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Epistles of Cyprian

Epistles of Cyprian

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Number of Chapters: 83

Length: 13 hours and 58 minutes

Language: English

Little is known of the early history of Thascius Cyprian (born probably about 200 A.D.) until the period of his intimacy with the Carthaginian presbyter Cæcilius, which led to his conversion A.D. 246. That he was born of respectable parentage, and highly educated for the profession of a rhetorician, is all that can be said with any degree of certainty. At his baptism he assumed the name of his friend Cæcilius, and devoted him self, with all the energies of an ardent and vigorous mind, to the study and practice of Christianity.

His ordination and his elevation to the episcopate rapidly followed his conversion. With some resistance on his own part, and not without great objections on the part of older presbyters, who saw themselves superseded by his promotion, the popular urgency constrained him to accept the office of bishop of Carthage [A.D. 248], which he held until his martyrdom [A.D. 258].

The writings of Cyprian, apart from their intrinsic worth, have a very considerable historical interest and value, as illustrating the social and religious feelings and usages that then prevailed among the members of the Christian community. Nothing can enable us more vividly to realize the intense convictions-the high-strained enthusiasm which formed the common level of the Christian experience, than does the indignation with which the prelate denounces the evasions of those who dared not confess, the lapses of those who shrank from martyrdom. Living in the atmosphere of persecution, and often in the immediate presence of a lingering death, the professors of Christianity were nerved up to a wonderful contempt of suffering and of worldly enjoyment, and saw every event that occurred around them in the glow of their excited imagination; so that many circumstances were sincerely believed and honestly recorded, which will not be for a moment received as true by the calm and critical reader. The account given by Cyprian in his treatise on the Lapsed may serve as an illustration, p. 368, vol. i. Of this Dean Milman observes: "In what a high wrought state of enthusiasm must men have been, who could relate and believe such statements as miraculous!" -Summary by Robert Ernest Wallis.

As with all historical texts, the language used in this volume should be interpreted within the context of the entire work and the cultural context of its publication. - David Ronald

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The Life and Passion of Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr by Pontius the Deacon (David Ronald)
To Donatus [AD 246] (David Ronald)
To the Carthaginian clergy from the clergy of Rome, about Cyprian's retirement [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the presbyters and deacons abiding at Rome [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the presbyters and deacons of Carthage [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the same [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To Rogatianus the presbyter, and the other confessors [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy, concerning prayer to God [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the Martyrs and confessors [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy, concerning granting peace to the lapsed prematurely, without the privity of the bishops [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the martyrs and confessors who sought that peace should be granted to the lapsed [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To his people [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy, concerning the lapsed and catechumens, that they should not be left without superintendence [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy, concerning those who were in haste to receive peace [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the presbyters and deacons assembled at Rome [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To Moyses and Maximus, and the rest of the confessors [AD 250] (David Ronald)
The confessors to Cyprian [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the presbyters and deacons about the foregoing and following letters [AD 250] (David Ronald)
Caldonius to Cyprian [AD 250] (David Ronald)
Cyprian to Caldonius [AD 250] (David Ronald)
Celerinus to Lucian [AD 250] (David Ronald)
Lucian to Celerinus [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy at Rome, concerning the confessors, and the forwardness of Lucian, and the modesty of Celerinus [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy, on the letters sent to Rome; and about the appointment of Saturus as reader and Optatus as subdeacon [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To Moyses and Maximus and the rest of the confessors [AD 250] (David Ronald)
Moyses, Maximus, Nicostratus, and the other confessors, in reply [AD 250] (David Ronald)
Cyprian to the lapsed [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the presbyters and deacons [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the presbyters and deacons abiding at Rome [AD 250] (David Ronald)
The presbyters and deacons abiding at Rome to Cyprian [AD 250] (David Ronald)
The Roman clergy to Cyprian [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the Carthaginian clergy, about the letters sent to Rome and received thence [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy and people about the ordination of Aurelius as a reader [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the same about the ordination of Celerinus as a reader [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the same about the ordination of Numidicus as presbyter [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy, concerning the case of the poor and strangers [AD 250] (David Ronald)
To the clergy, bidding them show every kindness to the confessors in prison [AD 251 or 250] (David Ronald)
To Caldonius, Herculanus, and others, about the Excommunication of Felicissimus [AD 250] (David Ronald)
Caldonius, Herculanus, and others, on the Excommunication of Felicissimus with his people [AD 251] (David Ronald)
To the people, concerning five schismatic presbyters of the faction of Felicissimus [AD 251] (David Ronald)
To Cornelius on his refusal to receive Novatian's ordination [AD 251] (David Ronald)
To Cornelius about Cyprian's approval of his ordination, and concerning Felicissimus [AD 251] (David Ronald)
To the same on his having sent letters to the confessors whom Novatian had seduced [AD 251] (David Ronald)
To the Roman confessors, urging their return to unity [AD 251] (David Ronald)
To Cornelius, concerning Polycarp the Adrumetine [AD 251] (David Ronald)
Cornelius to Cyprian on the return of the confessors to unity [AD 251] (David Ronald)
Cyprian to Cornelius, congratulating him on the return of the confessors from schism [AD 251] (David Ronald)
Cornelius to Cyprian, concerning the faction of Novatian with his party [AD 251] (David Ronald)
Cyprian's answer to Cornelius concerning the crimes of Novatus [AD 251] (David Ronald)
Maximus and the other confessors to Cyprian about their return from schism [AD 251] (David Ronald)
Cyprian to the confessors, congratulating them on their return from schism [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To Antonianus about Cornelius and Novatian [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To Fortunatus and his other colleagues concerning those who had been overcome by tortures [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To Cornelius, concerning granting peace to the lapsed [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To Cornelius, concerning Fortunatus and Felicissimus, or against the heretics [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To the people of Thibaris, exhorting to martyrdom [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To Cornelius in exile, concerning his confession [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To Lucius, bishop of Rome, returned from banishment [AD 252] (David Ronald)
To Fidus on the baptism of infants [AD 253] (David Ronald)
To the Numidian bishops on the redemption of their brethren from captivity among the barbarians [AD 253] (David Ronald)
To Euchratius about an actor [probably AD 249] (David Ronald)
To Pomponius, concerning some virgins [probably AD 249] (David Ronald)
To Caecilius on the sacrament of the cup of the Lord [AD 253] (David Ronald)
To Epictetus and the congregation at Assurae, concerning Fortunatianus, formerly their bishop [AD 253] (David Ronald)
To Rogatianus, concerning the deacon who contended against the bishop [AD 249 or AD 253] (David Ronald)
To the clergy and people at Furni, about Victor, who had made the presbyter Faustinus a guardian [AD 249] (David Ronald)
To Pope Stephanus, concerning Marcion of Arles, who had joined himself to Novatian [AD 254] (David Ronald)
To the clergy and people abiding in Spain, concerning Basilides and Martial [AD 254] (David Ronald)
To Florentius Pupianus, on calumniators [AD 254] (David Ronald)
To Januarius and other Numidian bishops on baptizing heretics [AD 255] (David Ronald)
To Quintus, concerning the baptism of heretics [AD 255] (David Ronald)
To Pope Stephen, concerning a council [AD 255] (David Ronald)
To Jubaianus, concerning the baptism of heretics [AD 256] (David Ronald)
To Pompey, against the epistle of Stephen about the baptism of heretics [AD 256] (David Ronald)
Firmilian, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, to Cyprian, against the letter of Stephen [AD 256] (David Ronald)
To Magnus on baptizing the Novatians, and those who obtain grace on a sick-bed [AD 255] (David Ronald)
Cyprian to Nemesianus, and other martyrs in the mines [AD 257] (David Ronald)
Reply of Nemesianus and others to Cyprian [AD 257] (David Ronald)
Reply of Lucius and the rest to the same [AD 257] (David Ronald)
Reply to Felix and the rest of the martyrs to the same [AD 257] (David Ronald)
Cyprian to Sergius Rogatianus and the other confessors in prison [AD 250 or AD 257] (David Ronald)
To Successus on the tidings of the persecution brought from Rome [AD 258] (David Ronald)
To his clergy and people, concerning his retirement a little before his martyrdom [AD 258] (David Ronald)
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