Justin martyr first apology. First Apology of Justin Martyr 2022-10-27

Justin martyr first apology Rating: 6,6/10 306 reviews

Justin Martyr was a Christian apologist and martyr who lived in the second century AD. He is best known for his two "Apologies," or defense speeches, in which he sought to explain and defend the beliefs and practices of Christians to the Roman authorities.

The First Apology, also known as the First Defense, was written around AD 150 and addressed to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and his sons, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. In it, Justin sought to demonstrate the innocence and harmlessness of Christians, and to refute the accusations that had been leveled against them.

One of the main accusations against Christians was that they were atheists, because they did not worship the traditional Roman gods. Justin countered this charge by arguing that Christians did indeed believe in a single, all-powerful God, who was the creator of the universe and all things in it. He pointed out that this God was the same one worshiped by Jews, and that Christians believed in the same prophets and scriptures as Jews.

Another accusation was that Christians were immoral, and engaged in secret and scandalous activities during their meetings. Justin argued that this was not true, and that Christians were actually known for their high moral standards and good deeds. He cited examples of Christians who had given up their wealth and possessions to help the poor, and who lived exemplary lives of love and self-sacrifice.

Justin also addressed the charge that Christians were disloyal to the Roman state, and that they refused to offer sacrifices to the gods. He explained that Christians did not believe in the traditional Roman gods, but that they did believe in rendering unto Caesar what was Caesar's, and that they were willing to pay taxes and obey the laws of the state. He argued that Christians were actually more loyal to the state than many other citizens, because they believed that it was their duty to pray for the rulers and to do good to all people.

In conclusion, Justin Martyr's First Apology was a powerful defense of the Christian faith, and an attempt to refute the many false accusations that had been made against Christians. Through his words, Justin sought to show that Christians were not a threat to Roman society, but rather a group of peaceful and moral people who followed the teachings of Jesus and sought to do good in the world.

The First Apology by Justin Martyr

justin martyr first apology

Christians unjustly condemned for their mere name By the mere application of a name, nothing is decided, either good or excellent Chrestian is Chapter 5. . For we have come, not to flatter you by this writing, nor please you by our address, but to beg that you pass judgment, after an accurate and searching investigation, not flattered by prejudice or by a desire of pleasing superstitious men, nor induced by irrational impulse or evil rumours which have long been prevalent, to give a decision which will prove to be against yourselves. Concerning chapter 31, I gathered the same. For this "washing His robe in the blood of the grape" was predictive of the passion He was to endure, cleansing by His blood those who believe on Him.

Next

Cliff Notes to Justin Martyr’s First Apology

justin martyr first apology

And you, indeed, seem at such times to ignore the gods, and you neglect the temples, and make no recognition of the worship of God. For instance, Justin - who was well studied in Greek philosophical thought - was the first to attach the Hellenistic notion of the 'logos' of God to Christ, who was the Word eternal Logos. Woe, sinful nation, people full of sins, wicked seed, lawless children, you have forsaken the Lord. . And the earth was without form and unfurnished: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. For they strive to hold you their slaves and servants; and sometimes by appearances in dreams, and sometimes by magical impositions, they subdue all who make no strong opposing effort for their own salvation.

Next

CHURCH FATHERS: The First Apology (St. Justin Martyr)

justin martyr first apology

Justin Martyr and Philosopher draws attention to the confusion many people made with the mysteries of the god Mithras, rejecting this view. The designation "memoirs of the apostles" occurs twice in Justin's First Apology 66. And he shall bear away our sins. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast their yoke from us. And when they heard it said by the other prophet Isaiah, that He should be born of a virgin, and by His own means ascend into heaven, they pretended that Perseus was spoken of.

Next

First Apology

justin martyr first apology

But that, having become man for our sakes, He endured to suffer and to be dishonoured, and that He shall come again with glory, hear the prophecies which relate to this; they are these: "Because they delivered His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, He has borne the sin of many, and shall make intercession for the transgressors. Without a doubt, he was brought up in pagan culture and tradition, receiving a chosen spiritual formation. And this, by Hercules; you shall give special heed to, that if any man shall, through mere calumny, bring an accusation against any of these persons, you shall award to him more severe punishments in proportion to his wickedness. If he were destined to be either wicked or virtuous, he would not be thus capable of opposites, and often change his mind. We, however, after thus washing the one who has been convinced and signified his assent, lead him to those who are called brethren, where they are assembled.

Next

Saint Justin Martyr. First Apology of Justin Martyr

justin martyr first apology

And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. For at that juncture, when Moses was ordered to go down into Egypt and lead out the people of the Israelites who were there, and while he was tending the flocks of his maternal uncle 1 in the land of Arabia, our Christ conversed with him under the appearance of fire from a bush, and said, "Put off thy shoes, and draw near and hear. Those who believe these things we pity, and those who invented them we know to be devils. From here he sends to the emperors, the senate, and the Roman people his first Apology in favor of people of all nations, who are unjustly hated and persecuted, and here he also sends his second Apology. Taken capture by fear and not understanding that these were evil demons, they called them gods and gave each of them the name which each of the demons had chosen for himself.

Next

Saint Justin Martyr: First Apology (Roberts

justin martyr first apology

. And he shall be like the tree which is planted by the watercourses, which will give its fruit in its season, and his leaf will not wither, and whatever he does will be prospered. But since our thoughts are not fixed on the present, we are not concerned when men cut us off; since also death is a debt which must at all events be paid. CHAPTER XI -- WHAT KINGDOM CHRISTIANS LOOK FOR. That we may avoid all injustice 28. Justin argues that a Christian could not face death with such courage if he were not truly honest. Also defeated, Crescens denounced Justin, sentenced to death, and executed in 0165 BC, with six other Christians, under the perfect Junius Rusticus.

Next

Justin Martyr

justin martyr first apology

This is especially clear in Dial. In this apology Justin writes a letter defending the Christian faith as a faith that is not unjust or evil and should be treated as so. And it is not out of place, we think, to mention here Antinous, who was alive but lately, and whom all were prompt, through fear, to worship as a god, though they knew both who he was and what was his origin. For the truth shall be spoken; since of old these evil demons, effecting apparitions of themselves, both defiled women and corrupted boys, and showed such fearful sights to men, that those who did not use their reason in judging of the actions that were done, were struck with terror; and being carried away by fear, and not knowing that these were demons, they called them gods, and gave to each the name which each of the demons chose for himself. The old philosophers and law-givers had only a part of the While the gentile peoples, seduced by devils, had deserted the true God for idols, the Jews and Samaritans possessed the revelation given through the prophets and awaited the The idea of an economy of grace, of a restoration of the union with God which had been destroyed by sin, is not foreign to him. And in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Ghost, who through the prophets foretold all things about Jesus, he who is illuminated is washed. Those who lived in accordance with Reason are Christians, even though they were called godless, such as, among the Greeks, Socrates and Heraclitus and others like them; among the barbarians, Abraham, Ananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, 47.

Next

Logos Virtual Library: Saint Justin Martyr: First Apology, 66

justin martyr first apology

But we have received by tradition that God does not need the material offerings which men can give, seeing, indeed, that He Himself is the provider of all things. The Prefect Rusticus says: If you do not obey, you will be tortured without mercy. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. Wherefore, too, the angel said to the virgin, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. In his estimation, the philosophy of philosophers like Plato was influenced by the wisdom and laws of Moses who he insists came before these later thinkers, although his actual historicity is questioned by scholars.

Next

The First Apology by Justin Martyr

justin martyr first apology

For all are called Chapter 8. Glory and praise are before His face, strength and glorying are in the habitation of His holiness. CHAPTER LXV -- ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS. After he had appeared and lived among men, when they learned how he had been predicted by the prophets, and saw how he was believed on and looked for in every race, they again, as we showed before, put forward others, Simon and Menander of Samaria, who by doing mighty works of magic deceived and are still deceiving many. Wherefore He says, The sword shall devour you: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

Next

The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr

justin martyr first apology

I hope you found answers to your questions. What kingdom Christians look for And when you hear that we look for a kingdom, you suppose, without making any inquiry, that we speak of a Chapter 12. Thank you for signing up! Embrace instruction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the right way, when His wrath has been suddenly kindled. And he answered, "Tell me, whose image is on the coin. What sober-minded man, then, will not acknowledge that we are not atheists, worshipping as we do the Maker of this universe, and declaring, as we have been taught, that He has no need of streams of blood and libations and incense; whom we praise to the utmost of our power by the exercise of prayer and thanksgiving for all things wherewith we are supplied, as we have been taught that the only honour that is worthy of Him is not to consume by fire what He has brought into being for our sustenance, but to use it for ourselves and those who need, and with gratitude to Him to offer thanks by invocations and hymns for our creation, and for all the means of health, and for the various qualities of the different kinds of things, and for the changes of the seasons; and to present before Him petitions for our existing again in incorruption through faith in Him. Christians at that time were accused of heinous behavior, worship, in particular, being misunderstood altogether. For from a name neither praise nor punishment could reasonably spring, unless something excellent or base in action be proved.

Next