Apologistswriter
Who he was
- An author of the Octavius, an elegant defense of Christianity in the form of a conversation between Octavius, a Christian, and Caecilius, a pagan who was converted by the argument.
- In the Octavius he wrote: Many of us are considered poor. However, this is not our disgrace but our glory. For as our mind relaxes through luxury, it is strengthened by frugality. Who can be poor who does not lack, who does not crave others’ possessions, who is rich toward God? Instead, the poor are those who, although they have much, desire more…We would rather despise riches than possess them. Instead, we desire innocence and ask for patience. 17
What he wrote
- The writings of Jerome suggest that Minucius Felix was an advocate in Rome before he was converted to Christianity.
- Beautiful glimpses of the life and character and surroundings of Minucius Felix are gained from his own pages, and nearly all that we know about him is to be found therein; he was his own biographer.
- He probably continued a layman, and may have lived, as some suppose, until the middle of the 3rd century.
- He refutes the common charges against Christians, argues the case for monotheism and divine providence, and attacks pagan mythology, but says little of specifi- cally Christian doctrines.
- Only one manuscript of the Octavius has come down to us, which now in the Imperial Library in Paris.