Early Apologists
First & Second Apologies and the Dialogue with Trypho
Justin Martyr · c. 150 – 165
Historical Context
Justin was a Samaritan-born philosopher who, after his conversion, wrote in Rome to Antoninus Pius and to the Roman Senate, and engaged in a long dialogue with the Jewish teacher Trypho.
Summary
Justin defends Christians against the charges of atheism and immorality, describes baptism and the Sunday Eucharist in detail, and develops his famous doctrine of the Logos spermatikos — the 'seed of the Word' active even outside Israel. The Dialogue offers a Christological reading of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Major Themes
- Logos theology
- Christianity and philosophy
- Eucharist as sacrifice
- Continuity with Israel
- Religious freedom
Important Quotations
“Whatever has been spoken aright by any man belongs to us Christians.”— Second Apology 13
“We call this food Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes the things we teach are true.”— First Apology 66
Related Timeline Events
Related Church Fathers
Primary Sources
Further Reading
- Sara Parvis & Paul Foster (eds.), Justin Martyr and His Worlds