St. Justin Martyr: The First and Second Apologies

by Justin Martyr

"St. Justin The First and Second Apologies (Ancient Christian Writers)" is a collection that presents Justin Martyr’s seminal works of early Christian apologetics.

"The First Apology" defends Christianity against Roman misunderstandings and accusations, urging for fair treatment and highlighting Christian virtues.

"The Second Apology" continues this defense, addressing injustices faced by Christians and elaborating on Christian ethics.

Together, these texts offer crucial insights into the challenges and defenses of early Christianity and are essential reading for understanding the development of Christian thought and advocacy.

81 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2024

About the author

Justin Martyr, also known as Saint Justin (c. 100–165 CE), was an early Christian apologist, and is regarded as the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos in the 2nd century. He was martyred, alongside some of his students, and is considered a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Most of his works are lost, but two apologies and a dialogue did survive. The First Apology, his most well known text, passionately defends the morality of the Christian life, and provides various ethical and philosophical arguments to convince the Roman emperor, Antoninus, to abandon the persecution of the fledgling sect. Further, he also makes the theologically-innovative suggestion that the "seeds of Christianity" (manifestations of the Logos acting in history) actually predated Christ's incarnation. This notion allows him to claim many historical Greek philosophers (including Socrates and Plato), in whose works he was well studied, as unknowing Christians. (Wikipedia)