Justin Martyr (100 - 165 AD) was an early church apologist who wrote about the manifestation of the Logos (or the Word made flesh). Justin had his own school in Rome with Tatian was one of his pupils. Tatian (Address to the Greeks 19) and Eusebius (HE IV 16.7-8) tell us that, after disputing with the cynic philosopher Crescens, he was denouncedto the authorities, tried with six companions, and beheaded. The martyrdom of Justin preserves the court record of the trial:
The Prefect Rusticus says: Approach and sacrifice, all of you, to the gods. Justin says: No one in his right mind gives up piety for impiety. The Prefect Rusticus says: If you do not obey, you will be tortured without mercy. Justin replies: That is our desire, to be tortured for Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and so to be saved, for that will give us salvation and firm confidence at the more terrible universal tribunal of Our Lord and Savior. And all the martyrs said: Do as you wish; for we are Christians, and we do not sacrifice to idols. The Prefect Rusticus read the sentence: Those who do not wish to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the emperor will be scourged and beheaded according to the laws. The holy martyrs glorifying God betook themselves to the customary place, where they were beheaded and consummated their martyrdom confessing their Savior.
No comments:
Post a Comment