More from Tertullian

In his message Sunday, Pastor Allen mentioned this quotation by third century theologian Tertullian: "See how (these Christians) love one another."

Tertullian was a prolific writer, so I thought you might enjoy reading a few of his other most quotable statements here.

First, the actual context of the quotation above was that Tertullian was contrasting Christians with their critics. Here is the full quote:

"Look," they say, "how they love one another" (for they themselves hate one another); "and how they are ready to die for each other" (for they themselves are readier to kill each other)."

The blood of the martyrs is the seed [of the Church].

For reason is a property of God's, since there is nothing which God, the creator of all things, has not foreseen, arranged and determined by reason; moreover, there is nothing He does not wish to be investigated and understood by reason.

Indeed for us murder is forbidden once and for all, so it is not permitted even to destroy what is conceived in the womb. To prohibit the birth of a child is only a faster way to murder; it makes little difference whether one destroys a life already born or prevents it from coming to birth. It is a human being, who is to be a human being, for the whole fruit is already present in the seed.

If I give you a rose you will not disdain its creator.

The truth is, the human race has always deserved ill at God's hand. First of all, as undutiful to Him, because when it knew Him in part, it not only did not seek after Him, but even invented other gods of its own to worship; and further, because, as the result of their willing ignorance of the Teacher of righteousness, the Judge and Avenger of sin, all vices and crimes grew and flourished.