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TristanCross

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Tertullian wrote:

“For how could he [Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration] have known Moses and Elias, except by being in the Spirit? People could not have had their images, or statues, or likenesses; for that the law forbade.” (Against Marcion, 4:22)

On another occasion:

“We know that the names of the dead are nothing, as are their images; but we know well enough, too, who, when images are set up, under these names carry on their wicked work, and exult in the homage rendered to them, and pretend to be divine–none other than spirits accursed, than devils.” (De Spectaculis, 10)

And on another occasion:

“In a word, if we refuse our homage to statues and frigid images, the very counterpart of their dead originals, with which hawks, and mice, and spiders are so well acquainted, does it not merit praise instead of penalty, that we have rejected what we have come to see is error?” (The Apology, 12)

Also,

“I shall yield to scripture alone.” - Theodoret (Dialogues, 1)

I’m confused…
 
Tertullian left the Church for the heresy of Montanism. So, although his writings do give us a snapshot of late 2nd century christianity, his theological writings are suspect at best. But in these quotes, the context is Pagan Rome and the Jewish world.
As for the last quote I would have to see the context of it. Just because those words were used together did not mean the concept was there, that awaited another age.
In order to properly understand history we must remove our bias 21st centtury glasses and walk in there shoes. The culture, the thinking was totally different than our day, certainly different from 500 to 1000 years in their future.
 
There is a book called The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina
Expanded Edition
It is very good and is about the first Christian teachers.
 
Tertullian (although very talented in writing) was a heretic and schismatic who joined the Montanists. Their founder believed that he was the Paraclete, the promised One that Jesus said He would send. So would you agree with that too?
 
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