Christology of Tertullian

Tertullian (died 225?) is regarded as the founder and the father of Latin Christianity. Indeed, the Latin terminology developed by himself has been effective about his reputation. Especially his contribution that he made in the field of Christology, both branch of Latin Christianity and present-day Christianity, has an importance. The aim of the research is to examine the understanding of Tertullian's Christology at full length and to demonstrate understanding of Christological influence on later christological and trinitarian understandings. It can be said that the concept of logos which is transferred to the Church Fathers and Christian apologists in the early Christian period by Philo (d. A.D. 50) was turned into Trinity with Tertullian. In this study, it is especially endeavored to show how Tertullian replyed to understandings of Christ developed in his time. At the same time, it is tried to show how the perception of Christology was developed by both church theologians and persons and groups which were seen as heretic in the church before Tertullian. Besides, it is informed about the terminology that was developed by Tertullian regarding Christology and aimed to put forth his contributions in the field of Christology. Also, it is drawn attention to the relation between Christology of Tertullian and rules of the council of Chalcedon (451). This study consists of an introduction and two chapters. In the introduction part, it is informed about region where Tertullian lived and portrayed the historical process of Christology before Tertullian. In the first and second chapter the life, writings and main ideas of Tertullian, as well as his Christology are examined. During the research, first of all it is applied to descriptional, historical and comparative methods of the history of religion, occasionally linguistic method. As a result of the research, it is seen that Tertullian has transformed the earlier concept of Logos into trinitarian formula after his struggle with Praxeas (d. 213?). In this sense, he developed the formula which is 'one person two natures' for Jesus and 'one substance three persons' for God. However, the Christological formula which Tertullian developed was appropriated by Pope Leo I, in the council of Chalcedon.