The Universal Spread of Christianity as a Rhetorical Argument in Tertullian's adversus Iudaeos

Abstract

One of the arguments used in Tertullian's adversus Iudaeos is that the universal spread of Christianity is proof that God's promise of all nations coming to faith has been fulfilled. This paper investigates the three instances in the treatise and draws conclusions with regard to the work's rhetorical structure (and therefore its integrity and authenticity as a work by Tertullian) and Tertullian's use of Scripture. The position taken here is that the second half of the treatise is authentically Tertullian's, even though it has come down to us only in a draft, unrevised form. The first appearance of the argument about the universal spread of Christianity in chapter 7 disrupts the structure the author had announced, while that in chapter 14 seems not to be by Tertullian for it is a misinterpretation of what is found when the argument appears in chapter 12.