Abstract

In theDe Ira Dei Lactantius seeks to provide a philosophical rationale for events narrated in theDe Mortibus Persecutorum by arguing that God is capable of anger. In doing so he has to refute the Epicurean position that the gods have no interest in human affairs. A number of his arguments are subjected to critical scrutiny, and it is shown that they largely fail to convince because Lactantius does not have a sufficient grasp of basic Epicurean doctrine. What Lactantius’ work shows is the Christian attempting to take over the Stoic and Neo-Platonist side in the debate between theism and atomist materialism and counter the still significant influence of Lucretius in Roman education.