Tertullian and the Church

by David Rankin

• ISBN13: 9780521044004
• ISBN10: 0521044006
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-10-15
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Was Tertullian of Carthage a schismatic? How did he view the church and its bishops? In this study David Rankin sets the writings of Tertullian in the context of the early third-century church and its developments, and discusses Tertullian's own theology of the church, his imagery and his perception of church office and ministry. Tertullian's contribution to the development of the church has often been misunderstood, and this thorough exploration provides a timely reassessment of its nature and importance.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

A note on chronology of texts

Introduction

The Historical Questions

The church in North Africa

Tertullian's relationship to the Catholic church

Tertullian's relationship to the New Prophecy movement

Tertullian's Doctrine of the Church: Introduction

Tertullian's ecclesiological images

The church as 'one, holy, catholic and apostolic'

Conclusions

Tertullian's Doctrine of Ministry and Office: Introduction

Ministry as 'service' and as 'office'

The offices of the church

Women in ministry

Other ministries

Appointment to office

Conclusions

General Conclusions

Appendix: a note on method

Select Bibliography

General index

Index of citations from Tertullian

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