Background

The exact date birth of Marcus Minucius Felix is unknown, he was born in Cirta (now Constantine), Algeria.

Career

Felix wrote the Octavius, a dialogue on Providence and Christianity in general, between the skeptic pagan Caecilius Natalis and the Christian Octavius Januarius, Minucius’ friend. Written for educated non-Christians, the arguments are borrowed chiefly from Cicero, especially his De natura deorum ("Concerning the Nature of the Gods"), and Christian material, mainly from the Greek Apologists. The distinction of the treatise lies in its classical refinement rather than in its originality.

The Octavius was written before Bishop St. Cyprian of Carthage’s Quod idola dii non sunt (c. 250; "That Idols Are Not Gods"), which borrows from it, but whether Minucius influenced or was influenced by Tertullian’s Apologeticum and Ad nationes (197; "To the Nations") remains uncertain.

Marcus Minucius Felix died about 250, in Rome.

Achievements

• Marcus Minucius Felix was one of the earliest Christian Apologists to write in Latin.

Works

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  • We Don't Speak Great Things - We Live Them

    (Contains contemporary translations of two key Christian w...)

  • Octavius (Annotated) (Early Christian Writings Book 1)

    (Octavius is an early writing in defense of Christianity b...)

Views

Quotations: "Can a man be poor if he is free from want, if he does not covet the belongings of others, if he is rich in the possession of God? Rather, he is poor who possesses much but still craves for more. "