Justin suffered for the defense of his faith. By the middle of the second century, the church had a new concern: explaining itself to the world in convincing terms. Justin became one of the first Christian apologists, giving a reasoned defense of the Christian faith. He addressed his greatest work, the Apology, to the emperor Antonius Pius. In it, he contended that it was wrong for the Romans to persecute Christians, which persuaded Antonius to issue an edict in favor of the Christians. He was beheaded for his faith, along with six others, under the reign Marcus Aurelius, the son of Antonius Pius.
The conversion of Justin Martyr
Justin was a Gentile born in the Roman city of Flavia Neapolis (ancient Shechem in Samaria). His parents were pagans. Before Justin converted to Christianity, he sought to find the meaning of life in the philosophies of his day. However, this proved to be disappointing to him.
At first, he was taught by a stoic, but he left that philosophy because his teacher knew nothing of God and didn’t think knowledge of him was necessary. He then followed an itinerate philosopher, who followed the teaching methods of Aristotle. But it seemed to Justin that his teacher was mostly interested in receiving his fees. He later came to a Pythagorean, who required him to complete courses in music, astronomy, and geometry. This path of learning seemed much too slow for Justin. He finally studied Platonism. Though this philosophy was intellectually demanding, it remained unsatisfying to him.1https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/evangelistsandapologists/justin-martyr.html
About the year 133, Justin met an elderly Christian man as he was walking along the seashore and seeking new truths. This humble and dignified man quoted from Jewish prophecies, which showed that the Christian way was true and that Jesus was the true expression of God. This was Justin’s turning point. He poured over the prophecies, the Gospels and letters of Paul.2Kenneth Curtis, Stephen Lang, & Randy Petersen. The 100 Most Important Events if Christian History. Fleming H. Revell (Baker Book House). Seventh printing, 2000
Justin was also convinced of the truth of Christianity by the courage of Christian martyrs. So, Justin became a devoted Christian.
“For I myself, too, when I was delighting in the doctrines of Plato, and heard the Christians slandered, and saw them fearless of death … perceived that it was impossible that they could be living in wickedness and pleasure.”
Justin Martyr (2 Apol. 12)
Justin Martyr’s use of philosophy to defend the gospel
Justin was one of the first highly educated Gentiles to use his learning to defend Christianity even before the emperor himself. In Justin’s early work, The First Apology, he wrote to the Emperor Antonius Pius, to argue against the persecution of individuals solely for being Christian, Justin also provides the Emperor with a defense of the philosophy of Christianity and a detailed explanation of contemporary Christian practices and rituals.
“Reason dictates that persons who are truly noble and who love wisdom will honor and love only what is true. They will refuse to follow traditional viewpoints if those viewpoints are worthless…Instead, a person who genuinely loves truth must choose to do and speak what is true, even if he is threatened with death…I have not come to flatter you by this written petition, nor to impress you by my words. I have come to simply beg that you do not pass judgment until you have made an accurate and thorough investigation. Your investigation must be free of prejudice, hearsay, and any desire to please the superstitious crowds. As for us, we are convinced that you can inflict no lasting evil on us. We can only do it to ourselves by proving to be wicked people. You can kill us—but you cannot harm us.”
From Justin Martyr’s first apology
One of Justin’s most important themes involves his description of the logos, a philosophical concept of the divine reason implicit in the cosmos, ordering it and giving it form and meaning.) Throughout the First Apology, Justin argues that Jesus Christ is the incarnation of the Logos.
Justin succeeded in refuting the charges of atheism, immorality, and cannibalism against the Christians, and in showing the moral superiority of Christianity over paganism. Justin reminded Antonius Pius of his father’s (Emperor Hadrian’s) rule that accusations against Christians required proof. They should not be prosecuted just because they profess to be Christians.
The Apology gave the emperor the occasion to publish an edict in favor of the Christians. Antonius’ reign became one of the most peaceful reigns in early Roman history. Justin’s faithful act in sending this work to the emperor undoubtedly saved many Christians in his day from being persecuted and martyred. Justin was willing to suffer for the defense of his faith.
Justin Martyr’s contribution to Christian theology
Justin’s distinctive contribution to Christian theology is his conception of a divine plan in history, a process of salvation structured by God, wherein the various historical epochs have been integrated into an organic unity directed toward a supernatural end; the Old Testament and Greek philosophy met to form the single stream of Christianity.3https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Justin-Martyr
Justin opposed the teaching of the heretic Marcion, who denied that the God of the Old Testament was the same God presented in the New Testament. For Marcion, Jesus was the Son of the God of the New Testament but not the Son of the deity described in the Hebrew Scriptures. The deities of the Old and New Testaments were, from Marcion’s perspective, literally two different gods.
But Justin taught that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Rather than holding out Jesus to be something new and unconnected with the past, Justin wrote that the Logos was partially revealed in such Greek philosophers as Socrates and Heraclitus, and in such Hebrews as Abraham, Ananias, Azarias, Misael (Daniel’s three companions), and Elijah.
Justin’s concrete description of the sacramental celebrations of baptism and the Eucharist remain a principal source for the history of the primitive church. Justin serves, moreover, as a crucial witness to the 2nd-century recognition of apostolic teachings, mentioning the first three Gospels and quoting and paraphrasing the letters of Paul and 1 Peter; he was the first known writer to quote from The Acts of the Apostles.
Dialogue with Trypho
The Dialogue with Trypho is a discussion in which Justin tries to prove the truth of Christianity to a learned Jew named Trypho. Justin attempts to demonstrate that a new covenant has superseded the old covenant of God with the Jewish people; that Jesus is both the messiah announced by the Old Testament prophets and the preexisting logos through whom God revealed himself in the Scriptures; and that the gentiles have been chosen to replace Israel as God’s chosen people. In his brief Second Apology Justin argues that the Christians are being unjustly persecuted by Rome.4ibid
The Martyrdom of Justin
Justin frequently entered into debates with the celebrated Cynic philosopher Crescens. According to Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Justin’s arguments appeared so powerful, yet disgusting to the cynic, that he resolved to have him destroyed. Crescens prejudiced the emperor against Justin for some of the points he had made in his Second Apology. As a consequence, Justin and six of his companions were apprehended. Upon refusing to sacrifice to pagan idols, they were condemned to be scourged, and then beheaded. This was executed with all imaginable severity. Justin was willing to suffer for the defense of his faith.
“We hope to suffer torment for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so be saved. For this will bring us salvation and confidence as we stand before the more terrible and universal judgement-seat of our Lord and Savior”
Justin Martyr, just before he was beheaded5https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/saints/theaccountofthemartyrdomofstjustin/
Reflections on the life and death of Justin Martyr
A persistent hunger for the truth can result in finding it
God may place within us a sense of restlessness until we discover the truth about Him that He wants to reveal to us.
Justin explored the leading philosophies of his day, which for one reason or another left him dissatisfied. He was seeking greater knowledge about the Logos than the philosophies could reveal. When he encountered the elderly Christian man who could give him the answers he was searching for, he believed the message and became a Christian.
God determines the means by which His truth is revealed.
God can arrange the circumstances for His people to share His message with others who are receptive to it.
Justin’s meeting with the elderly Christian man on the seashore, who happened to be there at just the right time and place, was no accident. Justin was ready for such an encounter. He wasn’t satisfied with knowing a theory about the Logos; He was seeking greater truth, and this man seemed to have the answers he was looking for.
Encounters with others who would challenge our faith, can actually strengthen it.
God may place other people in our path to raise objections to our faith that we had not fully considered, but must answer for ourselves.
Justin encountered and debated the Christian faith with Trypho, the Jew. We don’t know for sure if this encounter was real or if it was used as a way to explain the conclusions that Justin had reached upon further thought. But Justin’s readiness to teach both Jews and Gentiles about Jesus’ role in God’s redemptive plan depended on this deeper thinking.
Having an acute awareness of our own spiritual gifts can prepare us to serve God’s kingdom.
Our diligence in boldly applying our spiritual gifts to meet the needs we are aware of can produce positive results that go beyond our imagination.
The emperor’s need for greater understanding of Christianity
Justin knew that the relative peace Christianity experienced under Emperor Antonius Pius’ adoptive father, Emperor Hadrian, could be very fragile. There had been a great deal of persecution of Christians under Hadrian’s predecessors.
Now, under the reign of Hadrian’s son, there was no assurance that the peace would be sustained. The Romans generally viewed Christians with suspicion; there was a mystery about what the Christians were secretly doing when they gathered together. Would Antonius perpetuate the policies of his father Hadrian or would he be swayed by the impulses of the Romans to eliminate these peculiar people who might appear to threaten their way of life?
Justin apparently knew that the emperor would be better equipped to maintain the peace if he better understood the Christians. The emperor needed to know that Christians worshipped a spiritual King who taught them to obey the civil authorities. They were no threat to the empire. And rather than being the atheists they were accused of being, their faith in the one true God was based on the compatibility and synthesis of both philosophical ideas about the Logos and fulfilled Jewish prophecies. Therefore, there should be nothing about the Christians to fear.
Justin’s confidence and courage to defend the Christians before the emperor
Justin knew he was spiritually well-equipped to deliver a good and reasonable defense of the Christian faith to the emperor. And despite the obvious danger to himself and others for doing so, he prepared his First and Second Apology for the emperor’s benefit. Justin was willing to suffer for the defense of his faith. Justin’s writings apparently led the emperor to issue an edict in favor of the Christians, and Antonius’ reign produced the peace that Justin intended.
Christians can believe in Christ and hold onto some uninspired beliefs at the same time.
While there are essential truths about Jesus Christ that we must believe to be saved, we should be humbly aware that our faith may often contain erroneous interpretations and illogical deductions.
Justin concluded that the Logos, which was postulated by the Greek philosophers, was the same Logos the apostle John spoke about in his Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3).
While Justin may have been right, he assumed that Aristotle and others who believed in a Logos were also Christians. This argument may have persuaded the emperor to believe that Greek philosophy was not opposed to Christian thought. However, it is not supported by biblical revelation.
Suffering and enduring persecution for the sake of Christ proves the genuineness of our faith.
Our fidelity to Jesus Christ, in spite of our suffering, demonstrates the unwavering trust in Him that he expects. Our willingness to place Him above ourselves also demonstrates His worthiness to others.
Justin and six others were beheaded by the authorities for refusing to deny Christ by offering sacrifices to idols. Jesus warned his disciples, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Justin was willing to suffer for the defense of his faith.
Taking a measure of your own faith
Jesus has warned us to persevere in the faith to the very end of our lives. We may start out our lives as Christians with a great deal of joy and enthusiasm. But over time, the excitement that we first experienced as Christians can subside.
As we go through the trials and adversities of life, our faith in God’s promises are tested. The Bible tells us to expect this; it is normal. And if our faith is the genuine article, we come through these tests with our faith intact. So, as we mature as Christians, we no longer fear the trials of life. We can actually take some joy from them, knowing that they’re producing character and hope within us. Our assurance and joy that we indeed belong to Christ is therefore enhanced.
Just as Justin was willing to suffer for the defense of his faith, have you persevered through your trials? Is your faith in Christ as strong or stronger than it once was? If so, thank God for His work in preserving you in the faith. Without His help, we would all fall away. But if you’re struggling, remember who God is and why you should place your faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Visit my blog, How to Begin Your Life over Again. And click here for clear YouTube presentations of the saving power of the Gospel.
May God bless you for your search of the One for whom all creation exists.
References
- 1https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/evangelistsandapologists/justin-martyr.html
- 2Kenneth Curtis, Stephen Lang, & Randy Petersen. The 100 Most Important Events if Christian History. Fleming H. Revell (Baker Book House). Seventh printing, 2000
- 3https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Justin-Martyr
- 4ibid
- 5https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/saints/theaccountofthemartyrdomofstjustin/
