View source for Tertullian, Quintus Septimius Florens (ca. 160-ca. 222)

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullian, (ca. 160-ca. 222), the great Church Father of Carthage, the son of a captain, well educated, familiar with Greek, was converted to Christianity and defended its doctrines in numerous writings. His book ''De Baptismo'' (Concerning Baptism), in which he attacked [[Infant Baptism|infant baptism]], is of especial interest to Mennonites. Very earnestly he insisted on faith as the unconditional requirement for a true [[Baptism|baptism]]. This book shows that infant baptism was not yet a universal custom in the church of the second century. ''[[Martyrs' Mirror|The Martyrs' Mirror]]'' has on its last page an address of encouragement written by Tertullian to the martyrs who were confined in prisons at the time of the non-Christian emperors. In 1522 [[Grebel, Conrad (ca. 1498-1526)|Conrad Grebel]] procured and forwarded to Vadian a copy of the new edition of Tertullian (ed. by Beatus Rhenanus at Basel, 1521). It is probable that he read Tertullian, since he mentions him in the letter to Müntzer (1524). [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]] also read Tertullian. It is intriguing, but speculative to think that Tertullian's attack on infant baptism may have influenced the Anabaptists.
= Bibliography =
Braght, Thieleman J. van. ''Het Bloedigh Tooneel of Martelaers Spiegel der Doopsgesinde of Weereloose Christenen, Die om 't getuygenis van Jesus haren Salighmaker geleden hebben ende gedood zijn van Christi tijd of tot desen tijd toe. Den Tweeden Druk''. Amsterdam: Hieronymus Sweerts, 1685: Part II, 838-40.

Braght, Thieleman J. van. ''The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660''. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951: 1139-41. Available online at: [http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm]. 

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. IV, 298.
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