Marcus Minucius Felix Books

The African Q. Septimus Florens Tertullianus (ca. 150-222 CE), the great Christian writer, was born a soldier's son at Carthage, educated in Greek and Roman literature, philosophy, and medicine, studied law and became a pleader, remaining a clever and often tortuous arguer. At Rome he became a learned and militant Christian. After a visit to churches in Greece (and Asia Minor?) he returned to Carthage and in his writings there founded a Christian Latin language and literature, toiling to fuse enthusiasm with reason; to unite the demands of the Bible with the practice of the Church; and to continue to vindicate the Church's possession of the true doctrine in the face of unbelievers, Jews, Gnostics, and others. In some of his many works he defended Christianity, in others he attacked heretical people and beliefs; in others he dealt with morals. In this volume we present "Apologeticus" and "De Spectaculis."Of Minucius, an early Christian writer of unknown date, we have only "Octavius," a vigorous and readable debate between an unbeliever and a Christian friend of Minucius, Octavius Ianuarius, a lawyer sitting on the seashore at Ostia. Minucius himself acts as presiding judge. Octavius wins the argument. The whole work presents a picture of social and religious conditions in Rome, apparently about the end of the second century.

Valued for its significant contribution to literature, this book is presented in its original print format to maintain its authenticity. Any marks or annotations from the first publication are preserved intentionally, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its historical context and original essence. This dedication to authenticity highlights the book's importance as a knowledge resource.

Kniha přináší v bilingvní edici zcela nový překlad dialogu Octavius Minucia Felixe (přelom 2. a 3. století), doplněný o rozsáhlou úvodní studii. Minuciův apologeticky laděný spis formou rozhovoru tří přátel – autora dialogu, křesťana Octavia a pohana Ceacilia – vyvrací rozšířené pomluvy o církvi a přináší argumenty ve prospěch věrohodnosti křesťanské zvěsti, které nakonec vedou k Caeciliově konverzi. Svým překladem a interpretací Ladislava Říhová usiluje o zaplnění pomyslné mezery v českém teologickém bádání, kde ucelená studie, jež by v úplnosti představila Minuciovu teologii, dosud chyběla.