Commodianus

, of Gaza, a Christian poet of the third century, is the author of a Latin piece entitled “Institutiones.” It is composed in the form of verse, but without either measure or quantity: only care is taken that each line comprises a complete sense, and that it begins with something like an acrostic. It lay a long time in obscurity, until Rigaltius published it in his edition of Cyprian, and Davies at the end of Minutius Felix. It is more valuable for the strain of piety which prevails throughout the whole than for any poetical merit. Commodianus appears to have been originally a heathen, and as he informs us, was converted by reading the scriptures, and appears to have been also acquainted with secular authors. Lardner has bestowed a chapter on this work, and on the history of its author, in his “Credibility of the Gospel History.” ²