Customer Reviews

The Lapsed / The Unity of the Catholic Church (Ancient Christian Writers, No. 25)

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St. Cyprian of Carthage was one of the giants of the 3rd century North African church. Although his period of ministry was relatively short, ending with martyrdom, the influence he had on the Church, not only in Carthage, but throughout the Christian world was profound.

In these two essays, Cyprian deals with the problems presented by the "lapsed" -- those Christians who, under threat of persecution, renounced their faith in some manner. He also deals with the Unity of the Church under the authority of the See of Rome and the Successor of the Apostles. Sometimes, Cyprian is eisegeted in such as fashion as to suggest that the North African church was independant of Rome. Those who make such suggestions have simply not read nor understood Cyprian in his entirety. While it is true that he was a man of strong passion and conviction -- and was not hesitant to criticize the Bishop of Rome -- Rome held his submission and his obedience -- even when he felt Rome was in error.

A lesson, perhaps, that modern-day Catholics might do well to emulate.

A wonderful, necessary addition to any serious student of Church History.

The last reviewer confuses Cyprian's meaning and intent. Peter's primatus for Cyprian is one of chronology not Papal primatus. In fact Cyprian edited out his use of "primatus" from his later editions. Cyprian's letters are clear about his meaning. In a letter related to his disagreement with Pope Stpehen written to Bishop Pompeius he is quite disparaging of the Pope and his knowledge. Hardly the writings of a Bishop "submissive to Rome. I urge anyone reading this book to also read his letters which are quite clear on his view of the role of the Roman see.

Many Christians, both Protestant and Catholic, like to refer to St. Cyprian of Carthage to prover their points either for or the authority of the Papacy. It occurs to me that many of these apologists have not actually READ Cyprian! For those persons, and for all others interested in what he REALLY said and thought, read this scholarly translation of two of his more readily accessible works "The Lapsed" dealing with Christians who had broken under persecution, and "The Unity of the Catholic Church" dealing with his relationship as the bishop of a major city, with the Bishop of Rome.