On the Unity of the Catholic Church · §26 · Cyprian of Carthage

Faith grown cold in the present age

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Cyprian is contrasting the fervent unanimity and generosity of the apostolic Church with the weakened faith of his own time, before urging his readers to wake from spiritual sloth.

But among us this unanimity has so diminished that the generosity of good work has also been broken. Back then they used to sell houses and lands, and they offered the proceeds to the apostles to be distributed for the needs of the poor, storing up treasure for themselves in heaven. But now we do not even give tithes from our patrimony, and although the Lord commands us to sell, we instead buy and increase our holdings. So the vigor of faith has withered among us; so the strength of believers has grown weak. And therefore the Lord, looking upon our times, says in his Gospel: "When the Son of Man comes, do you think he will find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). We see happening what he foretold. There is no faith in the fear of God, in the law of justice, in love, in good work. No one thinks about the fear of things to come; no one considers the day of the Lord, the wrath of God, the punishments that are to come upon the unbelieving, and the eternal torments appointed for the faithless. Whatever our conscience would fear if it believed, it does not fear at all because it does not believe. But if it believed, it would also be on guard; if it were on guard, it would also escape.

Latin

In nobis uero sic unanimitas deminuta est, ut et largitas operationis infracta est. domos tunc et fundos uenundabant et thesauros sibi in caelo reponentes distribuenda in usus indigentium pretia apostolis offerebant. at nunc de patrimonio nec decimas damus et cum uendere iubeat Dominus, emimus potius et augemus. sic in nobis emarcuit uigor fidei, sic credentium robur elanguit. et idcirco Dominus tempora nostra respiciens in euangelio suo dicit: filius hominis cum uenerit, putas inueniet fidem in terra? uidemus fieri quod ille praedixit. in Dei timore, in lege iustitiae, in dilectione, in opere fides nulla est. nemo futurorum metum cogitat, diem Domini et iram Dei et incredulis uentura supplicia et statuta perfidis aeterna tormenta nemo considerat. quicquid metueret conscientia nostra, si crederet, quia non credit, omnino nec metuit. si autem crederet, et caueret: si caueret, et euaderet.

About this text

Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, writes in 251 against the Novatian schism: the Church Christ founded is one and cannot be divided.

Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258) wrote this treatise as bishop of Carthage, addressing the faithful brethren and especially the bishops who preside in the Church. He composed it in 251 to warn Christians against schism and heresy, which he regarded as a subtler and more dangerous attack by the devil than open persecution, and to defend the unity of the Church against those who had broken away from it.

The immediate occasion was the schism of Novatian, which had been stirred up in part by Novatus and other presbyters of Cyprian's own church. Cyprian wrote to keep the Carthaginians from following the breakaway movement. He argues that the Church is one and indivisible, founded by Christ upon Peter as the single source of its unity, and that this unity is preserved through the one episcopate. Schismatics and heretics, even if they claim the name of Christian and suffer death, are cut off from the Church and cannot be saved.

A reader will meet Peter, the apostle upon whom Christ founded the Church, and Paul and John, whose letters and Gospel are quoted on unity, love, and those who went out from the Church. Old Testament figures such as Korah, Dathan, Abiram, Uzziah, Aaron, Ahijah, Rahab, Solomon, and Judas appear as examples of rebellion, division, or prefigurations of the Church. The Lord, Paul, John, the Holy Spirit, Ahijah the prophet, and Scripture all speak in the treatise.

New English from the Latin base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from CSEL 3.1 (1868) (Latin)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.