Excellent4.8 out of 5On Trustpilot
  1. The Church/
  2. Church History

Optatus

Against the Donatists

  • Paperback
  • 304 pages
  • Publisher: Liverpool University Press
  • 14.9 x 21 x 1.4 cm

£17.52

Save 36% | Free UK Delivery

Available - Usually dispatched within 4 days

Buying for a school or church? Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account
Optatus, Bishop of Milevis in North Africa in the late-4th century, wrote a detailed refutation of Donatist claims to be the one true and righteous Church, an ark of purity in a world which was still corrupt, despite Constantine's support for Christianity. Donatists argued that the ministry of the Catholic Church in North Africa was invalid because it had been contaminated early in the 4th century by a bishop who had betrayed the Gospel in time of persecution by the Roman state, and that after Constantine came to power the Catholic Church had called in the Roman state to persecute the Donatists. Optatus provided a dossier of Roman official documents to support his case that the Donatists were responsible for the schism, and that they too had collaborated in time of persecution and used violence in time of schism. He preceded Augustine in arguing that the unworthiness of the minister does not invalidate the sacrament and that the Church is not an exclusive sect; and he appealed, unsuccessfully, for negotiation and for the restoration of unity. This translation, the first since 1917, mades use of modern scholarship in its annotation and introduction.
Optatus and The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra
The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz OrchestraOptatus
  • Author

    Mark Edwards

  • Book Format

    Paperback

  • Publisher

    Liverpool University Press

  • Published

    October 1997

  • Weight

    332g

  • Page Count

    304

  • Dimensions

    14.9 x 21 x 1.4 cm

  • ISBN

    9780853237525

  • ISBN-10

    0853237522

  • Eden Code

    1166012

Featured in

Over 14,000 churches and schools have upgraded to an Advance Account and we‘d love to welcome you into this free program. We know that church volunteers and school teachers often use their own money, then have claim it back on on an expense form. We can take all of that hassle away by invoicing your church or school directly and delivering your order straight away.

Opening an account is quick and easy, with most accounts being approved and setup within a few hours of filling in the form below (on weekdays, not weekends). As soon as we‘ve approved the application we‘ll send you an email to let you know that its done.

Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account