Arnobius

Arnobius, born in the year two hundred fifty-five, emerged as a significant figure in early Christian thought during the reign of Diocletian, which spanned from two hundred eighty-four to three hundred five. Hailing from Berber origins, he was initially a renowned Numidian rhetorician based in Sicca Veneria, present-day El Kef in Tunisia, a prominent center for Christianity in Proconsular Africa.

His journey to Christianity was marked by a transformative experience, as recounted by Jerome, who noted that Arnobius's conversion was prompted by a premonitory dream. Interestingly, despite this pivotal moment, Arnobius later expressed skepticism about the significance of dreams in his surviving works.

In response to the local bishop's concerns regarding the sincerity of his newfound faith, Arnobius authored an apologetic treatise around the year three hundred three. This work, known as Adversus gentes according to Jerome, is preserved in a single manuscript titled Adversus nationes, dating back to the ninth century. This treatise remains a crucial source of information about Arnobius, alongside Jerome's references and the acknowledgment that Lactantius was one of his pupils.