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Justin Martyr, St
Justin Martyr, St (c.100–c.165), Apologist. Born of pagan parents, he was converted to Christianity c.130. He continued as a philosopher, now teaching Christianity, first at Ephesus and later in Rome. His ‘First Apology’ (c.155) was addressed to the Emp. Antonius Pius and his adopted sons; the ‘Second Apology’, apparently written soon after the accession of Marcus Aurelius (161), was addressed to the Senate. Justin and some of his disciples were denounced as Christians c.165 and on refusing to sacrifice were beheaded.
Besides rebutting the charges of atheism and immorality, Justin and the other Apologists argued that Christianity was a true philosophy, in comparison with which other philosophies were either false or shadows of the truth fulfilled in Christ. In support of this argument Justin developed his doctrine of the ‘generative’ or ‘germinative’ Word, who had sown the seed of truth in all men and had become incarnate in Christ. He used his doctrine of the Logos to explain why Christians, while remaining monotheists, worshipped Jesus Christ, regarding Him as an incarnation of the Logos, ‘in second place’ to God. The ‘Dialogue with Trypho the Jew’ argues that the fulfilment of the OT prophecies in Christ proves the transitoriness of the Old Covenant and the vocation of the Gentiles to take the place of Israel. A number of other works have circulated under Justin's name, all spurious. Feast day, 1 June; in the W. formerly 14 Apr. |
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Justin Martyr, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Justin Martyr, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-JustinMartyrSt.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Justin Martyr, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-JustinMartyrSt.html |
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Saint Justin Martyr
Saint Justin Martyr c.AD 100-c.AD 165, Christian apologist, called also Justin the Philosopher. Born in Samaria of pagan parents, he studied philosophy, and after his conversion in Ephesus to Christianity at about the age of 38, he went from place to place trying to convert men of learning by philosophical argument. He opened a school of Christian philosophy at Rome, where he and some disciples were finally martyred under Marcus Aurelius. Of his writings (in Greek), only two undisputed works remain, the Apology (with an appendix called the Second Apology ) and the Dialogue. The Apology is a learned defense of Christians against charges of atheism and sedition in the Roman state; it contains an exposition of Christian ethics and invaluable records of the customs and practices of 2d-century Christianity. The Dialogue sets forth in the form of an argument with Trypho (or Tryphon) the Jew a philosophic defense of Christian beliefs, particularly with reference to Jewish writings; it has references to the Gospels that have been of much interest to students of the Bible. Feast: Apr. 14. |
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"Saint Justin Martyr." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Saint Justin Martyr." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-JustinMa.html "Saint Justin Martyr." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-JustinMa.html |
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Justin Martyr, St
Justin Martyr, St (c.100–c.165). Early Christian apologist (see APOLOGETICS). A native of Samaria, he became a Christian after a long search for truth in pagan philosophies. According to an authentic record of proceedings, he and some of his disciples were denounced as Christians and, on refusing to sacrifice, they were beheaded. Justin's First Apology (c.155) argues that traces of the truth are to be found in pagan thinkers, since all share in the ‘generative word’ (logos spermatikos), but Christianity alone is rationally credible, because the logos became incarnate to redeem as well as to instruct. His Dialogue with Trypho (R. Tarphon) the Jew is considered one of the more fair-minded of ancient Christian rebuttals of Judaism.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Justin Martyr, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Justin Martyr, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-JustinMartyrSt.html JOHN BOWKER. "Justin Martyr, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-JustinMartyrSt.html |
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Justin Martyr, Saint
Justin Martyr, Saint (100–165) Greek philosopher. He was one of the first Christian apologists in the early Church. Raised as a Jew, he converted to Christianity, probably while studying Platonic and Stoic philosophy at Ephesus. He strongly defended Christian doctrine and was put to death in Rome for his faith. His feast day is June 1.
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Cite this article
"Justin Martyr, Saint." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Justin Martyr, Saint." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-JustinMartyrSaint.html "Justin Martyr, Saint." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-JustinMartyrSaint.html |
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