Tertullian

American  

[ter-tuhl-ee-uhn, -tuhl-yuhn] / tərˈtʌl i ən, -ˈtʌl yən /

noun

1. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, a.d. c160–c230, Carthaginian theologian.

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Tertullian British  

/ tɜːˈtʌlɪən /

noun

1. Latin name Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus. ?160–?220 _ad , Carthaginian Christian theologian, who wrote in Latin rather than Greek and originated much of Christian terminology

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Example Sentences

This is the common paraphrase of an argument by Tertullian, an early church father.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2025

The issue was never settled – one powerful church leader, Tertullian, once wrote “what does Athens have to do with Rome?”

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2020

At least one scholar has suggested that martyrdom stories fueled a “myth of persecution” that Christians like Tertullian, they would say, and many ever since, love to exaggerate.

From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2019

Tertullian, another prolific early Christian writer, also meditated at length on the crucifixion and its theological meaning.

From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2017

Cecilia’s enthusiasm, for example, seemed a little overstated, tainted with condescension perhaps, and intrusive too; her big sister wanted each bound story catalogued and placed on the library shelves, between Rabindranath Tagore and Quintus Tertullian.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan