Ancient African Christianity: An Introduction to a Unique Context and Tradition

Christianity spread across North Africa early, and it remained there as a powerful force much longer than anticipated. While this African form of Christianity largely shared the Latin language and Roman culture of the wider empire, it also represented a unique tradition that was shaped by its context. Ancient African Christianity attempts to tell the story of Christianity in Africa from its inception to its eventual disappearance. Well-known writers such as Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine are studied in light of their African identity, and this tradition is explored in all its various expressions.

This book is ideal for all students of African Christianity and also a key introduction for anyone wanting to know more about the history, religion, and philosophy of these early influential Christians whose impact has extended far beyond the African landscape.

1. Preface

   Chapter One: Introduction

   Preliminary Concerns

   Question 1: What is meant by "Ancient African Christianity"?

   Question 2: Why study ancient African Christianity?

   Question 3: What makes African Christians unique?

   Question 4: What is the purpose of this book? Introducing Ancient African Christians: An Overview

   Pre-Christian Africa

   The Beginnings of Christian Africa

   Christian Africa in the Fourth Century

   The Last Days of Ancient African Christianity History and Ancient African Christians

   Chapter Two: Backgrounds to Early African Christianity

   Romanization: From Culture to Ethnicity to Identity

   African (Identity) Politics

   African Languages

   African Art

   African Religions

   African Appearance

   Chapter Three: The Earliest Evidence of African Christianity

   Tertullian on the Earliest African Christians

   African Christian Origins

   The Scillitan Martyrs

   Perpetua, Felicity, and their Fellow Martyrs

   African Christianity in the Late Second and Early Third Century

   Legacies and Later Trajectories

   Chapter Four: Tertullian

   Tertullian’s Life Tertullian the Legalist

   Tertullian the Fideist

   Tertullian the Priest

   Tertullian the Montanist

   Tertullian the Misogynist

   Tertullian the Roman

   Tertullian the African Works and Teachings

   Tertullian the African

   Legacy and Later Trajectories

   Chapter Five: Cyprian and the Later Third Century

   Minucius Felix

   Cyprian Persecution

   Controversies

   His Works and Teachings

   Cyprian the African That Idols are not Gods (Quod idola dii non sint)

   Commodian

   Late Third Century Martyrdoms

   Chapter Six: The Early Fourth Century in Africa

   Christian Records from the Early Fourth Century

   Arnobius of Sicca Arnobian Theology

   What was African about Arnobius? Lactantius

   Works and Teachings

   What was African about Lactantius?

   Chapter Seven: The Donatist Controversy

   Identifying Donatists

   The Beginning of the Schism

   Appeals to Constantine

   Escalation of Violence and Persecution

   Donatist Diversity and Decline

   The End of Donatism?

   Reassessing Donatist Characteristics

   What was African about the Donatists?

   Conclusions and Caveats

   Chapter Eight: Augustine the African

   Augustine’s Life and Legacy

   Augustine’s Works and Teachings

   What was African about Augustine? Augustine’s African Background

   Accusations about Augustine’s Identity

   Self-Identifying as an African

   Chapter Nine: The Vandal Era of African Christianity

   The Vandal Invasion of Africa

   Vandals, Catholics, and Donatists

   Vandal Expansion of Power

   The End of the Vandal Kingdom

   Chapter Ten: The Late Byzantine Era in Africa

   Justinian’s Re-Conquest of Africa

   The African Three Chapters Controversy

   Gregory the Great

   Maximus the Confessor

   Conclusion about Byzantine Africa

   Chapter Eleven: The Arab Conquests in Africa

   Understanding the Sources and Background

   History of the Conquest

   Survival of Evidence and Evidence of Survival

   Characteristics of Late African Christianity

   Reasons for African Christianity’s Disappearance Political Power Theory

   Christian Exodus Theory

   Decapitation Theory

   House Divided Theory

   Cultural Gap Theory

   Theological Syncretism Theory

   Political Pragmatism Theory Tentative Conclusions on African Christianity’s End

   Chapter Twelve: What was African about Ancient African Christianity?

   Summary of Findings

   Elements Found in the "African School"

   Further Considerations

   Potential Implications

   Bibliography

   Abbreviations

   Ancient Sources Cited (and critical editions and translations, when used)

   Secondary Sources

Anyone who wants to know what was unique about North African Christianity from its beginning until its demise in the post-Islamic era need look no further than Wilhite’s latest book! Ancient African Christianity sets a new standard for exploring and explaining the particularity of Christianity in specific locations enabling us to appreciate and understand the rich diversity of early Christianity. If you can only read one new book about Christianity this year, make it this one!

William Tabbernee, The University of Oklahoma, USA