أُكتاويوس بقلم مينوكيوس فليكس أحد رواد المنافحة عن المسيحية ما بين منتصف القرن الثاني ومنتصف القرن الثالث

Octavius by Minucius Félix, An Early Christian Apologist, between the Mid-Second and Mid-Third Century

Abstract

Ancient Maghreb, particularly Numidia, witnessed during its early historical period the emergence of exceptional figures who altered the historical trajectory of the region within a context characterized by intellectual, political, social, and religious conflicts that resonated significantly both regionally and across the Roman Empire. This research aims to identify and examine an African personality who played a crucial role in the religious conflict and Roman persecution of Christianity as a new religion. This conflict extended throughout the Roman Empire, mobilizing its apparatus in the ancient Maghreb region, leading to struggles on the religious and intellectual front. One such figure is Minucius Félix, an African of notable stature, and one of the most prominent personalities whose contributions merit closer examination. Despite his influence, he has not received sufficient scholarly attention. He is known as Minucius Félix of Cirta, named after his birthplace, the city of Cirta (Constantine), he stands out for his defense of Christianity during a time of religious transition. Through his work, he supported Christians in their practice of a new faith, often in opposition to dominant Roman and local pagan traditions. His advocacy helped articulate and promote monotheistic religions ideals within the cultural and spiritual landscape of Ancient Maghreb.

Early Christians experienced unprecedented persecution, including killing and displacement, which left a significant historical and social impact on the region. This African personality emerged to confront this dilemma, offering significant insights that clarify the nature of religious conflict and the responses of Roman authorities to both pagan and Christian communities across the Roman Empire and its provinces. Accordingly, this study is guided by the main research question : To what extent did Minucius Félix's work contribute to documenting the pagan-Christian religious conflict during the third century CE ? To address this question, we adopt a descriptive-analytical historical methodology , attempting to demonstrate through historical analysis that Marcus Minucius Félix transformed our understanding of early Christian apologetics and religious dynamics. Despite his contributions, he remains an overlooked figure in both historical and theological scholarship.

By revisiting the historiography of his work, this study seeks to demonstrate the importance of Minucius Félix's historical text from the discovery of the manuscript to its inclusion in modern editions, as an indicator for studying the thought of an African intellectual who stood in opposition to Roman authority. At the same time, the text provides insight into one of antiquity’s early voices addressing themes of religion, persecution, and paganism, factors that deeply influenced the spread of Christianity in the Ancient Maghreb. The text entitled " Octavius " offers a rich framework encompassing key thematic domains, conceptual content, argumentative propositions, and interpretative hypotheses through which we can better understand this figure and his intellectual legacy.

Our research places significant emphasis on primary source material, most notably the historical text “Octavius”. We have drawn upon a range of scholarly studies, particularly Paul Monceaux's" Histoire littéraire de l’Afrique chrétienne depuis les origines jusqu’à l’invasion arabe ", as well as Jean Beaujeu's  " Minucius Félix, Octavius. Texte établi et traduit ", in which he introduces Minucius Felix, discusses the major scholarly debates surrounding the period in which he lived, provides a French translation of Octavius, and offers detailed commentary on each section of the text.

The surviving text by Minucius Felix, titled Octavius, is generally dated between 220 and 250 CE, and certainly prior to 258 CE. This is a crucial period for understanding the emergence of Christianity in the Maghreb region based on chronological historical estimations. The period is marked by significant historical developments that facilitated the spread of Christianity and, as such, merits inclusion in the broader historiographical studies of early North African Christianity. We know that Minucius Félix employed in his work the style of dialogue and historical narrative within a purely Maghrebi and primarily local sociological space. This localized framework reflects a deeply rooted narrative tradition among the peoples of Ancient Maghreb, one that emphasized authenticity and continuity in storytelling. Such characteristics, still observable in the region's cultural heritage today, offer valuable insights into the intellectual and cultural identity of the Maghrebi peoples across time. This legacy, we argue, constitutes a rich field for anthropological and cultural-historical inquiry, one whose importance in constructing historical knowledge should not be underestimated.