stubbornness, a telltale sign of pride. From 207 onwards he gradually
drifted towards Montanism. His formal break with the Church came with
Rome’s allowance to contract second marriages after the death of the first
spouse. Tertullian then turned his apologetical pen against the Church,
falling into an extreme anticlericalism and invective. In his work De
Pudicitia Tertullian responded to Pope Callistus’ decree allowing the
reception of the sacrament of Penance for mortal sexual sins by declaring
that it should be “posted on the doors of brothels.” In the same work he
sarcastically dismissed The Shepherd of Hermas as the “Shepherd of
Adulterers” for speaking of further opportunities for repentance for all sins
committed after baptism.
In 217, Pope Zephyrinus died and was succeeded by his loyal friend and
adviser Callistus. Callistus was a former slave of a fellow Christian named
Carpophorus, who worked in the household of the Emperor Commodus. In
this capacity he mismanaged his master’s funds in a banking fraud and fled
in panic. Soon Callistus was arrested, and denounced as a Christian by
Jews to whom he had lent money, was sentenced to the salt mines of
Sardinia. After a number of years, Callistus was freed as part of a general
amnesty for Christian prisoners obtained by the Emperor’s mistress,
Marcia. Callistus would gain friendship and favor with Pope Zephyrinus
through his considerable talents and the Pope placed him in charge of the
Church’s catacomb cemeteries. It was probably the local Roman clergy
who nominated Callistus to the position of Archdeacon in 216 and then
elected him Pope a year later. As Pope, Callistus had to contend not only
with the polemical attacks of Tertullian but those also of the first antipope,
Hippolytus.
Not much is known of Hippolytus’ early life besides the fact that there is
evidence that he was of eastern origin, probably born in Alexandria
between 170 and 175. He claimed to be a disciple of St. Irenaeus of Lyons.
By 212, Hippolytus was establishing a reputation in Rome as a presbyter
and scholar. He was undoubtedly a man of great talent with skills in
exegesis, apology, dogma, morals, discipline, history and geography.
Above all he was an exegete. As a preacher and homilist he exhibited true
oratorical ability with a style that was clear and elegant. However, at times
he became irascible, as became evident in his controversies against Pope
Callistus.
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