Marcus Minucius Felix
Marcus Minucius Felix (died c. 250 AD in Rome)[1] was one of the earliest of the Latin apologists for Christianity. He was of Berber origin.[2]
Nothing is known of his personal history, and even the date at which he wrote can be only approximately ascertained as between AD 150 and 270. Jerome's De Viris Illustribus No. 58 speaks of him as "Romae insignis causidicus" [one of Rome's notable solicitors], but in that he is probably only improving on the expression of Lactantius[3] who speaks of him as "non-ignobilis inter causidicos loci" [not unknown among solicitors].
Octavius
He is now exclusively known by his Octavius, a dialogue on Christianity between the pagan Caecilius Natalis and the Christian Octavius Januarius. Written for educated non-Christians, the arguments are borrowed chiefly from Cicero, especially his De natura deorum ("Concerning the Nature of the Gods"), and Christian material, mainly from the Greek Apologists.[1]
The Octavius is admittedly earlier than Cyprian's Quod idola dei non-sint, which borrows from it; how much earlier can be determined only by settling the relation in which it stands to Tertullian's Apologeticum.[citation needed]
The name Caecilius Natalis contains the nomen Caecilius and cognomen Natilis, that may refer to the gens Caecilia, a plebeian family at Rome.
The name Octavius Januarius contains the nomen Octavius and cognomen Januarius, that may refer to the gens Octavia – the family name of Emperor Augustus.
Minicius Gens
The name of Marcus Minucius Felix indicate that he was associated with the gens Minucius.
Stoic Influence
Stoic influences can also be seen in his work.[4]
Notes
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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Wikisource has original works written by or about: Marcus Minucius Felix |
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- Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina with analytical indexes
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- Works by Marcus Minucius Felix at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
- Articles with short description
- Articles with unsourced statements from November 2011
- Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference
- Articles incorporating a citation from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference
- 250 deaths
- 2nd-century Berber people
- 2nd-century Romans
- 2nd-century writers
- 3rd-century Berber people
- 3rd-century Latin writers
- 3rd-century Romans
- Ancient Roman writers
- Berber writers
- Christian apologists
- Christians in the Roman Empire
- Latin-language writers
- Minucii
- Post–Silver Age Latin writers
