Tertullian of Carthage

The father of Latin Christianity who coined the word "Trinity."

A prolific early Christian author from Carthage (North Africa), Tertullian was the first major Christian theologian to write in Latin rather than Greek. He coined essential theological vocabulary still used today, including "Trinity" (Trinitas) and the formula "three persons, one substance."

Verified Facts

• He invented the Latin theological vocabulary that would dominate Western Christianity for the next 1,800 years: "Trinity," "substance," "person," and "sacrament" are all Tertullian's coinages.
• His famous declaration "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" represents the anti-intellectual strand of Christianity that rejected the synthesis of faith and Greek philosophy—ironic, since he was himself a brilliant writer trained in rhetoric.
• He eventually left the orthodox church to join the Montanist movement, a charismatic, prophetic sect that emphasized direct spiritual revelation and strict moral purity. The mainstream church never forgave him for this.
• Despite his later "heresy," his theological contributions were so foundational that the Western church couldn't excise his influence. He is called the "Father of Latin Christianity" but was never canonized as a saint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Further Reading

• Wikipedia: Tertullian
• Early Church Texts: Tertullian

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