The Christianity of Demetrianus by Paul Emile Anders 8 June 2011 Was Demetrianus a Christian?

Lactantiuss On the Workmanship of God (De Opificio Dei [De op.]) was probably written in Bithynia around 304 C.E. Such a time and place would also have fitted in with the cryptic references to Christianity in De op., which point to composition where there was persecution of Christians. These references occur in statements about Demetrianus, to whom the book was addressed, "ad te...Demetriane, perscripsi" (1.1). He was presented as a student of Lactantius, "non deessem tibi praeceptor etiam nunc" (1.1); "nuper proprium de ea re librum ad Demetrianum auditorem meum scripsi (Divine Institutes [D.I.] 2.10.15). There is little doubt that Demetrianus was a Christian; Jerome wrote, "multi per inperitiam Scriptuarum quod et Firmianus in octauo ad Demetrianum epistularum libro facit, adserunt spiritum sanctum saepe patrem, saepe filium nominari" [1]; "ad Demetrianum auditorem suum epistularum libros duos, ad eundem De opificio dei...librum unum" [2]. In addressing him Lactantius referred to "philosophi sectae nostrae" (De op. 1.2); also "momento et ueri parentis tui et in qua ciuitate nomen dederis et cuius ordinis fueris" (ib. 1.9). Demetrianus seems to have had an official job, and its description seems to contain another reference to Christianity, "licet te publicae rei necessitas a ueris et iustis operibus auertat" (ib.1.4). For Lactantius, not only was divine law to be followed where human law conflicted with it, but the Christian was really above the law, "unus quisque....nec tantum legibus publicis pareat, sed sit supra omnes leges qui legem dei sequitur" (D.I.6.23.21) [3]. In De opificio he reminded Demetrianus where his real allegiance lay, "memento et ueri parentis tui et in qua ciuitate nomen dederis et cuius ordinis fueris: intellegis profecto quid loquar" (1.9). Lactantius wanted certain aspects of Christianity kept from his opponents. He volunteered little or no information, for example, on the baptismal or Eucharistic rituals. The whole name of the addressee of De op. is not given, just "Demetrianus". Being known as someone to whom a Christian book had been addressed could have been very dangerous, especially during a persecution. Tertullian's Apology is addressed to the "Romani imperii antistites" (1.1) and his

De spectaculis to "dei servi" (1). Minucius Felix's Octavius and Arnobius' Adversus nationes lacked addressees, as did the Divine Institutes, until they were dedicated to the emperor Constantine, who could take care of himself. Although many references are cryptic it is very likely that Demetrianus was a Christian. NOTES [1] Jerome, Comment. in epist. ad Galat. 2,4 (7,450 D), CSEL, vol.271, p.156f. [2] De vir. inl. 80. [3] See also Herta Csercsevics, Eine Zeitbild der Wende des 3.4 Jahrhunderts nach Lactantius, thesis (Innsbruck), 1950; pp.230-232.
THE END