Carmen apolegeticum

work by Commodianus

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June 22, 2026

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Carmen apologeticum is a work by Commodianus, a Christian Latin poet who lived between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD. The poem explains Christian doctrine, covering topics such as Creation, God's revelation to humanity, the Antichrist, and the end of the world.1

Commodianus also wrote 80 poems in two books called Instructiones. Most of these are acrostic poems, a technique likely used for memorization. In his writings, he criticized pagan gods, condemned Jewish beliefs, and offered admonishments to Christians. His verse is not considered artistically valuable but is significant for its use of common Latin, which was evolving into the Romance languages during that period.1

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Commodianus
His Carmen apologeticum (“Song with Narrative”) expounds Christian doctrine, dealing with the Creation, God’s revelation of himself to man, Antichrist, and the end of the world. All but two of his Instructiones—80 poems in two books—are in acrostic form, undoubtedly because the technique was a useful…
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His Carmen apologeticum (“Song with Narrative”) expounds Christian doctrine, dealing with the Creation, God’s revelation of himself to man, Antichrist, and the end of the world. All but two of his Instructiones—80 poems in two books—are in acrostic form, undoubtedly because the technique was a useful…
Read More