Third Century Fathers: St. Hippolytus, Cyprian...

Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian, Appendix

This is volume 5 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, the fathers of the early Christian church who lived before the 4th century.

This volume contains works from the following authors:

1) St. Hippolytus (c. 170–235 AD) was one of the most important second-third century Christian theologians, whose identity and writings remain elusive to historians. Hippolytus' many writings, which for variety of subject can be compared with those of Origen, include the spheres of exegesis, homiletics, apologetics and polemic, chronography, and church law.

2) St. Cyprian (200 - 258) was a bishop of Carthage and a notable Early Christian writer in North Africa, many of whose Latin works are extant. He grew up in Carthage where he received a classical education. Soon after converting to Christianity, he became a bishop in 249. He was a controversial figure during his time. His strong pastoral skills, firm conduct during the Novatianist heresy and the outbreak of the plague, and martyrdom in Carthage established his reputation and proved his sanctity. His skillful Latin rhetoric led him to be considered the pre-eminent Latin writer of Western Christianity until Jerome and Augustine.

3) Caius (180 - 217) was priest who lived in the time of Zephyrinus. He was a member of the Catholic Church, and was thought to be very learned.

4) Novatian (200 – 258) was a scholar, priest, theologian and antipope between 251 and 258. He was a noted theologian and writer and the first Roman theologian to use the Latin language. In his time there was much debate about how to deal with Christians who had lapsed and wished to return, and the issue of penance. Consecrated as pope by three bishops in 251, he adopted a more stern position than the established Pope Cornelius. Novatian was excommunicated as a result. The schismatic church which he established persisted for several centuries.