|
|
 |
Martyr fed to lions
last quote: Quote 1
next quote: Quote 3 |
|
ou can kill us, but you can't hurt us. --Justin Martyr First Apology (Mid Second Century AD)
Justin is generally recognized as the first great philosopher of early
Christianity, showing how the Gospel could stand up to the philosophical
heritage of the Greek world and sustain a sound scholarly basis for its
claim to truth. He was schooled in Greek philosophy but one day while
walking the seaside Justin was brought to faith in Christ through the
witness of an old man. Justin reported that "straitway a flame was kindled
in my soul . . . I found this philosophy alone (Christian faith) to be
safe and profitable." But this early philosopher was no ivory tower academic.
The quote at the top of the column is from his "First Apology" and was
addressed to none other than the Emperor himself, the one presumed to
be the most powerful man in the world.
Justin demonstrates the remarkable courage of the early Christians who
promised the emperor that they would pray for him, gladly pay their taxes,
and exceed the normal expectations of citizenship. But they would not
compromise their faith. And here the emperor and the tyranny of government
threats were powerless against the believers. All that the state could
do was kill the body, but for Christians that was not the end of existence,
for they knew the Lord would be with them and they would rise again. Justin
goes further and warns the emperor that he too will face the judge of
all the world one day. Justin proved faithful to his own audacious claims
as he died for the faith. He was beheaded in 165 AD.
|
|
