Eric Francis Osborn (1922–2007)

Osborn provides a pretty comprehensive and enlightening look at Tertullian's method of defending the Gospel. I see Osborn showing what seems to be two major points in Tertullian's literary style: (a) simplicity, (b) paradox.

Osborn directs our attention also to the fact that Tertullian did not reject philosophy or "Greek rationalism in favor of unreasoning faith," as his famous quote – "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem" (p.28) – might seem to suggest. Rather Tertullian always provided and demanded a reasonable explanation for one's beliefs and valued Christianity as the "better philosophy" (p.33).

In the first 4 chapters, Osborn covers Tertullian's methodology and in the remaining 7 chapters, he discusses Tertullians defense of Christianity in light of his methodology, especially paradox. In the last chapter, he offers a concluding observation.

This book is a need fun read for those reading Tertullian's works to better grasp his ideas and meaning.… (mehr)