Christians do not fear persecution but are compelled to speak

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Tertullian opens his letter to Scapula by explaining why Christians endure suffering without fear and why he now writes to their enemies.

We do not dread or fear greatly the things we suffer at the hands of the ignorant, since we came to this faith having accepted the terms of its covenant: we enter these contests sworn in, even with our souls, desiring to obtain what God has promised and fearing to suffer what He threatens against the opposite life. In fact, we contend with all your cruelty, even bursting forth of our own accord, and we rejoice more when condemned than when acquitted. So I have sent you this little book not because we are afraid for ourselves, but for you and for all our enemies—not to mention our friends. For our teaching commands us to love even our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, so that this may be our perfect and distinctive goodness, not a common one. Loving friends is something everyone does; loving enemies belongs to Christians alone. Therefore, since we grieve over your ignorance, and pity human error, and foresee what is coming, and see the signs of it brandished against us daily, we must burst forth in this way at least, to set before you what you do not wish to hear openly.

Latin

Nos quidem neque expavescimus neque pertimescimus ea quae ab ignorantibus patimur, cum ad hanc sectam utique suscepta condicione eius pacti venerimus, ut etiam animas nostras auctorati in has pugnas accedamus, ea quae deus repromittit consequi optantes et ea quae diversae vitae comminatur pati timentes. Denique cum omni saevitia vestra concertamus etiam ultro erumpentes, magisque damnati quam absoluti gaudemus. Itaque hunc libellum non nobis timentes misimus, sed vobis et omnibus inimicis nostris, nedum amicis. Ita enim disciplina iubemur diligere inimicos quoque et orare pro iis qui nos persequuntur, ut haec sit perfecta et propria bonitas nostra, non communis. Amicos enim diligere omnium est, inimicos autem solorum Christianorum. Qui ergo dolemus de ignorantia vestra, et miseremur erroris humani, et futura prospicimus, et signa eorum cottidie intentari videmus, necesse est vel hoc modo erumpere ad proponenda vobis ea quae palam non vultis audire.

About this text

An open letter to Scapula, governor of Africa, urging him to stop punishing Christians and warning him of God's judgment.

Tertullian (c. 155–c. 220) was a Christian writer and priest in Carthage, trained in Roman law. He wrote this open letter to Scapula, the proconsul of Africa, during a time when Scapula was punishing Christians. Tertullian's purpose was to urge Scapula to stop the persecution and to warn him that harming Christians brings divine punishment.

The letter responds to a specific situation in Roman Africa. Scapula had already condemned a Christian named Mavilus of Hadrumetum to the wild beasts, and crowds in Carthage were demanding action against Christians. Tertullian reminds Scapula that Christians are loyal subjects who pray for the emperor's safety and are innocent of the crimes alleged against them, such as sacrilege and treason against the imperial dignity.

A reader will meet several Roman officials whose fates Tertullian presents as warnings. Vigellius Saturninus, the first governor to use the sword against Christians in Africa, lost his eyesight. Claudius Lucius Herminianus, who persecuted Christians in Cappadocia, died of plague. Tertullian also quotes the words of Arrius Antoninus, a governor in Asia who was overwhelmed when all the Christians of a city offered themselves for martyrdom, and of Caecilius Capella, who at his death cried out, 'Christians, rejoice!' The letter uses terms such as 'faith' for the Christian way of life, 'demons' for the pagan gods, 'endurance' for the patience Christians show under persecution, and 'indictment' for the written charge brought against a Christian. Tertullian does not quote Scripture directly, but he refers to the Christian teaching of loving enemies and praying for persecutors.

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

Printed text used

Translated from Quinti Septimii Florentis Tertulliani Quae Supersunt Omnia Tertullian Franz Oehler T. O. Weigel Leipzig 1853 (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.