Tertullien
Latin-writing Christian author: Christian faith has no need to pass through philosophy.
Life
Tertullian (about 155-220), born in Carthage, is the first major Christian author writing in Latin. He defended persecuted Christians and fought heresies. He distrusts Greek philosophy as a source of error for faith, which his question sums up: 'What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?'
Main works
Defends Christians against accusations and persecution.
Argues that heretics have no right to appeal to Scripture and that philosophy feeds heresies (approximate date).
In his own words
« What then has Athens to do with Jerusalem? the Academy with the Church? heretics with Christians? »
Quid ergo Athenis et Hierosolymis? quid academiae et ecclesiae? quid haereticis et christianis?
Positions
click a row to see the evidenceHe defends the one God of the Christians against pagan charges, and holds that God's existence is known even from the soul's natural testimony.
Tertullian, Apologeticum (197); De testimonio animae (c. 200)
God made man free and master of his own will; evil comes from man's choice, not from God.
Tertullian, Adversus Marcionem II.5-6 (c. 207)
'What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?': faith needs no philosophy, and the Gospel is to be believed even where it seems absurd to reason.
Tertullian, De praescriptione haereticorum 7 (c. 200); De carne Christi 5 (c. 208)