Book contents
- The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings
- The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings
- The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Note on the Texts and Translations
- Abbreviations
- Series Introduction
- Introduction
- Part I The Beginnings of Christology
- Part II Developing Christological Traditions
- 13 Tertullian, Apology 21
- 14 Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ 1–16 and 24–25
- 15 Tertullian, Against Praxeas 1–4 and 27–30
- 16 Origen, On First Principles 2.6
- 17 Paul of Samosata, Selected Fragments
- 18 Aphrahat, Demonstration 17: On the Son
- 19 Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity 9.1–14
- 20 Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 4, 10, 24, 31, 36, 51, 54, 77, 78, and 79
- Part III Traditions of Pro-Nicene Christology
- Part IV Controversy over Nestorius
- Suggestions for Further Reading
- Scriptural Index
15 - Tertullian, Against Praxeas 1–4 and 27–30
from Part II - Developing Christological Traditions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2022
- The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings
- The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings
- The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Note on the Texts and Translations
- Abbreviations
- Series Introduction
- Introduction
- Part I The Beginnings of Christology
- Part II Developing Christological Traditions
- 13 Tertullian, Apology 21
- 14 Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ 1–16 and 24–25
- 15 Tertullian, Against Praxeas 1–4 and 27–30
- 16 Origen, On First Principles 2.6
- 17 Paul of Samosata, Selected Fragments
- 18 Aphrahat, Demonstration 17: On the Son
- 19 Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity 9.1–14
- 20 Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 4, 10, 24, 31, 36, 51, 54, 77, 78, and 79
- Part III Traditions of Pro-Nicene Christology
- Part IV Controversy over Nestorius
- Suggestions for Further Reading
- Scriptural Index
Summary
Tertullian wrote Against Praxeas in the early 210s. It is thus a product of the latest part of his career, when he had become a vocal supporter of what he called the New Prophecy. This was a controversial, revivalist movement, termed Montanism by its opponents, which owed its origins to the region of Phrygia in Asia Minor. There, in the late 150s, a new convert to Christianity named Montanus began making prophecies about the coming end of days, and the consequent need for Christians to follow a more rigorous code of behavior. Other prophets followed him, including two women named Prisca and Maximilla. As Against Praxeas makes clear, the followers of Montanus placed great significance on the Paraclete (“Advocate” or “Helper” in Greek), who is identified with the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John (see especially 14:26). Tertullian says that the Paraclete had provided him with new insight into the relation between God and Christ, thus suggesting that his account of the Father and Son was closely linked with the New Prophecy of Montanism, which was subsequently dismissed as heretical.
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- The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings , pp. 173 - 186Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022