Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. IV

What It's About

This volume gathers the fourth and final group of Tertullian's writings — shorter treatises on dress, veiling, marriage, chastity, fasting, and fleeing persecution, written during his later, more rigorist Montanist period. Alongside these sit the Octavius of Minucius Felix, a dialogue defending Christianity against pagan criticism, and the Instructions of Commodianus, an early Christian poet writing in acrostic verse against pagan gods. The volume closes with two major works by Origen: De Principiis, one of the first systematic accounts of Christian doctrine, and part of Against Celsus, his lengthy rebuttal of a pagan philosopher's attack on Christianity.

Key Concepts

Tertullian's later treatises reflect his growing austerity on matters of dress, remarriage, and church discipline, and are shaped by his break with the mainstream Church over Montanism — a rigorist movement that emphasised prophecy and strict moral discipline. Minucius Felix's Octavius answers common Roman charges against Christians in a calmer, more literary register than Tertullian's. Origen's De Principiis attempts to set out Christian teaching on God, the soul, and creation systematically, drawing on Greek philosophy in ways that later proved controversial; large parts survive only through a Latin translation by Rufinus, who is known to have softened some of Origen's more disputed positions. Against Celsus is a point-by-point defence of Christianity against one of its earliest and most substantial pagan critics.

About the Author

Alexander Roberts (1826–1901) was a Scottish biblical scholar and Free Church minister who became Professor of Humanity at the University of St Andrews. James Donaldson (1831–1915) was a Scottish classical and patristic scholar who served as Principal of the University of St Andrews from 1886 until his death. Together they edited this series of translations of early Christian writings.

About This Edition

This edition has been prepared for readability and general interest, and does not include the original scholarly footnotes. While the notes in historical editions often provide biblical references, Latin translations, and academic cross-references, they can interrupt the flow for many modern readers. The aim here is to present the text in a clear, accessible form, allowing readers to engage directly with these early Christian writings without distraction. For those who prefer a fully annotated, scholarly experience, comprehensive editions with complete footnotes remain widely available.