St.Justin Martyr

St. Justin Martyr was the first of the outstanding apologists of the Church and the greatest of the second century. He was born of pagan parents in Flavia Neapolis (Palestine) some time after 100 AD. St. Justin embraced Christianity around the year 130 after being a Stoic, Peripatetic, Pythagorean and Platonist.

We know of St. Justin’s life mostly through his own writings. He was a prolific writer and itinerant Christian philosopher defending the teaching of Christ as the highest and most perfect philosophy. He was the first to study the relation between faith and reason and introduced Greek philosophical terminology into his expositions.

He was admired for his earnest convictions, noble character and perfect loyalty in his dealings. He was an apostle and saint in the true sense of the words. After spending time teaching in Ephesus St. Justin moved to Rome and there set up a successful Christian school, having Tatian the Syrian as one of his students.

Of all his writings only three have survived substantially intact, namely his two Apologies and the Dialogue with Trypho the Jew. St. Justin wrote his apologies to the Emperor Antoninus Pius, his sons and to the Roman Senate explaining and defending Christian faith and practice. In his works we find the first open written account of the Christian mysteries, particularly baptism and the Eucharist, hitherto kept under wraps by the "discipline of the secret."

St. Justin wrote convincingly to dispel the widely spread calumnies that Christians were atheists, cannibals and sexually immoral. The Christians were not only moral but also loyal to all legitimate authority and therefore deserving of tolerance: "And if these things seem to you to be reasonable and true, honor them; but if they seem nonsensical, despise them as nonsense, and do not decree death against those who have done no wrong, as you would enemies" (First Apology 68). Christians were persecuted only out of ignorance and misapprehension, stirred on by the Demons. Unfortunately St. Justin’s hope of getting the Emperor to repeal the anti-Christian laws had no effect.

The Dialogue with Trypho the Jew is the oldest known apologetical work against Judaism. Trypho was probably a historical person, a learned Rabbi of some note who openly debated with St. Justin at Ephesus between 132-135 AD. The Dialogue was written around 155 AD as a record of the disputation which lasted two days.

There exist also four fragments of another treatise entitled On the Resurrection. Various patristic writers ascribe this work to St. Justin, including St. John Damascene. Whether or not it is an authentic work of St. Justin it is undoubtedly ancient, being alluded to by Methodius of Olympus at the end of the third century.

According to the authentic Martyrdom of Sts. Justin and Sociorum St. Justin and six companions were denounced to the authorities as Christians in the year 165, perhaps by the cynic Crescens. After being tried and condemned by the Prefect Junius Rusticus all seven were scourged and beheaded by sword. Eusebius referred to St. Justin as "an ornament of our Faith soon after the Apostles’ time" (Ecclesiastical History 2, 13).

"Our teacher of these things, born for this end, is Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, the procurator in Judea in the time of Tiberius Caesar. We will prove that we worship Him reasonably; for we have learned that He is the Son of the True God Himself, that He holds a second place, and the spirit of Prophecy a third. For this they accuse us of madness, saying that we attribute to a crucified man a place second to the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of all things; but they are ignorant of the mystery which lies therein."

"According to our Teacher, just as they are sinners who contract a second marriage, even though it be in accord with human law, so also are they sinners who look with lustful desire at a woman. He repudiates not only one who actually commits adultery, but even one who wishes to do so; for not only our actions are manifest to God, but even our thoughts."

"As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are led by us to a place where there is water; and there they are reborn in the same kind of rebirth in which we ourselves were reborn: in the name of God, the Lord and Father of all and of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they receive the washing with water. For Christ said, ‘unless you be reborn, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven...’ The reason for doing this, we have learned from the Apostles…in order that we may not remain the children of necessity…and may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed."

"And this food is called among us the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who has been washed in the washing bath that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus...The Apostles, in the Memoirs which they produced, which are called Gospels, have thus passed on that which was enjoined upon them: that Jesus took bread and, having given thanks, said, ‘Do this in remembrance of Me; this is My Body.’ And in like manner, taking the cup, and having given thanks, He said, ‘This is My Blood.’ And He imparted this to them only."

"And on the day called Sunday, all who live in the cities or in the country gather together to one place and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended bread and wine are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying, Amen; and there is a distribution to each and a participation of that over which thanks have been given and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons."

"Is there any other matter, my friends, in which we are blamed?…Are our lives and customs also slandered by you? And I ask this: have you also believed concerning us, that we eat men, and that after the feast, having extinguished the lights, we engage in promiscuous concubinage?"

"If circumcision was not necessary before Abraham, nor before Moses the Sabbath observance and festivals and sacrifices, then, similarly they are not necessary now, when in accordance with the will of God, Jesus Christ the Son of God has been born without sin, of a Virgin of the offspring of Abraham."

"Hence God speaks by the mouth of Malachi, one of the twelve prophets, as I said before, about the sacrifices at that time presented by you: ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will not accept your sacrifices at your hands; for, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, My Name has been glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to My name, and a pure offering: for My Name is great among the Gentiles says the Lord, but you profane it.’ He then speaks to those Gentiles, namely us, who in every place offer sacrifices to Him, i.e., the bread of the Eucharist, and also the cup of the Eucharist, affirming both that we glorify His Name and you profane it."

"He became Man by the Virgin so that the course which was taken by disobedience in the beginning through the agency of the serpent, might be also the very course by which it would be put down. For Eve, a virgin and undefiled, conceived the word of the serpent, and bore disobedience and death. But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy when the angel Gabriel announced to her the glad tidings that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, for which reason the Holy One being born of her is the Son of God. And she replied: ‘Be it done unto me according to thy word.’"

"Indeed, God calls even the body to resurrection, and promises it everlasting life. When He promises to save the man, He thereby makes His promise to the flesh: for what is man but a rational living being composed of soul and body?"

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

June 1, 2005

St. Justin

(d. 165)

Justin never ended his quest for religious truth even when he converted to Christianity after years of studying various pagan philosophies.

As a young man, he was principally attracted to the school of Plato. However, he found that the Christian religion answered the great questions about life and existence better than the philosophers.

Upon his conversion he continued to wear the philosopher's mantle, and became the first Christian philosopher. He combined the Christian religion with the best elements in Greek philosophy. In his view, philosophy was a pedagogue of Christ, an educator that was to lead one to Christ.

Justin is known as an apologist, one who defends in writing the Christian religion against the attacks and misunderstandings of the pagans. Two of his so-called apologies have come down to us; they are addressed to the Roman emperor and to the Senate.

For his staunch adherence to the Christian religion, Justin was beheaded in Rome in 165.

Comment:

As patron of philosophers, Justin may inspire us to use our natural powers (especially our power to know and understand) in the service of Christ and to build up the Christian life within us. Since we are prone to error, especially in reference to the deep questions concerning life and existence, we should also be willing to correct and check our natural thinking in light of religious truth. Thus we will be able to say with the learned saints of the Church: I believe in order to understand, and I understand in order to believe.

Quote:

"Philosophy is the knowledge of that which exists, and a clear understanding of the truth; and happiness is the reward of such knowledge and understanding" (Justin, Dialogue with Trypho, 3).



Readings: As by the Word of God, Jesus our Savior was made Flesh and had both Flesh and Blood for our salvation, so also the food which has been blessed by the word of prayer instituted by Him is both the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Incarnate.

Writings

Saint Justin Martyr

The saints were seized and brought before the prefect of Rome, whose name was Rusticus. As they stood before the judgment seat, Rusticus the prefect said to Justin, "Above all, have faith in the gods and obey the emperors."

Justin replied, "We cannot be accused or condemned for obeying the commands of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

Rusticus said, "What system of teaching do you profess?"

Justin said, "I have tried to learn about every system, but I have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians, though these are not approved by those who are held fast by error."

The prefect Rusticus said, "Are those doctrines approved by you, wretch that you are?"

Justin said, "Yes, for I follow them with their correct teaching."

The prefect Rusticus said, "What sort of teaching is that?"

Justin said, "Worship the God of the Christians. We hold him to be from the beginning the one creator and maker of the whole creation, of things seen and things unseen. We worship also the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

Rusticus said, "You are a Christian, then?"

Justin said, "Yes, I am a Christian."

The prefect said to Justin, "You are called a learned man and think you know what is true teaching. Listen: if you were scourged and beheaded, are you convinced that you would go up to heaven?"

Justin said, "I hope that I shall enter God's house if I suffer in that way. For I know that God's favor is stored up until the end of the whole world for all who have lived good lives."

The prefect Rusticus said, "Do you have an idea that you will go up to heaven to receive some suitable rewards?"

Justin said, "It is not an idea that I have; it is something I know well and hold to be most certain."

The prefect Rusticus said, "Now let us come to the point at issue, which is necessary and urgent. Gather round then and with one accord offer sacrifice to the gods."

Justin said, "No one who is right-thinking stoops from true worship to false worship."

The prefect Rusticus said, "If you do not do as you are commanded you will be tortured without mercy."

Justin said, "We hope to suffer torment for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so be saved."

In the same way the other martyrs also said, "Do what you will. We are Christians; we do not offer sacrifice to idols."

The prefect Rusticus pronounced sentence, saying, "Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the command of the emperor be scourged and led away to suffer capital punishment according to the ruling of the laws." Glorifying God, the holy martyrs were beheaded, and so fulfilled their witness of martyrdom in confessing their faith in their Savior.

from the Acts of the Martyrdom of Saint Justin and his Companions

Through Christ we received new life and we consecrated ourselves to God. I will explain the way in which we did this. Those who believe what we teach is true and who give assurance of their ability to live according to that teaching are taught to ask God's forgiveness for their sins by prayer and fasting and we pray and fast with them. We then lead them to a place where there is water and they are reborn in the same way as we were reborn; that is to say, they are washed in the water in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the whole universe, of our Savior Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit. This is done because Christ said: Unless you are born again you will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and it is impossible for anyone, having once been born, to reenter his mother's womb.

An explanation of how repentant sinners are to be freed from their sins is given through the prophet Isaiah in the words: Wash yourselves and be clean. Remove the evil from your souls; learn to do what is right. Be just to the orphan, vindicate the widow. Come, let us reason together, says the Lord. If your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as wool; if they are like crimson, I will make them white as snow. But if you do not heed me, you shall be devoured by the sword. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.

The apostles taught us the reason for this ceremony of ours. Our first birth took place without our knowledge or consent because our parents came together, and we grew up in the midst of wickedness. So if we were not to remain children of necessity and ignorance, we needed a new birth of which we ourselves would be conscious, and which would be the result of our own free choice. We needed, too, to have our sins forgiven. This is why the name of God, the Father and Lord of the whole universe, is pronounced in the water over anyone who chooses to be born again and who has repented of his sins. The person who leads the candidate for baptism to the font calls upon God by this name alone, for God so far surpasses our powers of description that no one can really give a name to him. Anyone who dares to say that he can must be hopelessly insane.

This baptism is called "illumination" because of the mental enlightenment that is experienced by those who learn these things. The person receiving this enlightenment is also baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who through the prophets foretold everything concerning Jesus.

from the first apology in defense of the Christians by Saint Justin, martyr

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

JUSTIN MARTYR