2006
First Published
4.29
Average Rating
248
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St Cyprian, third-century bishop of Carthage, developed a theory of church unity almost universally accepted up to the European to be a member of the Body of Christ you needed to be in communion with a priest who was in communion with a bishop who in turn was in communion with all other bishops in the world. But, how could you discern who was a legitimate bishop? And, on what kind of issue would it be right to break off communion? Additionally, could self-authenticating ministries, like those of martyrs and confessors who had suffered for the faith, supersede this order? Finally, did the Church need, and in what form, a universal bishop who could guarantee the integrity of the network of bishops? St Cyprian wrestled with these questions in his letters and treatises, selected and translated in these companion volumes. Each volume contains an introduction to the two principal controversies that spurred St Cyprian to write his defense on church first, the readmission to the Eucharist of those Christians who had lapsed or fallen in the persecution under Emperor Decius; and second, the sacramental validity of baptism in heretical and schismatic communities. They are questions that continue to arise in various forms in the contemporary Church, and thus, these companion volumes are of ultimate value to the state of current Christendom.
Avg Rating
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Authors
Allen Brent
Author · 2 books
Allen Brent is a Professor of Early Christian History and Literature, currently at University of London, King's College. His work explores the interface between Early Christianity and Classical Culture, with particular emphasis on non literary iconographical and epigraphic sources that illuminate the literary evidence. Born in the East End of London during the Second World War, following education at an East End London Grammar School and evening classes, he studied at Emmanuel College Cambridge, and subsequently at the Universities of London and Leeds. His DD, awarded for examination of the corpus of his published works, he received in 1998 from the University of Cambridge
Cyprian
Author · 4 books
Cyprian (Latin: Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) was bishop of Carthage and an important Early Christian writer, many of whose Latin works are extant. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education. After converting to Christianity, he became a bishop in 249 and eventually died a martyr at Carthage.
