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Early
Christians - Justin Martyr
Excerpts
from his ca. 2nd Century AD Apology to Caesar
Edited
by the Rev. Msgr. Keith P. Steinhurst, P.A.
This text is excerpted from a longer work by St. Justin (Martyr)
written either at the end of the first century or the beginning of
the second and contemporary with the St. John's "Revelation."
[God] for man's sake, created all things out of formless matter...He
holds those who choose what is pleasing to Him, on account of their
choice, worthy of incorruption and fellowship with him"
"There were, then, among the Jews certain men who were prophets
of God, through whom the prophetic Spirit published beforehand things
that were to come to pass, ere ever they happened. And their
prophecies, as they were spoken and when they were uttered, the kings
who happened to be reigning among the Jews at the several times
carefully preserved in their possession, when they had been arranged
in books by the prophets themselves in their own Hebrew language. And
when Ptolemy king of Egypt formed a library, and endeavored to
collect the writings of all men, he heard also of these prophets, and
sent to Herod, who was at that time king of the Jews, requesting that
the books of the prophets be sent to him. And Herod the king did
indeed send them, written, as they were, in the foresaid Hebrew
language. And when their contents were found to be unintelligible to
the Egyptians, he again sent and requested that men be commissioned
to translate them into the Greek language. And when this was done,
the books remained with the Egyptians, where they are until now. They
are also in the possession of all Jews throughout the world; but
they, though they read, do not understand what is said, but count us
foes and enemies; and, like yourselves, they kill and punish us
whenever they have the power, as you can well believe. For in the
Jewish war, which lately raged, Barchochebas, the leader of the
revolt of the Jews, gave orders that Christians alone should be led
to cruel punishments, unless they would deny Jesus Christ and utter blasphemy.
In these books, then, of the prophets we found Jesus our Christ
foretold as coming, born of a virgin, growing up to man's estate, and
healing every disease and every sickness, and raising the dead, and
being hated, and unrecognized, and crucified, and dying, and rising
again, and ascending into heaven, and being, and being called, the
Son of God. We find it also predicted that certain persons should be
sent by Him into every nation to publish these things, and that
rather among the Gentiles [than among the Jews] men should believe on
Him. And He was predicted before He appeared, first 5000 years
before, and again 3000, then 2000, then 1000, and yet again 800; for
in the succession of generations prophets after prophets arose.
"But lest some suppose, from what has been said by us, that we
say that whatever happens, happens by a fatal necessity, because it
is foretold as known beforehand, this too we explain. We have learned
from the prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, and
chastisements, and good rewards, are rendered according to the merit
of each man's actions. Since if it be not so, but all things happen
by fate, neither is anything at all in our own power. For if it were
fated that this man, e.g., be good, and this other evil, neither is
the former meritorious nor the latter to be blamed. And again, unless
the human race has the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by
free choice, they are not accountable for their actions, of whatever
kind they are. But that it is by free choice they both walk uprightly
and stumble, we thus demonstrate. We see the same man making a
transition to opposite things. Now, if it had been fated that he were
to be either good or bad, he could never have been capable of both
the opposites, nor of so many transitions. But not even would some be
good and others bad, since we thus make fate the cause of evil, and
exhibit her as acting in opposition to herself; or that which has
been already stated would seem to be true, that neither virtue nor
vice is anything, but that things are only reckoned good or evil by
opinion; which, as the true word shows, is the greatest impiety and wickedness.
But this we assert is inevitable fate that they who choose the good
have worthy rewards and they who choose the opposite have their
merited awards. For not like other things, as trees and quadrupeds,
which cannot act by choice, did God make man: for neither would he be
worthy of reward or praise did he not of himself choose the good, but
were created for this end; nor, if he were evil, would he be worthy
of punishment, not being evil of himself, but being able to be
nothing else than what he was made. And the holy Spirit of prophecy
taught us this, telling us by Moses that God spoke thus to the man
first created: "Behold, before thy face are good and evil:
choose the good." And again, by the other prophet Isaiah, that
the following utterance was made as if from God the Father and Lord
of all: "Wash you, make you clean; put away evils from your
souls; learn to do well; judge the orphan, and plead for the widow:
and come and let us reason together, saith the Lord: And if your sins
be as scarlet, I will make them white as wool; and if they be red
like as crimson, I will make them white as snow. And if ye be willing
and obey Me, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye do not obey
Me, the sword shall devour you: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken
it." And that expression, "The sword shall devour you,"
does not mean that the disobedient shall be slain by the sword, but
the sword of God is fire, of which they who choose to do wickedly
become the fuel. Wherefore He says, "The sword shall devour you:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." And if He had spoken
concerning a sword that cuts and at once dispatches, He would not
have said, shall devour. And so, too, Plato, when he says, "The
blame is his who chooses, and God is blameless," took this from
the prophet Moses and uttered it. For Moses is more ancient than all
the Greek writers.
And whatever both philosophers and poets have said concerning the
immortality of the soul, or punishments after death, or contemplation
of things heavenly, or doctrines of the like kind, they have received
such suggestions from the prophets as have enabled them to understand
and interpret these things. And hence there seem to be seeds of truth
among all men; but they are charged with not accurately understanding
[the truth] when they assert contradictories. So that what we say
about future events being foretold, we do not say it as if they came
about by a fatal necessity; but God foreknowing all that shall be
done by all men, and it being His decree that the future actions of
men shall all be recompensed according to their several value, He
foretells by the Spirit of prophecy that He will bestow meet rewards
according to the merit of the actions done, always urging the human
race to effort and recollection, showing that He cares and provides
for men. But by the agency of the devils death has been decreed
against those who read the books of Hystaspes, or of the Sibyl, or of
the prophets, that through fear they may prevent men who read them
from receiving the knowledge of the good, and may retain them in
slavery to themselves; which, however, they could not always effect.
For not only do we fearlessly read them, but as you see, bring them
for your inspection, knowing that their contents will be pleasing to
all. And if we persuade even a few, our gain will be very great; for,
as good husbandmen, we shall receive the reward from the Master."
"But in no instance, not even in any of those called sons of
Jupiter, did they imitate the being crucified; for it was not
understood by them, all the things said of it having been put symbolically.
And the things that fall under our observation, as the prophet
foretold, is the greatest symbol of His power and role; as also prove
this. For consider all the things in the world, whether without this
form they could be administered or have any community. For the sea is
not traversed except that trophy that is called a sail abide safe in
the ship; and the earth is not ploughed without it: diggers and
mechanics do not their work, except with tools that have this shape.
And the human form differs from that of the irrational animals in
nothing else than in its being erect and having the hands extended,
and having on the face extending from the forehead what is called the
nose, through which there is respiration for the living creature; and
this shows no other form than that of the cross. And so it was said
by the prophet, "The breath before our face is the Lord
Christ." And the power of this form is shown by your own symbols
on what are called "vexilla" [banners] and trophies, with
which all your state possessions are made, using these as the
insignia of your power and government, even though you do so
unwittingly. And with this form you consecrate the images of your
emperors when they die, and you name them gods by inscriptions.
Since, therefore, we have urged you both by reason and by an evident
form, and to the utmost of our ability, we know that now we are
blameless even though you disbelieve; for our part is done and
finished. " "And the devils, indeed, having heard this
washing published by the prophet, instigated those who enter their
temples, and are about to approach them with libations and
burnt-offerings, also to sprinkle themselves; and they cause them
also to wash themselves entirely, as they depart [from the
sacrifice], before they enter into the shrines in which their images
are set.
And the command, too, given by the priests to those who enter and
worship in the temples, that they take off their shoes, the devils,
learning what happened to the above-mentioned prophet Moses, have
given in imitation of these things. For at that juncture, when Moses
was ordered to go down into Egypt and lead out the people of the
Israelites who were there, and while he was tending the flocks of his
maternal uncle in the land of Arabia, our Christ conversed with him
under the appearance of fire from a bush, and said, "Put off thy
shoes, and draw near and hear." And he, when he had put off his
shoes and drawn near, heard that he was to go down into Egypt and
lead out the people of the Israelites there; and he received mighty
power from Christ, who spoke to him in the appearance of fire, and
went down and led out the people, having done great and marvelous
things; which, if you desire to know, you will learn them accurately
from his writings. And all the Jews even now teach that the nameless
God spake to Moses; whence the Spirit of prophecy, accusing them by
Isaiah the prophet mentioned above, said "The ox knoweth his
owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know Me,
and My people do not understand." And Jesus the Christ, because
the Jews knew not what the Father was, and what the Son, in like
manner accused them; and He said, "No one knoweth the Father,
but the Son; nor the Son, but the Father, and they to whom the Son
revealeth Him." Now the Word of God is His Son, as we have
before said. And He is called Angel and Apostle; for He declares
whatever we ought to know, and is sent forth to declare whatever is
revealed; as our Lord Himself says, "He that heareth Me, heareth
Him that sent Me." From the writings of Moses also this will be
manifest; for thus it is written in them, "And the Angel of God
spake to Moses, in a flame of fire out of the bush, and said, I am
that I am, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob,
the God of thy fathers; go down into Egypt, and bring forth My
people." And if you wish to learn what follows, you can do so
from the same writings; for it is impossible to relate the whole here.
But so much is written for the sake of proving that Jesus the Christ
is the Son of God and His Apostle, being of old the Word, and
appearing sometimes in the form of fire, and sometimes in the
likeness of angels; but now, by the will of God, having become man
for the human race, He endured all the sufferings which the devils
instigated the senseless Jews to inflict upon Him; who, though they
have it expressly affirmed in the writings of Moses, "And the
angel of God spake to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush, and said, I
am that I am, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob," yet maintain that He who said this was the Father and
Creator of the universe. Whence also the Spirit of prophecy rebukes
them, and says, "Israel doth not know Me, my people have not
understood Me." And again, Jesus, as we have already shown,
while He was with them, said, "No one knoweth the Father, but
the Son; nor the Son but the Father, and those to whom the Son will
reveal Him." The Jews, accordingly, being throughout of opinion
that it was the Father of the universe who spake to Moses, though He
who spake to him was indeed the Son of God, who is called both Angel
and Apostle, are justly charged, both by the Spirit of prophecy and
by Christ Himself, with knowing neither the Father nor the Son. For
they who affirm that the Son is the Father, are proved neither to
have become acquainted with the Father, nor to know that the Father
of the universe has a Son; who also, being the first-begotten Word of
God, is even God. And of old He appeared in the shape of fire and in
the likeness of an angel to Moses and to the other prophets; but now
in the times of your reign, having, as we before said, become Man by
a virgin, according to the counsel of the Father, for the salvation
of those who believe on Him, He endured both to be set at naught and
to suffer, that by dying and rising again He might conquer death. And
that which was said out of the bush to Moses, "I am that I am,
the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and
the God of your fathers," this signified that they, even though
dead, are let in existence, and are men belonging to Christ Himself.
For they were the first of all men to busy themselves in the search
after God; Abraham being the father of Isaac, and Isaac of Jacob, as
Moses wrote.
CHAPTER
LXIV -- FURTHER MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUTH.
From
what has been already said, you can understand how the devils, in
imitation of what was said by Moses, asserted that Proserpine was the
daughter of Jupiter, and instigated the people to set up an image of
her under the name of Kore [Cora, i.e., the maiden or daughter] at
the spring-heads. For, as we wrote above, Moses said, "In the
beginning God made the heaven and the earth. And the earth was
without form and unfurnished: and the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters." In imitation, therefore, of what is here
said of the Spirit of God moving on the waters, they said that
Proserpine [or Coral was the daughter of Jupiter. And in like manner
also they craftily feigned that Minerva was the daughter of Jupiter,
not by sexual union, but, knowing that God conceived and made the
world by the Word, they say that Minerva is the first conception
[ennoia]; which we consider to be very absurd, bringing forward the
form of the conception in a female shape. And in like manner the
actions of those others who are called sons of Jupiter sufficiently
condemn them. " "But we, after we have thus washed him who
has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the
place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order
that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the
baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place,
that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by
our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the
commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation.
Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is
then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine
mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the
Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted
worthy to receive these things at His hands.
And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the
people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen
answers in the Hebrew language to genoito [so be it]. And when the
president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their
assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those
present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which
the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they
carry away a portion. And this food is called among us Eukaristia, of
which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the
things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the
washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and
who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and
common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ
our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh
and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the
food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our
blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and
blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the
memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus
delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread,
and when He had given thanks, said, "This do ye in remembrance
of Me, this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having
taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;"
and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in
the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For,
that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in
the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or
can learn. And we afterwards continually remind each other of these
things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep
together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the
Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy
Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the
country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits;
then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs,
and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise
together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended,
bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like
manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability,
and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to
each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given,
and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And
they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and
what is collected is deposited with the president, who succors the
orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other
cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers
sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.
But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly,
because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in
the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior
on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day
before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of
Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles
and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted
to you also for your consideration."
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