Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Vol 4) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'De fuga in persecutione'.
My summary
This week we read Tertullian's response to Fabius' question about fleeing persecution.
Firstly Tertullian establishes the origin of persecution and demonstrates that persecution is still within the will of God for his people.
Thus Tertullian teaches that Christians should not flee persecution: 'For if persecution proceeds from God, in no way will it be our duty to flee from what has God as its author; a twofold reason opposing; for what proceeds from God ought not on the one hand to be avoided, and it cannot be evaded on the other. It ought not to be avoided, because it is good; for everything must be good on which God has cast His eye.'
Tertullian explains his position by referencing Scripture, particularly from the Book of Acts.
He finishes the work by also speaking against the use of bribes to avoid persecution.
What grabbed me
An interesting view.
But I do think that Tertullian's exegesis on a number of points was faulty.
For example: 'Nay, Paul too, who had submitted to deliverance from persecution by being let down from the wall, as to do so was at this time a matter of command, refused in like manner now at the close of his ministry, and after the injunction had come to an end, to give in to the anxieties of the disciples, eagerly entreating him that he would not risk himself at Jerusalem, because of the sufferings in store for him which Agabus had foretold; but doing the very opposite, it is thus he speaks, “What do ye, weeping and disquieting my heart? For I could wish not only to suffer bonds, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ.” And so they all said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” What was the will of the Lord? Certainly no longer to flee from persecution. Otherwise they who had wished him rather to avoid persecution, might also have adduced that prior will of the Lord, in which He had commanded flight. Therefore, seeing even in the days of the apostles themselves, the command to flee was temporary, as were those also relating to the other things at the same time enjoined, that [command] cannot continue with us which ceased with our teachers, even although it had not been issued specially for them; or if the Lord wished it to continue, the apostles did wrong who were not careful to keep fleeing to the last.'
It's a bit of a long jump to say that because it was the will of God for Paul to endure persecution, that is the will of God for all Christians from then on.
Next week's reading
Commence the Appendix by reading up to the the heading '5. Five books in reply to Marcion'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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