Christian apologist, flourished between 160 and 300. His octavius has numerous points of agreement with the apologeticum of tertullian, similarities that have been explained by the theory of a common source an apology written in latin, and which is supposed to have disappeared without leaving any trace, not even in the name of its author. The octavius of minucius felix is a defence of christianity demonstrating that the faith is reasonable. Antenicene fathersvolume ivminucius felixthe octavius of. Az ostiaban jatszodo parbeszed resztvevoi caecilius natalis pogany ugyved, octavius januarius kereszteny ugyved, valamint e ketto vitajaban dontobirokent eljaro, szinten kereszteny minucius felix. Either tertullian dependend on this apology, making it perhaps the earliest piece of extant christian latin literature, or the author of this apology depended on tertullian. Preserved by the slenderest of threads, the little book describes three friends walking along the beach at ostia, and then holding a ciceronian debate about the truth or falsehood. Liinuciusfelix,marcusofthedialogue,isfirstmentioned bylactantiusinstit. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. This short apology, or defense of the christian faith, is the sole surviving work of marcus minucius felix. A roman lawyer, he wrote the octavius, a dialogue on providence and christianity in general, between the skeptic pagan caecilius natalis and the christian octavius januarius, minucius friend. A commentary on selected sections of the octavius of minucius. No one knows whether the octavius is fiction or nonfiction. I had purchased felix s the octavius alongside a work by patrick brantlinger entitled dark vanishings.
The octavius of minucius felix openbu boston university. If, on the other hand, tertullian borrowed from minucius, the octavius was written probably about the year 166, and minucius flourished in the reign of marcus aurelius. Either way, minucius felix, an otherwise unknown christian from the 2nd or early 3rd century, ably defends christianity against roman arguments, superstition, and rumors. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Mar 09, 20 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The name minucius felix has been found on inscriptions at tebessa and carthage cor. The octavius by the roman lawyer, marcus minucius felix, is an apology for christianity in the form of a dialogue between the christian octavius and the pagan caecilius on a trip from rome to ostia. Either tertullian dependend on this apology, making it perhaps the earliest piece of. A commentary on selected sections of the octavius of minucius felix the purpose of this study is to consider, in lemmatic commentary form, some of the objections to christian belief raised by the pagan, caecilius and the corresponding responses and counterarguments adduced by octavius, the christian, in the octavius of minucius felix. Minucius felix, marcus, octavius, chapter 1, section 1. This last work deserves to be better known than it is. Octavius attempts to give the reasons he has for his own beliefs and answer caecilius critiques. Octavius by marcus minucius felix, 1853, university press edition, in english.
Caecilius natalis, on the validity and merits of pagan and christian beliefs. This is one of the earliest latin texts to talk about christianity, and describe how the new religion fit in the wider social context of the roman world. Though tertullian is the founder of latin christianity, his contemporary minucius felix gives to christian thought its earliest clothing in latinity. The later date was the one adopted by earlier critics, and the reasons for it are well given by mr. Iv, minucius felix the octavius of minucius felix minucius felix robert ernest wallis. His only known work, the dialogue octavius, is one of the earliest examples of latin apologetics. Nov 26, 2012 the octavius of minucius felix chapter 1 155888 antenicene fathers vol. You will be redirected to the full text document in the repository in a few seconds, if not click here.
Illic vocabulis opus est, cum per singulos propriis appellationum insignibus multitudo dirimenda est. Sic nos denique non notaculo corporis, ut putatis, sed innocentiae ac modestiae signo facile dinoscimus. Marcus minucius felix christian apologist britannica. A commentary on selected sections of the octavius of. The octavius by minucius felix is an apology for the christian religion. Marcus minucius felix, one of the earliest christian apologists to write in latin. The harshness and provincialism, with the graecisms, if not the mere tertullianism, of tertullian, deprive him of high claims to be classed among latin writers, as such. Caecilius natalis, a pagan there was a magistrate of this name at cirta, in north africa, in around 210 ce, where minucius felix is thought to have come from originally. Polytheism,initscosmopolitandevelop ments,passedsentenceonitself.
This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Minucius felix, christian apologist, flourished between 160 and 300. His octavius has numerous points of agreement with the apologeticum of tertullian, similarities that have been explained by the theory of a common source an apology written in latin, and which is supposed to have disappeared without leaving any trace, not. Perhaps no late work, either pagan or christian, reminds us of the golden days of latin prose so much as the octavius of minucius felix. He wrote octavius, a dialogue between a christian octavius januarius and a pagan caecilius natalis.
Adolf ebert in his paper, tertullians verhaltniss zu minucius felix, leipzig, 1868. Ba degree examination in hungarian the countinuity of classical philosophy in the octavius, m. Octavius, displeased at the act of this superstitious man, sharply reproaches minucius, on the ground that the disgrace of this wicked deed is reflected not less on himself, as caeciliuss host, than on caecilius. The octavius of minucius felix 1919 edition open library. Please enter your email address associated with your salem allpass account, then click continue. Minucius relates how delightful to him is the recollection of the things that had happened to him with octavius while he was associated with him at rome, and especially of this disputation. Octavius by minucius, an early christian writer of unknown date, is a debate between belief and unbelief that depicts roman religion and society. Minucius felix was a roman advocate, rhetorician, and christian apologist. Nov 07, 2014 like justin martyr, marcus minucius felix did not have a leadership role in the church. Written roughly around the year 200, the essay is framed around two friendsofafriend arguing the relative merits of paganism and christianity while they sit by the sea. Minucius felix serves as moderator and narrator of the dialogue.
Like justin martyr, marcus minucius felix did not have a leadership role in the church. It is not the part of a good man, my brother marcus, so. The octavius of minucius felix early christian writings. The author marcus minucius felix plays the role of referee and observer. Getitelte obroschur, papier nachgedunkelt, sauberes exemplar. Discourse on the extinction of primitive races, 18001930 which also explores related themes of how colonial hegemonycultural domination purposes to extinguish what it sees as lesser cultures. Minucius felix, marcus, author of the dialogue octavius, which, in spite of its lack of originality, and profound theological intuition, occupies a prominent place among the ancient apologies of the latin church, both on account of its genuine enthusiasm and elegant form, and on account of the clear and pointed manner in which it presents and refutes all the various objections to. The octavius of minucius felix is a charming little book of disputation between a pagan and a christian, at the close of which the intellectual.
Nothing is known of his personal history, and even the date at which he wrote can be only approximately ascertained as between ad 150 and 270. Minucius felix internet encyclopedia of philosophy. It is written in the form of a dialogue between the pagan caecilius natalis and the christian octavius januarius, a provincial lawyer, the friend and fellowstudent of the author. Minucius relates how delightful to him is the recollection of the things that had happened to him with octavius while he was. Introduction to the apologetic dialogue octavius octavius is the main character in a short christian apologetic work in latin by minucius felix. Marcus minucius felix, octavius vi judaism and rome. Initsattempted amalgamationofdeities,syncretism,sofarfromre conciling. He is known as the author of the octavius, a latin treatise refuting the common pagan charges against christianity, arguing for monotheism and providence, and attacking mythology. Apr 17, 2012 if, on the other hand, tertullian borrowed from minucius, the octavius was written probably about the year 166, and minucius flourished in the reign of marcus aurelius. Antenicene fathersvolume ivminucius felixintroductory note. Like lactantius, minucius was a convert to christianity. A mu parbeszedes formaban mutatja be a korai keresztenyseg es az ezt tamado pogany gondolkodok fobb erveit. The octavius of minucius felix paperback february 22, 2016 by minucius felix author 4. Christian apologist of the 3rd or perhaps 2nd cent.
The octavius gives an account of a debate, apparently mediated by minucius felix, between octavius. Full text of the octavius of minucius felix internet archive. Tertullians works illustrate how montanist rigorism was only an exaggeration of the puritanism characteristic of christians as a whole. Minucius felix encyclopedia volume catholic online. The volume is completed with a latin text and pleasant english translation of the octavius of minucius felix. The author hardly anything is known of marcus minucius felix, author of the octavius, and competitor with lactantius for the title of the christian cicero. Minucius felix octavius university of wales trinity saint david. Jslancient jeffery lee ltc goudy initials frederic goudy im fell english roman and italic igino marini. The octavius gives an account of a debate, apparently mediated by minucius felix, between octavius januarius, a christian convert, and q. Octavius is an early writing in defense of christianity by marcus minucius felix. Roman lawyer, he wrote the octavius, a dialogue on providence and christianity in general, between the skeptic pagan caecilius natalis and the christian octavius januarius, minucius friend. Lateinischer text, erlauterungen im anhang in deutscher sprache.
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