These translations were made in the 19th century from the Oehler text, the standard Victorian critical edition. Since they were produced, additional and sometimes superior manuscripts have been discovered of some of the works (see manuscripts). They have the reputation of being good, fairly literal, but somewhat old-fashioned translations. The hardback volumes are available and in print, at $20 each from www.amazon.com, but the typeface is ancient and the printing in dual columns makes them hard to read. In my experience they are much easier to read if printed off in a modern typeface from your browser.
These translations are a little old-fashioned, as the influence of the Authorised Version of the bible meant that translators felt obliged to use pseudo-Jacobean language, in order to carry credibility with their public. This makes them a little difficult to read today. The text was based on the edition of Oehler. For bibliographic information about this edition, see below.
There are footnotes online. The 'Elucidations' deal with points too lengthy to fit in the footnotes of the original edition.
The texts have been taken from the master site for the Ante-Nicene Fathers, http://www.ccel.org/fathers2 and were typed in by a public collaborative effort. I have not reformatted them; rather they are in the same format that the master site has. Please notify me of any typographical errors using the feedback form.
These documents (last modified February 03, 1998) were originally from the Christian Classics Electronic Library server, then at Wheaton College, with some editing and corrections from this site.
THE WRITINGS OF TERTULLIAN
PART ONE - APOLOGETICAL WORKS
Introductory Note. by A.Cleveland Coxe, D.D.
This information is intended to be useful to those who need to refer to this translations with a specific bibliographic reference.
The translations were originally issued in 4 volumes by subscription for a series, The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, and then recollected and re-edited in a superior 2 volume form as part of The Ante-Nicene Fathers. I have a copy of the latter and was able to note the pages of the former in Cambridge University Library.
The Ante-Nicene Christian Library (ANCL)
The reference for this series is:
ROBERTS, Alexander and DONALDSON, James, eds., The Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Translations of the Fathers down to A.D. 325, 24 volumes (T&T Clark, Edinburgh,1866-72)
Tertullian appeared in 4 volumes. Here are the original volumes of the ANCL with their contents.
1. ANTE-NICENE CHRISTIAN LIBRARY: Vol VII. Tertullianus against Marcion: The Five Books of Quintus Sept. Flor. Tertullianus Against Marcion. Translated by Peter Holmes, D.D., F.R.A.S, Domestic chaplain to the Right Hon. The Countess of Rothes. Published by T&T Clark 1868 496pp (Checked)
Contents:
Dedication v Preface by translator vii-x Introductory notice xi-xviii Contents xix-xx Book I 1-59 Book II 60-117 Book III 118-174 Book IV, chapters 1-43 175-364 Note on Book 4 364-367 Book V 368-478 Index of Scriptures 479-486 Index of Persons and Things 487-496
Note that the indexes were doubtless subsumed into vol. 9 of
the ANF.
2. ANTE-NICENE CHRISTIAN LIBRARY: Vol XI. The Writings of Tertullian Vol.1: ; T&T Clark 1869 506pp
(Not checked)
I've not seen this. These notes are from Quasten's Patrology II:
All these were translated by S. Thelwall except the Ad Nationes, by P. Holmes.
To the Martyrs, or Ad Martyras 1-7 The Shows, or De Spectaculis 8-35 The Soul's Testimony 36-45 To Scapula 46-52 The Apology 53-140 On Idolatry 141-177 On Prayer 178-204 On Patience 205-230 On Baptism 231-256 On Repentance 257-278 To His Wife 279-303 On the Apparel of Women 304-322 The Chaplet, or De Corona 333-355 De Fuga in Persecutione 356-378 Scorpiace 379-415 To the Nationes, or Ad Nationes (Holmes) 416-506
3. ANTE-NICENE CHRISTIAN LIBRARY: Vol XV. The Writings of Tertullian, Vol II: ; T&T Clark 1870 541pp
(Checked)
These were also translated by Peter Holmes.
Dedication (unnumbered, 1 page) Preface (unnumbered, 1 page) Contents (unnumbered, 1 page) The Prescription Against Heretics 1-54 Against Hermogenes 55-118 Against the Valentinians * 119-162 On the Flesh of Christ 163-214 On the Resurrection of the Flesh 215-332 Against Praxeas 333-409 A Treatise on the Soul 410-541
* This work is marked in the ANF as 'translated by Dr. Roberts'. Recheck against ANCL.
4. ANTE-NICENE CHRISTIAN LIBRARY: Vol XVIII. The Writings of Tertullian, Vol III: with the extant works of Victorinus and Commodianus T&T Clark 1870 514pp (Checked)
"The writings of Tertullian contained in this volume are translated by Rev. S. Thelwall, Late scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge" (Commodian and Victorinus are by others).
Introduction vii-xix On Exhortation to Chastity 1-20 On Monogamy 21-55 On Modesty 56-122 On Fasting In Opposition to the Psychics 123-153 On the Veiling of Virgins 154-180 On the Pallium 181-200 An Answer to the Jews 201-258 Against All Heresies 259-273 A Fragment Concerning the Execrable Gods of the Heathen 274-277 Jonah the Prophet 278-283 Sodom 284-292 Genesis 293-300 The Judgement of the Lord 301-317 Five Books in Reply to Marcion 318-384 [Other works] 385-474 Indices 475-514
The Ante-Nicene Fathers (ANF)
The reference for this series is (from the US Library of Congress):
COXE, A. Cleveland, ed., The Ante-Nicene fathers. Translations of the writings of the fathers down to A.D. 325. The Rev. Alexander Roberts, D.D., and James Donaldson, LL.D., editors. American reprint of the Edinburgh edition. Revised and chronologically arranged, with brief prefaces and occasional notes, by A. Cleveland Coxe, D.D. (Buffalo, The Christian literature publishing company, 1885-96. 10 volumes)..
The separate volume titles are:
Volume III. Latin Christianity: Its founder, Tertullian. I. Apologetic; II. Anti-Marcion; III. Ethical.
Volume IV. Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second.
The translators were the Rev. Dr. Peter Holmes, D.D., F.R.A.S., and the Rev. Sydney Thelwall. (Name of latter in full from Bodleian online catalogue - only 'S. Thelwall' in the volumes).
The date of first publication is not stated anywhere in these volumes. They have often been reprinted.
The texts given in the ANCL were re-edited by the American editor, A. Cleveland Coxe, and reissued as volumes 3 and 4 of his consolidated series. These too are published by T. & T. Clark, and are still in publication. The volumes are divided into various 'Parts' as shown. The page numbers are as follows:
Volume 3.
Introduction (No title or page no - 1 page) PART FIRST
Contents (No page number - 1 page) Introductory Note 1-15 The Apology S. Thelwall 17-55 Elucidations 56-60 On Idolatry S. Thelwall 61-76 Elucidations 76-77 The Shows, or De Spectaculis S. Thelwall 79-91 The Chaplet, or De Corona None given but
probably S. Thelwall93-103 Elucidations 103-104 To Scapula S. Thelwall 105-108 Elucidations 108 Ad Nationes P. Holmes 109-147 Appendix, Fragment 149-150 Elucidation 150 An Answer to the Jews S. Thelwall 151-173 The Soul's Testimony S. Thelwall 175-179 Elucidations 179-180 A treatise on the soul P. Holmes 181-235 PART SECOND
Introduction by the American Editor 239-241 The Prescription against Heretics P. Holmes 243-265 Elucidations 265-267 The Five Books against Marcion (Dedication & Preface by the translator) P. Holmes 269-270 Book I P. Holmes 271-295 Book II P. Holmes 297-320 Book III P. Holmes 321-344 Book IV P. Holmes 345-423 Dr Holmes' Note to book 4. P. Holmes 423-425 Elucidations 425-428 Book V P. Holmes 429-474 Elucidations 474-475 Against Hermogenes P. Holmes 477-502 Against the Valentinians * 'Dr. Roberts' 503-520 On the Flesh of Christ P. Holmes 521-542 Elucidations 542-543 On the Resurrection of the Flesh P. Holmes 545-594 Elucidations 594-595 Against Praxeas P. Holmes 597-627 Dr. Holmes' Preface, Dedication. + Elucidations 627-632 Scorpiace S. Thelwall 633-648 Appendix. Against all Heresies S. Thelwall 649-654 PART THIRD
655 On Repentance S. Thelwall 657-666 Elucidations 666-668 On Baptism S. Thelwall 669-679 Elucidation 679 On Prayer S. Thelwall 681-691 Ad Martyras S. Thelwall 693-696 Appendix. The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas - Introduction 697 Appendix. The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas Rev. R. E. Wallis, Ph.D 699-706 Elucidation 706 Of Patience S. Thelwall 707-717 Elucidations 717-718 Part First - Apologetic. Index of Subjects. 721-723 Part First - Apologetic. Index of Texts. 725-727 Part Second - Anti-Marcion. Index of Subjects. 729-732 Part Second - Anti-Marcion. Index of Texts. 733-737 Part Third - Ethical Treatises. Index of Subjects. 739 Part Third - Ethical Treatises. Index of Texts. 741-745.
* This work is marked in the ANF as 'translated by Dr. Roberts'. Recheck against ANCL.
Volume 4.
Introductory Notice (dated October 1885) v-vi Table of Contents 1 I. TERTULLIAN. On the Pallium S. Thelwall 5-12 Elucidations 13 On the Apparel of Women S. Thelwall 14-25 Elucidation 26 On the Veiling of Virgins S. Thelwall 27-37 Elucidation 38 To his Wife S. Thelwall 39-49 Elucidation 49 On Exhortation to Chastity S. Thelwall 50-58 Elucidation 58 On Monogamy S. Thelwall 59-72 Elucidation 73 On Modesty S. Thelwall 74-101 Elucidations 101 On Fasting S. Thelwall 102-114 Elucidations 114-115 De Fuga in Persecutione S. Thelwall 116-125 Elucidations 125-126 Appendix. A strain of Jonah the Prophet S. Thelwall 127-129 A strain of Sodom S. Thelwall 129-132 Genesis S. Thelwall 132-135 A strain of the Judgement of the Lord S. Thelwall 135-141 Five books in reply to Marcion S. Thelwall 142-165 Elucidations 166 [Others] -
167-669 Tertullian. Part Fourth. Index of Subjects 673 Tertullian. Part Fourth. Index of Texts 674-678 [Indexes of others] 679-696
This page has been online since 31st December 1999.