nonsense, and do not decree death against those who have done no wrong,
as you would enemies” (First Apology 68). Christians were persecuted only
out of ignorance and misapprehension, stirred on by the Demons.
Unfortunately, St. Justin’s hope of getting the Emperor to repeal the anti-
Christian laws had no effect.
The Dialogue with Trypho the Jew is the oldest known apologetical work
against Judaism. Trypho was probably a historical person, a learned Rabbi
of some note who openly debated with St. Justin at Ephesus between 132-
135 AD. The Dialogue was written around 155 AD as a record of the
disputation which lasted two days.
There exist also four fragments of another treatise entitled On the
Resurrection. Various patristic writers ascribe this work to St. Justin,
including St. John Damascene. Whether or not it is an authentic work of St.
Justin it is undoubtedly ancient, being alluded to by Methodius of Olympus
at the end of the third century.
According to the authentic Martyrdom of Sts. Justin and Sociorum,
St.
Justin and six companions were denounced to the authorities as Christians
in the year 165, perhaps by the cynic Crescens. After being tried and
condemned by the Prefect Junius Rusticus, all seven were scourged and
beheaded by sword. Eusebius referred to St. Justin as “an ornament of our
Faith soon after the Apostles’ time” (Ecclesiastical History 2, 13).
Extracts
13
“Our teacher of these things, born for this end, is Jesus Christ, who was crucified
under Pontius Pilate, the procurator in Judea in the time of Tiberius Caesar. We
will prove that we worship Him reasonably; for we have learned that He is the Son
of the True God Himself, that He holds a second place, and the spirit of Prophecy
a third. For this they accuse us of madness, saying that we attribute to a crucified
man a place second to the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of all
things; but they are ignorant of the mystery which lies therein.”
15
“According to our Teacher, just as they are sinners who contract a second
marriage, even though it be in accord with human law, so also are they sinners
who look with lustful desire at a woman. He repudiates not only one who actually
commits adultery, but even one who wishes to do so; for not only our actions are
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