Author Description

The Apology (Latin: Apologeticum) is an apologetic work written by Tertullian (155 - 240 AD), in which he defends Christianity, seeking legal toleration for the new religion. His argument is that Christians should be treated like all other religious sects of the Roman Empire. In this famous treatise, we find the courageous phrase, "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Tertullian has been called "the father of Latin Christianity" and, although not a saint, he has always been held in high regard by Christians. This work is taken from the Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885) translation by Sydney Thelwall (1834 -- 1922). The original footnotes are preserved, and the original Latin text is included as an appendix. Also included are images of the philosophers and various Greek and Roman gods referred to in the text.