Praxeas
Praxeas was a theologian from Asia Minor who lived in the second half of the 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD. He was a representative of monarchianism , which, contrary to the Trinitarian teaching, identified God the Father with the Son as different manifestations of the same God (modalism), who would have died with Jesus himself on the cross (patripassianism).
Praxeas is best known from Tertullian's writing against him (Adversus Praxean) , which Tertullian wrote around 213, when Praxeas' teaching spread from Rome to North Africa ( Carthage ), where Tertullian was active. Tertullian summarized his teaching as follows: Paracletum fugavit et patrem crucifixit ("He drove out the Holy Spirit ( Paraclete ) and crucified the Father"). Tertullian describes Praxeas as a troublemaker who would boast of a martyrdom that was in reality only a short imprisonment. In addition, he blames him for the fact that during his appearance in Rome between 190 and 198 he ensured that the then popes ( Viktor I and his successor Zephyrinus from 199 ) revoked the already decided recognition of Montanism . Tertullian himself was a supporter of Montanism, which he defended against Praxeas' attacks. When Tertullian wrote against him, Praxeas was no longer active. After Tertullian, he had revoked his views (the revocation was in the archives of the North African Church) and his teaching had apparently already been eradicated, but was taken up again by others (whom he does not name), against whom Tertullian then turns.
Another representative of monarchianism from the same period is Noet , who also comes from Asia Minor.
Praxeas is also listed by Tertullian in the list of heretics De praescriptione haereticorum .
literature
- Klaus Wegenast : Praxeas. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 4, Stuttgart 1972, Sp.?.
- Hermann Josef Sieben : Tertullian, Adversus Praxean . In the appendix: Hippolyt, Contra Noëtum , translated and introduced by Hermann Josef Sieben, Fontes Christiani Volume 34, Freiburg im Breisgau, 2001
- Heinrich Kellner Against Praxeas , in Tertullian's Complete Writings, Volume 2, DuMont-Schauberg, Cologne 1882, pp. 508–558
Web links
- Tertullian Adversos Praxean , with links to English, Latin, French and German editions and German translation, Heinrich Kellner 1882
- John Chapman Praxeas , Catholic Encyclopedia
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Praxeas |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Church scholar; Monarchianist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2nd century |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Asia Minor |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd century |