11/2/20
Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Amazon Kindle Edition, 2014.
Volume 2, Ante-Nicene Christianity A.D. 100-325, “Chapter 13. Ecclesiastical Literature of the Ante-Nicene Age, and Biographical Sketches of the Church Fathers.” sec. 159-204.
§ 202. Arnobius.
Arnobius, an adult convert to Christ, was a rhetoric teacher near Carthage around the turn of the fourth century (Schaff 2014, loc. 23492, par. 2). Schaff notes that Arnobius' conversion was striking in the change it brought to his life (Schaff 2014, loc. 23505, ;ar. 3). He is only mentioned by Jerome. Arnobius leaves us "an Apology of Christianity in seven books of unequal length" (Schaff 2014, loc. 23502, par. 5). The allusions to the Diocletian Persecution point to composition about 303.
Schaff observes that Arnobius' speciality seems to be pagan mythology, but that he does not seem to know much of the Bible (Schaff 2014, loc. 23518, par. 7). However, Arnobius seems to have a fairly clear picture of the nature of God (Schaff 2014, loc. 23524, par. 8). Arnobius' theology does miss the mark of mature orthodoxy. Schaff notes that his writing was partly banned, mostly forgotten. However, the writing does show "the honesty, courage, and enthusiasm of the convert for his new faith" (Schaff 2014, loc. 23531, par. 13).