Ancient African Christianity

David E. Wilhite is currently Professor of Theology at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, USA.

Anyone who wants to know what was unique about North African Christianity from its beginning until its demise in the post-Islamic era need look no further than Wilhite’s latest book! Ancient African Christianity sets a new standard for exploring and explaining the particularity of Christianity in specific locations enabling us to appreciate and understand the rich diversity of early Christianity. If you can only read one new book about Christianity this year, make it this one!William Tabbernee, The University of Oklahoma, USA

• Preface Chapter One: Introduction Preliminary Concerns Question 1: What is meant by "Ancient African Christianity"? Question 2: Why study ancient African Christianity? Question 3: What makes African Christians unique? Question 4: What is the purpose of this book? Introducing Ancient African Christians: An Overview Pre-Christian Africa The Beginnings of Christian Africa Christian Africa in the Fourth Century The Last Days of Ancient African Christianity History and Ancient African Christians Chapter Two: Backgrounds to Early African Christianity Romanization: From Culture to Ethnicity to Identity African (Identity) Politics African Languages African Art African Religions African Appearance Chapter Three: The Earliest Evidence of African Christianity Tertullian on the Earliest African Christians African Christian Origins The Scillitan Martyrs Perpetua, Felicity, and their Fellow Martyrs African Christianity in the Late Second and Early Third Century Legacies and Later Trajectories Chapter Four: Tertullian Tertullian’s Life Tertullian the Legalist Tertullian the Fideist Tertullian the Priest Tertullian the Montanist Tertullian the Misogynist Tertullian the Roman Tertullian the African Works and Teachings Tertullian the African Legacy and Later Trajectories Chapter Five: Cyprian and the Later Third Century Minucius Felix Cyprian Persecution Controversies His Works and Teachings Cyprian the African That Idols are not Gods (Quod idola dii non sint) Commodian Late Third Century Martyrdoms Chapter Six: The Early Fourth Century in Africa Christian Records from the Early Fourth Century Arnobius of Sicca Arnobian Theology What was African about Arnobius? Lactantius Works and Teachings What was African about Lactantius? Chapter Seven: The Donatist Controversy Identifying Donatists The Beginning of the Schism Appeals to Constantine Escalation of Violence and Persecution Donatist Diversity and Decline The End of Donatism? Reassessing Donatist Characteristics What was African about the Donatists? Conclusions and Caveats Chapter Eight: Augustine the African Augustine’s Life and Legacy Augustine’s Works and Teachings What was African about Augustine? Augustine’s African Background Accusations about Augustine’s Identity Self-Identifying as an African Chapter Nine: The Vandal Era of African Christianity The Vandal Invasion of Africa Vandals, Catholics, and Donatists Vandal Expansion of Power The End of the Vandal Kingdom Chapter Ten: The Late Byzantine Era in Africa Justinian’s Re-Conquest of Africa The African Three Chapters Controversy Gregory the Great Maximus the Confessor Conclusion about Byzantine Africa Chapter Eleven: The Arab Conquests in Africa Understanding the Sources and Background History of the Conquest Survival of Evidence and Evidence of Survival Characteristics of Late African Christianity Reasons for African Christianity’s Disappearance Political Power Theory Christian Exodus Theory Decapitation Theory House Divided Theory Cultural Gap Theory Theological Syncretism Theory Political Pragmatism Theory Tentative Conclusions on African Christianity’s End Chapter Twelve: What was African about Ancient African Christianity? Summary of Findings Elements Found in the "African School" Further Considerations Potential Implications Bibliography Abbreviations Ancient Sources Cited (and critical editions and translations, when used) Secondary Sources