Appian Way Press

The Writings of Lactantius: The Divine Institutes and Other Treatises

by Lactantius

Written at the crossroads of Roman rhetoric and Christian theology, Lactantius’s works present one of the earliest sustained efforts to explain and defend Christianity to the educated world of the Roman Empire. At the heart of this volume is The Divine Institutes, Lactantius’s most influential work and the centerpiece of his literary legacy. Modeled consciously on classical philosophical treatises, it offers a comprehensive critique of pagan religion and philosophy while presenting Christianity as the only coherent account of God, morality, and human destiny. Unlike earlier apologies, it is not merely defensive but constructive, aiming to demonstrate the rational superiority of the Christian faith.