Three Hebrew Boys in the Fiery Furnace
Marble, Unknown Provenance
c. 200
Birth of Cyprian in Carthage.
200-206
Tertullian, On Prayer, On Patience (De patientia), On Baptism (De baptismo), On the Apparel of Women (De cultu feminarum), To My Wife (Ad uxorem), Against the Jews (Adversus Iudaeos) Against Hermogenes (Adversus Hermogenem.)
200
Tertullian, The Demurrer against the Heretics, (De Praescriptione haereticorum.)
202-203
Persecution of burgeoning Christianity in Africa and Egypt under Septimius Severus--- Eusebius reports "countless numbers" wreathed with crowns of martyrdom, escorted to the arena "from Egypt and the whole Thebais" (from Nile delta as far south as Syene); Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas at Carthage and Victorius of Tabarka.
202-203
Account of Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas.
203-204
Tertullian, Repentance (De paenitentia.)
202-203
African-born Emperor Septimius Severus pays state visit to Carthage and initiates vast building program at Lepcis Magna in Libya as fortified city.
204
Tertullian, On Ecstasy (De ecstasi), On the Hope of the Faithful (De spe fidelium), On Paradise (De paradiso.)
c. 206
Tertullian, The Veiling of Virgins (De virginibus velandis.)
206-212
The "semi-Montanist period" of Tertullian's writing.
207-208
Tertullian writes the second edition of Adversus Marcionem, containing books I - III.
208-212
Tertullian writes The Soul (De anima), The Flesh of Christ (De carne Christi), The Resurrection of the Dead (De resurrectione mortuorum), An Exhortation to Chastity, Against Marcion (Adversus Marcionem), books IV-V, 3rd edition, De pallio, Adversus Valentinianos, De censu animae adversus Hermogenem, De fato, Adversus Apelleiacos.
211
Death of Septimius Severus; accession of his son Caracalla, Emperor, 211-217, continuing the African-based Severian dynasty; first long peace.
211
Tertullian writes The Crown (De corona) and Idolatry (De idololatria.)
211-213
Tertullian, Antidote Against the Scorpion. (Scorpiace.)
212
Caracalla grants Roman citizenship to all free residents of the empire, legal recognition nominally granted to Jews and Christians for the first time.
212
Solar eclipse of 14th August; Tertullian writes Ad Scapulam.
213
After the breakdown of relations with the 'Psychici', Tertullian writes On Flight (De fuga), Against Praxean (Adversus Praxean), Monogamy (De monogamia) and On Fasting (De ieiunio.)
215
Birth of Mani (215-276), founder of Manichaeism.
217
Murder of Caracalla; Macrinus, a Moor (Mauritania in North Africa), becomes emperor.
217-222
Callistus I, bishop of Rome.
217
Tertullian and Hippolytus and Roman bishop, are involved in a controversy on Church discipline.
218
Tertullian embraces some aspects of Montanism.
220
Tertullian writes On Modesty (De pudicitia.)
c. 220
Tertullian coined terms Trinity and New Testament: cites African Latin Bible translation, earliest in Latin.
248
Cyprian becomes bishop of his native city, Carthage.
249
Beginning of Christian persecutions under Emperor Decius, who issued a general edict ordering Roman citizens to participate in a formal civic confession, supplicatio, tempting many to lapse into idolatry.
249
Persecution makes the problem of penitence acute; Cyprian's practice: before receiving laying on of hands and being readmitted to the Eucharist, those who have lapsed must make public confession of their fault and submit to a suitable act of penitence.
250
Growing controversy between Carthage and Rome over the treatment of returning lapsed Christians; Novatian dissident deacon Felicisimus of Carthage opposes Cyprian.
250s
Rome steps up persecution of Christians, martyrs revered as saints who share Christ's suffering.
251
Persecution of Valerian.
251
Council of Carthage called by Cyprian on question of the lapsed; he writes On the Lapsed (de lapsis.)
251-252
Cyprian writes The Unity of the Catholic Church: Against the Novationists (De Unitate Ecclesiae Catholicae), The Lord's Prayer, and To Demetrian.
251-253
Cornelius I writes his Letters.
253
Cyprian writes Works and Almsgiving.
254-257
Baptismal controversy, Carthage (Cyprian) and Rome (Stephen I.)
255-256
Fermilian of Caesarea writes Letter to Cyprian of Carthage.
255-256
Councils of Carthage on the rebaptism of heretics.
256
Acts of the Seventh Council of Carthage, Cyprian presiding.
256-258
Cyprian writes The Advantage of Patience; To Donatus; The Dress of Virgins; That Idols Are Not Gods; Jealousy and Envy; Exhortation to Martyrdom, to Fortunatus, Letters.
256-258
Anonymous Treatise on Re-Baptism is written.
257-260
Persecutions under Valerian.
258
Martyrdom of Cyprian at Carthage.
258
Acts of Cyprian describes his martyrdom, written by his deacon Pontius.
260
Upon Valerian's death, Gallienus becomes sole emperor; he decrees the Edict of Toleration, bringing a second long peace; Sabellianism condemned.
c. 260
Birth of Lactantius in Proconsular Africa; he becomes a disciple of Arnobius of Sicca and author of a major work on philosophy of history.
262
Earthquake in Cyrenaica.
276
Death of Mani, whose disciples came to Africa before his death, requiring Christian response.
270-300
Steady increase of Christianity in central Egypt and North Africa; intellectual attacks against Christian teaching are made by Porphyry, disciple of Plotinus.
c. 280
Birth of Marius Victorinus.
285
Roman empire is partitioned by Diocletian into Western and Eastern empires.
290's
Conversion of Arnobius of Sicca.
d. 298
Marcellus, martyr centurion of Tingis in Mauretenia.