Optatus of Milevis: source notes

Works: Against Parmenian the Donatist (c. 366–367). Edition/translation: O. R. Vassall-Phillips, The Work of St. Optatus (1917), public domain, transcribed at tertullian.org.

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Doctrine S09X

See S09X reasoning.

S09X S1: Against Parmenian I.17–18

• Source: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/optatus_01_book1.htm (O. R. Vassall-Phillips translation, 1917, public domain)
• Text: “So he confided them to the care of some of the seniors, whom he believed to be worthy of trust, not, however, before he had made an inventory … The above-mentioned seniors were summoned; but they had swallowed up in the jaws of their avarice, as booty, that which had been entrusted to their keeping.”
• Context: Optatus (c. 366) on Carthage c. 303–311: Bishop Mensurius left the church’s gold and silver with ‘seniors’ (seniores), lay notables distinct from the clergy. Scholars call these North African officers seniores laici.
• Bears on: S09.3
• Status: verified (English)