Though nothing explicit is known about Cyprian’s socio-economic status, the evidence suggests he belonged to the aristocracy. As such, he had access to rhetorical training, testified to also by Jerome. Cyprian did not become a Christian until the early 240’s. He was bishop in Carthage from May 248 to September 258. Several recent authors have compared Cyprian’s relationship to his church as a patron-client relationship, but colored by a genuine care for the poor. He found himself a church leader during two major persecutions, the Diocletian (249–50) and the Valerian (257-58). In the first, Cyprian left for the countryside, while still retaining leadership of the flock at Carthage by means of correspondence. From this position he addressed the issue of the lapsi who had offered sacrifice to the pagan gods, but were now asking to be re-admitted to the church. In the wake of the conflict between Novatian and Cornelius in Rome in 251 (Novatian took a hard line opposing reconciliation with the lapsi, while Cornelius was conciliatory), Cyprian sided with Cornelius, allowing the lapsi to be re-admitted after doing proper penance. In 257, C. was finally apprehended by the Roman officials, tried and executed during the Valerian persecution.

Though nothing explicit is known about Cyprian’s socio-economic status, the evidence suggests he belonged to the aristocracy. As such, he had access to rhetorical training, testified to also by Jerome. Cyprian did not become a Christian until the early 240’s. He was bishop in Carthage from May 248 to September 258. Several recent authors have compared Cyprian’s relationship to his church as a patron-client relationship, but colored by a genuine care for the poor. He found himself a church leader during two major persecutions, the Diocletian (249–50) and the Valerian (257-58). In the first, Cyprian left for the countryside, while still retaining leadership of the flock at Carthage by means of correspondence. From this position he addressed the issue of the lapsi who had offered sacrifice to the pagan gods, but were now asking to be re-admitted to the church. In the wake of the conflict between Novatian and Cornelius in Rome in 251 (Novatian took a hard line opposing reconciliation with the lapsi, while Cornelius was conciliatory), Cyprian sided with Cornelius, allowing the lapsi to be re-admitted after doing proper penance. In 257, Cyprian was finally apprehended by the Roman officials, tried and executed during the Valerian persecution.

Though nothing explicit is known about Cyprian’s socio-economic status, the evidence suggests he belonged to the aristocracy. As such, he had access to rhetorical training, testified to also by Jerome. Cyprian did not become a Christian until the early 240’s. He was bishop in Carthage from May 248 to September 258. Several recent authors have compared Cyprian’s relationship to his church as a patron-client relationship, but colored by a genuine care for the poor. He found himself a church leader during two major persecutions, the Diocletian (249–50) and the Valerian (257-58). In the first, Cyprian left for the countryside, while still retaining leadership of the flock at Carthage by means of correspondence. From this position he addressed the issue of the lapsi who had offered sacrifice to the pagan gods, but were now asking to be re-admitted to the church. In the wake of the conflict between Novatian and Cornelius in Rome in 251 (Novatian took a hard line opposing reconciliation with the lapsi, while Cornelius was conciliatory), Cyprian sided with Cornelius, allowing the lapsi to be re-admitted after doing proper penance. In 257, Cyprian was finally apprehended by the Roman officials, tried and executed during the Valerian persecution.