Justin Martyr (about 100 AD - about 165 AD) was born in a colonial city in Samaria. He initially studied Stoicism and later turned to Aristotle's The Peripatetic School, Pythagoreans, Platonism, and finally converted to Christianity. He taught disciples in Ephesus and Rome. He was famous for his eloquence. He was martyred in Rome in 166 AD. His martyrdom coincided with the reign of Emperor Aurelius. , Justin was the first philosopher to accept Christianity. His representative works are "The First Apologetics", "The Second Apologetics" and "Dialogue with the Jew Trevor".

1. Main ideas

In the process of defending Christianity, Justin mainly faced two problems: on the one hand, the relationship between Christianity and classical culture; Relationship to the Old Testament. He creatively uses the word "Logos" to answer the above questions, or to philosophicalize the questions. God the Father resides in the realm beyond heaven and does not appear in our world. God is transcendent, completely beyond human reach. Logos is the intermediary between God the Father and our world, the bridge over the abyss between man and God. Justin believed that God could only be understood to a limited extent from the philosophical wisdom of the ancient world. He believed that more perfect philosophical ideas were fully revealed by God.

2. Life Anecdotes

When Justin was young, he was keen on studying philosophy. When you first learn Stoic principles and feel dissatisfied, you turn to Plato's teachings until you accept them as truth. He liked to imitate the philosopher and wear his uniform. One day he was walking on the beach and happened to meet an old man waiting for the boat, so he talked to him. The old man told him: "You cannot understand the truth by studying philosophy. If you want to understand the truth, you must examine the Bible." After that, Justin went to study the Bible and often interacted with believers, because he saw Christians were willing to be killed in the name of Christ. , he was greatly moved and converted to Christianity.

Justin was killed at the same time as six other believers during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. When he was tried, the judge asked them to tell them what they believed, so Justin used A few concise sentences explain the Christian faith. The judge asked, "Are you a Christian?" He answered yes. The judge asked again: "You who claim to be knowledgeable, after I beat you and kill you, do you think you can go to heaven?" Justin replied: "I have no doubt about it."

< p> In response to the outside world asking Christians to commit suicide, Justin said, "Why not let a human being be born, and not allow a person to be taught the sacred teachings? Justin even asked, why not have human beings at all?" What? Moreover, if we do this, we are doing something contrary to the will of God."

3. Famous Aphorisms

Jesus Christ himself is the word of God, the "Logos".

The so-called absurdity or non-absurdity should not only depend on whether it can be figured out through theory or rational thinking, but also on the changes it has made in life.

Reason guides those who are truly pious and philosophical, to worship and love only truth, and never to succumb to traditional ideas if they have no value. Because sound reason should not only guide us to reject the guidance of those who mislead, but also do everything we can to shoulder the obligation to love the truth. Even if we face the threat of death personally, we must choose to do and say righteous things. Well, what about you! You are called the pious and the philosophers, upholders of justice and lovers of knowledge. Please pay attention to my statement. If you are really who you say you are, these things will surely be proven.

When I was fascinated by Plato’s teachings, I felt that what Christians were saying was nonsense, but when I discovered that they were not afraid of death or any other horrible things, I gradually began to understand, They are less likely to live in evil and lust.

Because a hedonist or indulgent person who takes pleasure in eating human flesh, how can he welcome it with a smile when death deprives him of the basis of all desires? Why didn't he do everything possible to prolong his real life and avoid the inspection of secular rulers, but instead surrendered his life to death?

References:

Get the app, Fu Peirong’s Western Philosophy Class

Yan Xiyu, opening the door to light - the inspiration for us from the apologist Justin , Jinling Theological Journal, Issue 1, 2002

Fan Shaopeng, The Double Dilemma in the Suicide View of the Martyr Justin, Chinese Catholicism, Issue 6, 2018