Early Apologists
Apology of Aristides
Aristides of Athens · c. 125 – 140
Historical Context
An Athenian philosopher's apology, addressed either to Hadrian or Antoninus Pius; lost for centuries and recovered from Syriac and Armenian versions and a Greek text embedded in the medieval novel Barlaam and Josaphat.
Summary
Aristides classifies humanity as barbarians, Greeks, Jews, and Christians, and argues that only Christians have a true conception of God and a way of life that matches it — caring for widows, orphans, strangers, and even their enemies.
Major Themes
- Fourfold classification of religions
- Christian charity
- Monotheism
- Ethics as apologetic
Important Quotations
“They love one another; they do not neglect the widow, and they save the orphan.”— Apology 15
Related Doctrines
Primary Sources
Further Reading
- Robert M. Grant, Greek Apologists of the Second Century