The Witness of Justin!

[Cajun Huguenot]

A while back I purchased a 38-volume set of books on the Early Church Fathers. Since then I have been reading them at a slow but steady pace. I love reading the Early Church Fathers. The latest Church Father who I’ve been reading is a fellow by the name of Justin (the) Martyr. Justin was no Calvinists, but he was a Christian who bravely confronted those in authority to defend truth of the Christian faith.

Justine lived in the second century, and in those days it was a crime, punishable by death, to admit that you were a Christian. Justin decided that he would write the Emperor and the Roman Senate to explain that they were doing was a great injustice to Christians. These writings are titled Apology I & II. (written between 150-157 AD)

In Apology IIJustin admits that his own life would soon be forfeited because of his faith in Christ. He wrote “I too, therefore, expect to be plotted against and fixed to the stake, by some of those I have named, or perhaps by Crescens, that lover of bravado and boasting; for the man is not worthy of the name of philosopher who publicly bears witness against us in matters which he does not understand, saying that the Christians are atheists and impious, and doing so to win favour with the deluded mob, and to please them.”

Justin Martyr was tortured and beheaded in Rome (between 162-168 AD), during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Justin’s crime was his profession of the name Christian.

Justin was born in Samaria (Israel) of pagan parents. He studied philosophy, especially Plato, and was a philosopher. Then, as he says, he came to know the “true philosophy” which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What follows is the account of Justin, and several other brothers and sisters, martyrdom.

In Christ,
Kenith
​

The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs
Justin, Chariton, Charites, Paeon, and Liberianus, Who Suffered at Rome.​

Examination of Justin the Prefect.
In the time of the lawless partisans of idolatry, wicked decrees were passed against the godly Christians in town and country, to force them to offer libations to vain idols; and accordingly the holy men, having been apprehended, were brought before the prefect of Rome, Rusticus by name. And when they had been brought before his judgment-seat, said to Justin, "Obey the gods at once, and submit to the kings." Justin said, "To obey the commandments of our Saviour Jesus Christ is worthy neither of blame nor of condemnation." Rusticus the prefect said, "What kind of doctrines do you profess?" Justin said, "I have endeavoured to learn all doctrines; but I have acquiesced at last in the true doctrines, those namely of the Christians, even though they do not please those who hold false opinions." Rusticus the prefect said, "Are those the doctrines that please you, you utterly wretched man?" Justin said, "Yes, since I adhere to them with right dogma." Rusticus the prefect said, "What is the dogma?" Justin said, "That according to which we worship the God of the Christians, whom we reckon to be one from the beginning, the maker and fashioner of the whole creation, visible and invisible; and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had also been preached beforehand by the prophets as about to be present with the race of men, the herald of salvation and teacher of good disciples. And I, being a man, think that what I can say is insignificant in comparison with His boundless divinity, acknowledging a Certain prophetic power, since it was prophesied concerning Him of whom now I say that He is the Son of God. For I know that of old the prophets foretold His appearance among men."

Examination of Justin Continued.
Rusticus the prefect said, "Where do you assemble?" Justin said, "Where each one chooses and can: for do you fancy that we all meet in the very same place? Not so; because the God of the Christians is not circumscribed by place; but being invisible, fills heaven and earth, and everywhere is worshipped and glorified by the faithful." Rusticus the prefect said, "Tell me where you assemble, or into what place do you collect your followers?" Justin said, "I live above one Martinus, at the Timiotinian Bath; and during the whole time (and I am now living in Rome for the second time) I am unaware of any other meeting than his. And if any one wished to come to me, I communicated to him the doctrines of truth." Rusticus said, "Are you not, then, a Christian?" Justin said, "Yes, I am a Christian."

Examination of Chariton and Others.
Then said the prefect Rusticus to Chariton, "Tell me further, Chariton, are you also a Christian?" Chariton said, "I am a Christian by the command of God." Rusticus the prefect asked the woman Charito, "What say you, Charito?"Charito said, "I am a Christian by the grace of God." Rusticus said to Euelpistus, "And what are you?" Euelpistus, a servant of Caesar, answered, "I too am a Christian, having been freed by Christ; and by the grace of Christ I partake of the same hope." Rusticus the prefect said to Hierax, "And you, are you a Christian?" Hierax said, "Yes, I am a Christian, for I revere and worship the same God." Rusticus the prefect said, "Did Justin make you Christians?" Hierax said, "I was a Christian, and will be a Christian." And Paeon stood up and said, "I too am a Christian." Rusticus the prefect said, "Who taught you?" Paeon said, "From our parents we received this good confession." Euelpistus said, "I willingly heard the words of Justin. But from my parents also I learned to be a Christian." Rusticus the prefect said, "Where are your parents? "Euelpistus said, "In Cappadocia." Rusticus says to Hierax, "Where are your parents? "And he answered, and said, "Christ is our true father, and faith in Him is our mother; and my earthly parents died; and I, when I was driven from Iconium in Phrygia, came here." Rusticus the prefect said to Liberianus, "And what say you? Are you a Christian, and unwilling to worship [the gods]? "Liberianus said, "I too am a Christian, for I worship and reverence the only true God."

Rusticus Threatens the Christians with Death.
The prefect says to Justin, "Hearken, you who are called learned, and think that you know true doctrines; if you are scourged and beheaded, do you believe you will ascend into heaven? "Justin said, "I hope that, if I endure these things, I shall have His gifts. For I know that, to all who have thus lived, there abides the divine favour until the completion of the whole world." Rusticus the prefect said, "Do you suppose, then, that you will ascend into heaven to receive some recompense? "Justin said, "I do not suppose it, but I know and am fully persuaded of it." Rusticus the prefect said, "Let us, then, now come to the matter in hand, and which presses. Having come together, offer sacrifice with one accord to the gods." Justin said, "No right-thinking person falls away from piety to impiety." Rusticus the prefect said, "Unless ye obey, ye shall be mercilessly punished." Justin said, "Through prayer we can be saved on account of our Lord Jesus Christ, even when we have been punished, because this shall become to us salvation and confidence at the more fearful and universal judgment-seat of our Lord and Saviour." Thus also said the other martyrs: "Do what you will, for we are Christians, and do not sacrifice to idols."

Sentence Pronounced and Executed.
Rusticus the prefect pronounced sentence, saying, "Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to yield to the command of the emperor be scourged, and led away to suffer the punishment of decapitation, according to the laws." The holy martyrs having glorified God, and having gone forth to the accustomed place, were beheaded, and perfected their testimony in the confession of the Saviour. And some of the faithful having secretly removed their bodies, laid them in a suitable place, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ having wrought along with them, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.​

 

[JVAC]

The man was a mediocre philosopher, dropping out and being rejected as he went. Eventually he settled in with a group and became a Christian and trapsed around in his scholastic robes. He then tried to use his philosophical training to prove Christianity. He did much to make the faith platonic. If he weren't martyred his works would have been long forgotten.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

The man was a mediocre philosopher, dropping out and being rejected as he went. Eventually he settled in with a group and became a Christian and trapsed around in his scholastic robes. He then tried to use his philosophical training to prove Christianity. He did much to make the faith platonic. If he weren't martyred his works would have been long forgotten.

I have some serious differences with Justin's theology, but he was a man who was willing to stand up for his fellow Christians and he was willing to die for the truth of the Gospel.

I've read almost every word that he wrote that we still have. I guess I just have a higher view of someone like Justin, who are willing to proclaim the Gospel to the most powerful man on the globe and give defence for his fellow believers who were being put to death for the faith. Justine knew the cost and was man enough to pay the price.

I respect that and ALL Christians should honour such Christians.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[Trento]

N?t

 

[a_ntv]

The man was a mediocre philosopher, dropping out and being rejected as he went. Eventually he settled in with a group and became a Christian and trapsed around in his scholastic robes. He then tried to use his philosophical training to prove Christianity. He did much to make the faith platonic. If he weren't martyred his works would have been long forgotten.

We have so few christian writers in the II century that any writer is very important.

and Justin philosophy was very important for some later writers, like Agustine.

And I have a deep respect for any martyr of the faith (even if Justin was not considered saint by the tradition)

 

[JVAC]

I do commend the man for attaining the crown of martyrdom, but that doesn't excuse him for poor theology. His theology, especially his subordinationism paved the way for Origen and, ultimately, the Arians, and Monarchians. I think it a good thing to celebrate the man and his feast day for his martyrdom, but with respect to his works, the only true good they give is the historical witness.

-James

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I do commend the man for attaining the crown of martyrdom, but that doesn't excuse him for poor theology. His theology, especially his subordinationism paved the way for Origen and, ultimately, the Arians, and Monarchians. I think it a good thing to celebrate the man and his feast day for his martyrdom, but with respect to his works, the only true good they give is the historical witness.

-James

I disagree With the "only" part of your post. Justin's theology does fall short of what was to come, but much of what we have understand was developed because of the errors that were yet to come.

The errors and heresies, that were yet to come, caused Godly men to think through and wrestle over these things. This is how they were able to perfect the great doctrines we have today. Justin came along very early in that process, and does not have the benefit of the scholarship that followed.

There is no ancient theologian, Augustine included, who can not be picked apart if we look at the consequences of later developments of errors that they held to. I think "just" criticism is good, and I agree with some of your criticisms of Justin, I just think it would have fit better on a thread that was discussing his theology and not on this thread that gives testemony of his execution for his faith in Jesus Christ.

I am glad to hear that you "commend" Justin for his Martydom for the faith. On that we agree perfectly. In his death Justin was an awesome witness for the cause of Christ.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[JVAC]

I celebrate our concord upon Justin being a role model for the Church catholic. However, I contend that his subordinationism wasn't just hints but real. I think that his celebrity status has unfortunately kept the Church from formally declaring his writtings in much the same sence as, say, Tertullian. I don't intend to pick him apart, I intend to say that his theology as a whole isn't quite up to par, and even, had the context of the Church been different, that is, had the Church had the luxury of hearing theology and pronouncing upon it, he would have been condemned. If we divorce the man's martyrdom from his theology then we have a corupt theology that would be disregarded, save the historical comentary it gives. That is my contention, merely that his writings are valued solely because his martyrdom and not of any merit they have with respect to orthodox christianity.

-James

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I celebrate our concord upon Justin being a role model for the Church catholic. However, I contend that his subordinationism wasn't just hints but real. I think that his celebrity status has unfortunately kept the Church from formally declaring his writtings in much the same sence as, say, Tertullian. I don't intend to pick him apart, I intend to say that his theology as a whole isn't quite up to par, and even, had the context of the Church been different, that is, had the Church had the luxury of hearing theology and pronouncing upon it, he would have been condemned. If we divorce the man's martyrdom from his theology then we have a corupt theology that would be disregarded, save the historical comentary it gives. That is my contention, merely that his writings are valued solely because his martyrdom and not of any merit they have with respect to orthodox christianity.

-James

James,

Thanks for your clarifications.

With that said, I have to disagree with you here. I do agree that Justins theology falls a bit short in places. I'm Reformed, and from that theological vantage point, he is way off on some issues that I believe are very important. Yet having read Justin, I find him to be valuable indeed and wish more Christians would read him and the other fathers as well.

I find that they all (the ones I've read) lack in one are or another. Justin took on modalism, before it became and issue, and hammered it pretty good.

He has, IMHO, more value than you give him credit for. And this is so even when his shortcomings are taken into account.

Thanks again.
Coram Deo,
Kenith