Justin Martyr's The First Apology

The First Apology, written by Justin Martyr, is addressed to the emperor of Rome, Antoninus Pius, the Roman senate, and the people of Rome. The work has two goals, proximate and ultimate. The proximate goal is to foster toleration for Christians. The ultimate goal is the conversion of the emperor and all those who read the letter. It deals not only with the persecution of Christians, but also with the morality of Christians. The First Apology also sets forth a defense for God and the Christian faith, as well as an explanation of the Christian practices. Justin Martyr utilizes this letter to confront accusations concerning Christian’s morality, supposed atheism, and loyalty to country. In chapter 14, he discusses circumstances in which people have left their lives of immortality upon becoming Christians, and from chapters 15-17 he writes about he moral teachings of Christ, which include chastity, non-violence, and charity. Martyr also addresses the accusation that Christians are atheists, and says, …show more content…
Evidence for one’s supposed lack of need for Christianity is often argued by the fact that they live moral lives. If one can be morally upstanding without Christ, then what is the need for Christ? Through analyzing Martyr’s work, one may determine that like the philosophers coming up with Christ-like philosophical worldviews through the seed of the logos, one can likewise come up with Christ-like moral worldviews through the seed if the logos. When one attempts to uphold their moral worldview in their lives, they will deem themselves a “good person” when doing the best that they can to follow most of their rules most of the time. What makes Christians morally exceptional is that we did not only inherent the seed of the logos with the rest of humanity, but that the Logos himself always dwells within us through His Holy Spirit, teaching us morality and convicting us of our