Marcus Minucius Felix

Marcus Minucius Felix (died c. 250 AD in Rome)[1] was one of the earliest of the Latin apologists for Christianity. He was of Berber origin.[2]

Nothing is known of his personal history, and even the date at which he wrote can be only approximately ascertained as between AD 150 and 270. Jerome's De Viris Illustribus #58 speaks of him as "Romae insignis causidicus" [one of Rome's notable solicitors], but in that he is probably only improving on the expression of Lactantius[3] who speaks of him as "non ignobilis inter causidicos loci" [not unknown among solicitors].

He is now exclusively known by his Octavius, a dialogue on Christianity between the pagan Caecilius Natalis and the Christian Octavius Januarius. Written for educated non-Christians, the arguments are borrowed chiefly from Cicero, especially his De natura deorum (“Concerning the Nature of the Gods”), and Christian material, mainly from the Greek Apologists.[1]

The Octavius is admittedly earlier than Cyprian's Quod idola dei non sint, which borrows from it; how much earlier can be determined only by settling the relation in which it stands to Tertullian's Apologeticum.

Stoic influences can also be seen in his work.[4]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Marcus Minucius Felix | Christian apologist". Retrieved 2016-08-21.
  2. ↑ Serralda, Vincent; Huard, André (1984). Le Berbère-- lumière de l'Occident (in French). Nouvelles Editions Latines. p. 56. ISBN 9782723302395.
  3. ↑ Institutionum divinarum v. 1.
  4. ↑ "Stoicism". Retrieved 2016-08-21.

References

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Minucius, Felix Marcus". Encyclopædia Britannica. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 564.
  • Higgins, C. Francis. "Minucius Felix". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
  • Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina with analytical indexes
  •  Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Minucius Felix". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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