The Patrologia Latina · The Second Volume
Tertullian
Volume 2 continues Tertullian with the weightier half of his work: the great doctrinal and polemical treatises, including the five books against Marcion, his study of the soul, and the defense of Father, Son, and Spirit against Praxeas. We are translating every one into English.
About this volume
The doctrine and the controversies
Where Volume 1 gathered Tertullian’s apologetic and practical works, Volume 2 holds the arguments that made him the first great theologian of the Latin Church. Here are his replies to Marcion, Praxeas, Hermogenes, and the Gnostics, his treatises on the soul, the flesh of Christ, and the resurrection, and the writings of his later, stricter years.
As across the whole project, we translate the original works only, in fresh English, and give them away free to read.
Where to start
Three to begin with
Our favorite
On the Soul
De Anima
Tertullian turns philosopher, one of the earliest Christian attempts to map the human soul.
Read →The landmark
Against Praxeas
Adversus Praxeam
Where the Latin language of the Trinity was first forged.
Read →The most unusual
On the Pallium
De Pallio
A short, witty defense of a cloak, the strangest and most literary thing he wrote.
Read →The contents
18 works
Each is a fresh English translation of Tertullian’s Latin, free to read online.
- 01
Against Marcion Adversus Marcionem
Tertullian's longest work: five books defending one God and the whole Bible against Marcion.
146 ch. Read free → - 02
Against Praxeas Adversus Praxeam
A landmark defense of Father, Son, and Spirit, where the Latin language of the Trinity takes shape.
31 ch. Read free → - 03
The Prescription Against Heretics De Praescriptionibus adversus Haereticos
Why heretics have no claim on Scripture, which belongs to the apostolic Church.
53 ch. Read free → - 04
On the Soul De Anima
Tertullian's major treatise on the nature and origin of the human soul.
58 ch. Read free → - 05
On the Resurrection of the Flesh De Resurrectione Carnis
A defense of the bodily resurrection of the dead.
63 ch. Read free → - 06
On the Flesh of Christ De Carne Christi
A defense of the reality of Christ's human flesh and birth.
25 ch. Read free → - 07
Against Hermogenes Adversus Hermogenem
An early defense of creation out of nothing, against eternal matter.
45 ch. Read free → - 08
Against the Valentinians Adversus Valentinianos
A description and rebuttal of the Valentinian Gnostic system of aeons.
39 ch. Read free → - 09
Against the Jews Adversus Judaeos
An argument that the promises to Israel are extended to all nations in Christ.
14 ch. Read free → - 10
Antidote for the Scorpion’s Sting Adversus Gnosticos Scorpiace
An antidote to Gnostics who taught that martyrdom was pointless.
15 ch. Read free → - 11
On the Crown De Corona
On a soldier's refusal of the military crown, and Christians in the army.
15 ch. Read free → - 12
Flight in Persecution De Fuga in Persecutione
On whether a Christian may flee persecution.
14 ch. Read free → - 13
On Modesty De Pudicitia
A late, strict argument on which sins the Church cannot forgive.
22 ch. Read free → - 14
On Monogamy De Monogamia
The case that a Christian may marry only once.
17 ch. Read free → - 15
Exhortation to Chastity De Exhortatione Castitatis
A letter urging a widowed friend not to remarry.
13 ch. Read free → - 16
On the Veiling of Virgins De Virginibus Velandis
The argument that virgins, not only wives, should be veiled in church.
17 ch. Read free → - 17
On Fasting De Jejuniis
A defense of stricter fasting, against the wider Church.
17 ch. Read free → - 18
On the Pallium De Pallio
A short, witty defense of the philosopher's cloak over the Roman toga.
6 ch. Read free →
Every translation here is free to read. A modern, readable edition of Tertullian will follow as a future volume.
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