The First Apology of Justin Martyr

Synopsis

The First Apology of Justin Martyr is an early work of Christian apologetics addressed to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. In addition to arguing against the persecution of individuals solely for being Christian, Justin defends the philosophy of Christianity and gives a detailed explanation of contemporary Christian practices and rituals. In the early chapters he discusses the principal criticisms of contemporary Christians; namely, atheism, immorality, and disloyalty to the Empire. One of Justin's most important themes involves his description of the logos, a philosophical concept of order of reason and knowledge. Throughout the First Apology, Justin argues that Jesus Christ is the incarnation of the Logos, which leads him to the proof that any individual who has spoken with reason, even those who lived before Christ, connected with the logos in the form of Christ, and is thus, in fact, a Christian. Artist Bio Author: Justin (100-ca.165) was an early Christian apologist, the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos in the 2nd century. He was martyred after disputing with the cynic philosopher Crescens.