La rappresentazione dei ministeri negli scritti di Tertulliano

This essay deals with the question of the Church ministries in the writings of Tertullian, wondering whether the way in which he talks about them can be considered an objective descprition of the Christian community in Carthage or rather a highlight of those aspects that best meet Tertullian's literary purposes. In Apologeticum 39, he does not intend to make clames about the Christian hierarchy but he compares the behavior of the Christian leaders to that of the leaders of the civic community. In De baptismo 17, the question addressed is related to not downsize the role of the bishop, while recognizing that also a laic can baptize. In De fuga in persecutione 11, the emphasis is put on the morality expected from the clergy. These exemples show how the literary and rhetorical purposes are fundamental in the construction of Tertullian's speech.