Justin Martyr Essay

The philosopher Justin Martyr is considered as one of the most influential public figures in early Christianity. He was a staunch proponent for “faith” and “reason”. The roles of Justin can be summed up as witness, lover of Christ and defender for Christians. This research will observe his argumentations concerning Christianity, his apologetics, and the impact on past and present Christian history.

Justin’s Life

Justin Martyr, was an early Christian apologist. Born of pagan parents of Flavia

Neapolis (in modern- day Israel) around 100 C.E. He manifested a serious religious interest from an early date. After studying with STOIC, Peripatetic (Aristotelian) Pythagorean, and Platonist teachers, he experienced a conversion from Greek to Hebrew

But this Stoic neither offered nor sought knowledge of God, and therefore left him, to turn to a disciple of Aristotle. The Peripatetic philosopher was put off because the philosopher was too eager for fees. Justin moved on and sought out a well-known Pythagorean, who became to concern with academic preliminaries rather than the true objects of philosophy. He also tried Platonism as he advanced his knowledge.

Justin Martyr lived the life of an educated pagan, but showed intellectual force in his rejection against most of the established schools of philosophy. Justin continued his quest to allow himself to hope that he would without delay come to the vision of God. As his first love was truth, his first hatred and fear was pretense. Martyr did not want to be called a man of words, because he loved truth and trust

Justin’s writing presents painstaking logic, reconciling faith and philosophy. He maintained that the ethics and Logos principles of Stoic philosophy had much in common with Christianity. According to Justin, and men like Plato, Socrates, and Abraham were “Christians” before Christ.

Justin’s Apologies

The first apology consists of sixty-eight chapters defending Christian’s right to exist and answer Pagan accusations; described early church worship and how the ordinances were performed. Justin does not set forth any Trinitarians doctrine in the Apologies. But he states, he worshiped the Father as supreme in the Universe. He uses the language of Christian experience and worship rather theological reflection. The Holy Spirit was for Justin the guide of spiritual endeavor, and the source of the spiritual gifts in the Church

Justin was interested in the activity of demons or spirits, which he believed were everywhere active in the Universe. He categorized them as fallen angels who had