# How Septimius Florens Tertullian, Through A Certain Apology, Defended The Christians, And Sought To Have Them Spared, About The Year 204.

c. 204 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: HOW SEPTIMIUS FLORENS TERTULLIAN, THROUGH A CERTAIN APOLOGY, DEFENDED THE CHRISTIANS, AND SOUGHT TO HAVE THEM SPARED, ABOUT THE YEAR 204.

Source heading; not independently verified

When the persecution of the true Christians
would not cease, but increased the longer the more,
the pious man Septimius Florens Tertullian wrote
an apology in defense of the Christians against the
heathen, in which he refuted all the slanders with
which they were assailed at that time; showing that
they were innocent, and were persecuted—not on
account of any evil deeds, as the heathen pretended,
but simply on account of their name; and that
nevertheless their religion was not weakened or
injured by the bitterness of the persecution, but
much rather helped and strengthened by it.

Among other things he writes: “We are increased,
and grow, when we are mowed down by
you. The blood of the Christians is the seed (of the
church). For who is there among you who, seeing
these things, is not constrained to examine what
there may be inside of this matter? Who, having
examined it, does not join them, and, having joined
himself to them, does not wish to suffer with them?”

After this he said these words, or at least words
to this import: “This sect (so he calls the Christians,
according to the view of the heathen) will
never perish or be extirpated; which, rest assured,
when it seems to be cut down is built up. For
every one, seeing their great patience, when they
are beaten and goaded, is incited to inquire into
the cause of this; and when he has come to the
knowledge of the truth, he instantly follows.”
Compare Joh. Gys., fol. 18, col. 4, ex Tertulliano,
ad Scapulam. Also, P. J. Twisck, 2d book, for the
year 200, page 53, col. 1, from Chronol. Leonh.,
lib. 1.





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