The Apocryphal Paul as Divided Martyr: The Rhetoric of Schism and Legitimacy in Early Christian North Africa

Neither the epistles of Paul (authentic or disputed) nor Acts Apostles address death apostle, but this is a focus in later apocryphal acts. This article examines importance image as martyr for development early Christianity North Africa. Evidence from Tertullian, texts describing Cyprian Carthage, and writings Augustine, demonstrates that was model African church. Paul’s status such became major point contention competing claims to authority legitimacy during Donatist Controversy. The analyses rhetorical Pauline legacy Caecilianist side (the Optatus Milev Augustine) (a mosaic Uppenna Abitinian Martyrs). Each claimed their martyrs were true successors Paul, therefore they Christians