Ponce Pilate - Christian at heart?

[Didacus]

Been reading Tertullien (french, sorry if i make a few spelling mistakes in my translation), and yesterday I read something that I find interesting, yet perplexing at the same time.

He commented that 'Ponce Pilate, being Christian in heart, reported in detail all his findings of Jesus' death and resurrectioni to Ceasar'.

I always thought that Ponce Pilate was a grave sinner to have washed his hands of the fate of Jesus, but Tertullien describes him as 'christian at heart'?

To my knowledge (which is limited), Tertullien has not been sainted... is this accurate?

[Laudate_Dominum]

There is an old tradition which says that Pilate actually became Christian. And I believe the Ethiopian church even considers Pilate and his wife to be saints. I have heard that the Greek Church has a feast day for Pilate's wife.

This tradition is based largely upon apocryphal Christian literature (notably [i]The Acts of Pilate[/i] or [i]The Gospel of Nicodemus[/i]) including apocryphal gospels that are of limited reliability. However, Origen testifies to the conversion of Pilate, and even earlier we have second century fathers who support this claim (most notably the Tertullian quote you mentioned and a similar statement by St. Justin Martyr).

There are many conflicting legendary accounts of the fate of Pontius Pilate; some make him out to be evil others make him out to be a good Christian. The earliest and probably the most reliable is the tradition of which you inquire.

The gospel portrayal of Pilate is not that he was a terrible man. It makes clear that he wanted to set Christ free but gave in to pressures and ended up handing him over to be crucified. His wife is said to have received a special dream about Christ.

Whatever the truth is, I'd say it is at least conceivable that Pilate and his wife converted, I like the idea. If it is indeed false; it at least makes for some exciting literature.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Didacus' date='Nov 16 2005, 08:03 AM']To my knowledge (which is limited), Tertullien has not been sainted... is this accurate?
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Sorry for not responding to this aspect of your question.

Tertullian is not considered a saint although his writings are considered very important in the early church. Tertullian began as a great champion of orthodoxy and fought against heresies. Sadly, late in his life, Tertullian became a heretic himself. He became a part of the Montanist movement which was condemned by the Church. Only his later writings reflect a clearly Montanist view.

St. Augustine maintains that Tertullian returned to the bosom of the Church before his death, but most scholars think he was mistaken. I hope his information was correct.

God bless.