„Paenitentia" i „Exomologesis" w „De Paenitentia" Tertuliana

Tertullian in his treatise De paenitentia written at the end of the Catholic period of his life, believes that God can forgive the sins of man, and the penance is a prerequisite for this. First, a person can receive God’s mercy by taking repentance before baptism. The effect of this is forgiveness of all sins in the sacrament of baptism. Such a penance is determined by the word paenitentia. After having committed a mortal sin after baptism, Tertullian sees the opportunity to enter once again the path of repentance and receiving forgiveness through public confession and also severe public penance. He leaves so the way leading to the rapprochement to God, which is determined by the word exomologesis.