Tertullian’s Apologeticus

Written in the summer or autumn of 197, early in the reign of Septimius Severus, the Apologeticus is addressed to the provincial governors of the empire, and more specifically to the magistrates of Carthage, though its real readers were mostly Christians. Tertullian points out the absurdity of trials in which Christians were tortured to make them deny their faith, refutes the rumours of infanticide and incest, and answers the charges of sacrilege and treason: Christians, he insists, pray for the emperors’ long life, secure rule, brave armies and a peaceful world. Its best-known line — “We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed” (50.13) — became proverbial as “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”. The related treatise Ad nationes dates from the same year.

Tertullian (c. 155/165 – c. 220/240), a native of Carthage, was the first Christian author to produce an extensive body of Latin Christian literature; 31 of his works survive. He was the first known writer to use the Latin word trinitas, and around 207 he was drawn to the “New Prophecy” of Montanism.