Council of Carthage

Council of Carthage
Name	Council of Carthage
Date	Multiple councils held between the 3rd and 5th centuries
Accepted by	Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Church of the East
Previous	First Council of Constantinople
Next	Council of Ephesus
Topics	Biblical canon, Donatism, Pelagianism, Original sin
Documents	Canons, letters to Pope Innocent I

Council of Carthage. A series of significant ecclesiastical synods convened in the ancient city of Carthage in Roman Africa between the third and fifth centuries. These assemblies, often presided over by influential figures like Saint Cyprian and Saint Augustine, were pivotal in shaping early Christian theology and church discipline. They addressed major controversies, including Donatism and Pelagianism, and played a crucial role in defining the Biblical canon for the Western Church.

Historical context

The councils were held in a critical period for Christianity in the Roman Empire, following the Edict of Milan and preceding the Fall of the Western Roman Empire. The province of Africa was a major theological and intellectual center, home to the vibrant Christian communities of Carthage, Hippo Regius, and Cirta. This era was marked by persecution, such as the Declan persecution, and subsequent debates over the treatment of the *lapsi*—those who had renounced their faith. The rise of the rival Donatist church, which opposed the authority of bishops deemed traitors, created a schism that dominated regional church politics and necessitated conciliar response.

Major councils and dates

Several distinct councils are historically significant. The Council of 251, convened by Cyprian after the Declan persecution, dealt with the reconciliation of the *lapsi*. The Council of 256, also under Cyprian, famously debated the validity of baptism by heretics, leading to a dispute with Pope Stephen I. The pivotal series of councils occurred in the early fifth century, primarily in 418, convened under the auspices of Augustine and Aurelius of Carthage. These were directed against Pelagianism and were followed by correspondence with Pope Zosimus and Pope Innocent I. Another important meeting in 397, often referenced, contributed to canonical discussions.

Key decisions and canons

The councils issued numerous disciplinary and doctrinal canons. The 418 council produced canons condemning the teachings of Pelagius and Caelestius, specifically rejecting the denial of original sin and affirming the necessity of grace for salvation. Earlier councils under Cyprian established procedures for penance and re-admission of the *lapsi*. Canons also regulated clerical conduct, forbidding bishops from seeking secular patronage and addressing issues of church property. The decisions were often communicated to the See of Rome, reinforcing the developing structure of patriarchal authority within the Pentarchy.

Theological controversies addressed

The primary controversies were Donatism and Pelagianism. The Donatist schism, rooted in the aftermath of the Diocletianic Persecution, questioned the holiness of the church and the validity of sacraments administered by supposedly unworthy clergy; it was opposed by theologians like Optatus and Augustine. Pelagianism, a more doctrinal dispute, centered on human nature, free will, and divine grace, with its proponents arguing against the transmission of Adam's sin. The councils, leveraging Augustine's theological arguments, formally defined these positions as heresies, shaping Western soteriology.

Influence on the biblical canon

The Council of Carthage in 397 (often associated with the Council of Hippo in 393) is traditionally credited with ratifying the first official list of the New Testament canon for the Latin Church. This list, presented by Augustine, affirmed the 27 books recognized today, while also approving the Old Testament canon based largely on the Septuagint. This decision helped standardize the Vetus Latina and later the Vulgate translations. While the Synod of Hippo's records are lost, its canons were reaffirmed at Carthage, and the list was later endorsed by Pope Innocent I in his letter to Exsuperius of Toulouse.

Aftermath and legacy

The decisions, particularly those against Pelagianism, were confirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431, giving them ecumenical weight. The theological formulations on grace and original sin became foundational for later thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and were central to debates during the Protestant Reformation. The canonical lists influenced the definitive pronouncements of the Council of Trent. Politically, the failure to reconcile the Donatists contributed to religious fragmentation in North Africa, which may have weakened the region prior to the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb. The councils solidified the theological authority of Augustine and the ecclesiastical prominence of the African church before its decline.

Category:Christian councils Category:History of Carthage Category:5th-century church councils