Cyprian was bishop of Carthage from about 248 to 258. A vast amount of the correspondence both from him and to him has been preserved. This gives the modern reader considerable insight into church life in the middle of the third century. During the Decian persecution, Cyprian continued his ministry underground. When the Valerian persecution broke out a few years later, however, he was captured and beheaded.
Immediately as the first burst of the disturbance arose, and the people with violent clamor repeatedly demanded me, I withdrew for a while—as the Lord’s commandment teaches. I was not considering so much my own safety as I was the public peace of the brethren. Otherwise, by my overly bold presence, the tumult that had begun might be incited even more. Nevertheless, although absent in body, I was not lacking either in spirit, or in act. Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.294
It is no wonder, brother Cyprian, that you should do this, who—with your usual modesty and innate industriousness—have wished us to be not so much judges of, but sharers in, your counsels. Letter from the clergy of Rome to Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.308
Yet Stephen [bishop of Rome] is not ashamed . . . to call Cyprian “a false Christ, a false apostle, and a deceitful worker.” Firmilian (c. 256, E), 5.397
[A DESCRIPTION OF CYPRIAN:] Neither poverty nor pain broke him down. The persuasion of his wife did not influence him. The dreadful suffering of his own body did not shake his firmness. . . . His house was open to every comer. No widow returned from him with an empty apron. No blind man was unguided by him as a companion. . . . Who is sufficient to relate the manner in which he bore himself? What compassion was his! What vigor! How great his mercy! How great his strictness! So much sanctity and grace beamed from his face that it confounded the minds of the beholders. Pontius the deacon (c. 258, W), 5.268-269
Cyprian was distinguished above all other [Christian writers] and famous persons. For [prior to his conversion,] he had sought great glory for himself from the profession of public speaking. And he wrote very many things that are worthy of admiration in their particular genre. For he had a mind that was ready, copious, agreeable . . . plain, and open. So a person would be hard-pressed to say whether he was more embellished in speech, or more ready in explanation, or more powerful in persuasion. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W), 7.136
I have not shrunk from this labor that I might complete the subject, which Cyprian did not fully carry out in that discourse in which he endeavored to refute Demetrian. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W), 7.140; extended discussion: 5.267–5.274