called simplices - were impressed by that heresy. “Only look,” they say, “look how they love one another” (they themselves being given over to mutual hatred). Discipline is an index to doctrine. Mar 14, 2007 · In addition, we have direct quotations of “these three are one” verse, referring to the Trinity in John 5:7,8, from the following Latin fathers. The only problem is that modalism isn't true. They reasoned that if there are there persons, then there are three Gods, and they knew that Christians are monotheistic: they believe in one God. The numerical order and distribution of the Trinity they assume to be a division of the Unity. Can someone help me with his interpretation on the Trinity as although he says… The first defense of the doctrine of the Trinity was by Tertullian, who was born around AD 150–160, explicitly "defined" the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and defended his theology against Praxeas, [96][97][98] although he noted that the majority of the believers in his day found issue with his doctrine. Tertullian was one of the Logos theologians and strongly opposed Monarchianism. There is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost; but the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. "The treatise Against Praxeas is widely recognized as Tertullian's greatest work on the Trinity. jpg Man is one name belonging to every nation upon earth. Jan 10, 1999 · Firstly, the obvious quotation from Tertullian, the II/III century Latin Christian writer (I give it here in full) is clearly intended to affirm that there is nothing at all in common between the two: “What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? For in the Trinity alone, which is the author of all things, does goodness exist in virtue of essential being; while others possess it as an accidental and perishable quality, and only then enjoy blessedness, when they participate in holiness and wisdom, and in divinity itself. Tertullian’s logical prowess and penchant for fine distinctions served him well in dogmatic theology. ” The Didache For the very Church itself is, properly and principally, the Spirit Himself, in whom is the Trinity of the One Divinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In them all is one soul though many tongues. Actually, we have to talk of earliest uses, because it appears in two works, Against Praxeas and On Modesty, which are probably late works, and we don’t really Jul 14, 2001 · Thus it is fair to say that Tertullian 'expressed in all its essential elements the full Catholic doctrine of the relation between the three Persons in the one Trinity, linked together in the one divine life. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more. He is known for his extensive writings, and is the first known theologian to use the term “Trinity. 200 AD. Tertullian Quotes About Worship All quotes Christ Devil Evil Eyes Son Soul Worship more We worship unity in trinity, and trinity in unity; neither confounding the person nor dividing the substance. Tertullian c. Historical Development The early church father Tertullian is believed to have been the first to use the word Trinity. ] [Adapted from text by Roy Stults from his unpublished Historical Perspectives on a Theology of Suffering, Persecution, and Martyrdom] Tertullian was a prolific Christian writer of the early third century—an apologist (defender of the faith) and theologian. It has been claimed that through Novatian, whose work (according to Jerome) was an epitome of Tertullian, and through Hosius, Tertullian triumphed at Nicaea and the homoousion went on. 150 - 230 BC) I believe it because it is absurd. Here are a few quotations, more or less frequently quoted, and usually misquoted as the original context tends to make clear. Kilby Trinity demonstrates the basis of relationships. Sep 25, 2013 · It was quite convenient for us because both Tertullian and Trinity start with "T. 155/160 Carthage - d. "The simple," as Tertullian calls them, had great difficulty with the Trinity. [9] The early Church Fathers, of course, agreed. However, this short quote is not all we have from Tertullian on this subject and we do well to make sure we aren’t taking one statement out of the context of his A quick outline of the doctrine of the Trinity as taught in the Nicene Creed, based on what was said around and before the council. The identity of Praxeas is unknown. He coined many new theological words and phrases and gave Oct 4, 2016 · What Did Tertullian Believe? Tertullian affirmed the truth of historic Christianity, and perhaps the following are his three most important Christian apologetics contributions: Tertullian was one of the earliest Latin authors to use the word “Trinity” (Trinitas). So far the doctrine is accurately Nicene. ] - "Credo Quia Absurdum" is motto of the organization, E Clampus Vitus [Belief : Mottoes] It is better to keep children to their duty, by a sense of honor, and by kindness, than by fear and punishment. Chapter 2. 202 AD) [4] was a Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christian communities in the southern regions of present-day France and, more widely, for the development of Christian theology by opposing Gnostic interpretations of Christian Scripture and Feb 11, 2024 · Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, commonly known as Tertullian, was a Christian apologist and author from Carthage. (The Spirit) combines that Church which the Lord has made to consist in three. But the first known use of the Latin trinitas is by Tertullian, and we assume that he coined this Latin term. Quotations by Tertullian, Roman Author, Born 160. We worship unity in trinity, and trinity in unity; neither confounding the person nor dividing the substance. Jul 11, 2025 · Before creeds and councils, Theophilus and Tertullian gave us the Trinity—without Greek philosophy. The Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity and Unity, Sometimes Called the Divine Economy, or Dispensation of the Personal Relations of the Godhead In the course of time, then, the Father forsooth was born, and the Father suffered, God Himself, the Lord Almighty, whom in their preaching they declare to be Jesus Christ. In the quotes that follow, the Fathers’ forceful rejection of Modalism is shown not only when they condemn it by name, but also by passages in which they speak of one person of the Trinity being with another, being sent from another, or speaking to another. Please verify to continue reading Tertullian, a prominent early Christian author, theologian, and apologist, lived in the 2nd-century AD. Share Tertullian quotations about son, christ and violence. In his Trinitarian theology, he described God as three persons in one substance. [4] Polycarp is regarded as a saint and Church Father in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church Apr 19, 2016 · Here is what Tertullian wrote: “It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. The best Quotes by Tertullian Tertullian (born Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus; c. Feb 11, 2024 · Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, commonly known as Tertullian, was a Christian apologist and author from Carthage. —This appears to me to be the oneness of the Father and the Son. Tertullian points out that this isn't how scripture talks about God, and goes on to summarise the teaching of scripture on the persons of the trinity, and their relationship, thereby being the first to explicitly recognise the doctrine of the Trinity. Quotes by Tertullian (150 - 240). 39). 150 AD – c. 220 AD), was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. oehe irr aijkyx hdpe occb ihfdkz esvpm xwvufl idnhvw yvqx