ABSTRACT
It is in the third century that African Christians more explicitly claim their own tradition, and in so doing they add to and develop what has been called the “African school.” Sources from the third century provide many different windows into African Christianity. In the following chapter we will examine many different kinds of sources, such as dialogues, treatises, letters, inscriptions, and more martyrdoms. It is important that we attempt to hear each source on its own terms, and yet at the same time we will find certain themes running throughout this century, such as the need to defend the faith from non-Christian attack. In addition to hearing these diverse concerns, we will note how these Christians often display a specifically African identity. Let us begin with one African whose text is set in Rome.
