The Philosophers of the First Three Centuries of the Church

Chronological Table.

[Minucius Felix] The text begins mid-name; Jerome (Hieronymus) is likely the authority mentioned here who considers him a contemporary of Severus. holds him for a contemporary of the Emperor Alexander Severus, and all chronologists agree that he wrote in the third century. Page 168

Tertullian. Since Tertullian reached a very advanced age, he must be placed in the third century, though he was born in the second. 183

Saint Cyprian. Since he received the martyr's crown A poetic reference to his execution for his faith in Carthage. in the year 258, one must place him among the writers of the third century. 213

Arnobius. original: Arnob He wrote his beautiful work against the idols This refers to his famous defense of Christianity, Adversus Nationes (Against the Pagans). under Diocletian's reign, from which one can conclude the century in which he lived. 239

Lactantius. original: Laktanz He was a student of Arnobius, and later a teacher of rhetoric original: Beredsamkeit at Nicomedia at the time of the Diocletian persecution, and subsequently tutor original: Hofmeister — an educator or governor in a royal household. to Crispus, the son of Constantine the Great. He must therefore have lived in the third and fourth centuries. 269