Octavius (dialogue)

The scene is pleasantly and graphically laid on the beach at Ostia on a holiday afternoon, and the discussion is represented as arising out of the homage paid by Caecilius, in passing, to the Cult image of Serapis. His arguments for paganism (possibly modelled on those of Celsus) are taken up one at a time by Octavius, with the result that the assailant is convinced. Minucius himself plays the part of umpire. The form of the dialogue is modelled on the De natura deorum and De divinatione of Cicero and its style is both vigorous and elegant if at times not exempt from something of the affectation of the age.

Its style is not of the typical Christian literature.{{Citation needed|reason=Unbacked qualitative claim|date=January 2018}} If the doctrines of the Divine unity, the resurrection, divinization and afterlife are left out of the account, the work has less the character of an exposition of Christianity than of a philosophical and ethical polemic against the absurdities of polytheism.{{Citation needed|reason=An unsupported qualitative claim|date=January 2018}} While it thus has much in common with the Greek Apologies it is full of the strong common sense that marks the Latin mind.{{Citation needed|reason=Unsupported opinion|date=January 2018}} Its ultimate appeal is to the fruits of faith.{{Citation needed|reason=Unsupported claim about the text|date=January 2018}}

A copy of it (which is the primary source of modern translations) can be found in the poor French manuscript of Arnobius of Sicca's Adversus nationes.Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: "Modern translations of the Octavius come from a 9th century manuscript in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris which contains the seven books of Arnobius’ (284-305) Adversus Nationes along with an 8th book—the Octavius."--http://www.iep.utm.edu/minucius/

This work was referenced in 1751 by Pope Benedict XIV in his apostolic constitution 'Providas' against freemasonry by quoting Caecilius Natalis: 'Honest things always rejoice in the public, crimes are secret'. Benedict XIV, Providas

• Minucius Felix. Octavius. Texte établi et traduit par {{ill|Jean Beaujeu|fr}}. Paris: Société d'Édition «Les belles lettres», 1964.
• M. Minucii Felicis Octavius. Edidit {{ill|Bernhard Kytzler|de}}. Leipzig: Teubner, 1982. 2. Auflage: Stuttgart, Teubner, 1992, ISBN 3-8154-1539-X.

• The Octavius of Marcus Minucius Felix, translated and annotated by {{ill|Graeme Wilber Clarke|lt=G.W. Clarke|de|Graeme Wilber Clarke}}), 1974 (Ancient Christian Writers, 39). {{ISBN|9780809101894}}

• Schubert, Christoph (2014). Minucius Felix, „Octavius“. Kommentar zu frühchristlichen Apologeten, vol. 12. Freiburg: Herder, {{ISBN|978-3-451-29049-7}}.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers2/ANF-04/anf04-34.htm Octavius in English translation]
• [http://khazarzar.skeptik.net/books/octaviul.htm Octavius, original Latin]
• [http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/30_10_0200-0300-_Minucius_Felix.html Links for both Latin and English PDFs of Octavius]
• [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL14031623M/Octavius Octavius with Latin, English, and analysis at Open Library, various formats]
• {{librivox book | title=Octavius| author=Felix}}
• [https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/de/view/bsb10148424?page=189 Editio princeps] of the Octavius as liber octavus of Arnobius' Disputationes adversus gentes, Rome 1542. (Online at the Bavarian State Library)

• [https://www.tertullian.org/minucius/mf.htm Did Tertullian use Minucius Felix' Octavius?] - at the Tertullian Project.

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Category:2nd-century Christian texts

Category:2nd-century books in Latin

Category:Dialogues