St. Justin Martyr

 

St. Justin Martyr like many saints was not born into the Christian faith but, found his place by Christ and ultimately in heaven by searching for the Truth and ultimately giving up his life for it.  

 St. Justin Martyr, according to the web site New Advent.org, was “born at Flavia Neapolis, about A.D. 100, converted to Christianity about A.D. 130, taught and defended the Christian religion in Asia Minor and at Rome, where he suffered martyrdom about the year 165.”  ¹ St. Justin Martyr looked into many different philosophy’s, before finally finding his true vocation as a teacher and great witness to Christianity. For instance, St. Justin Martyr found Stoicism lacking because the teachers of this philosophy were unable to explain about God to him. In regards to the teachings of Pythagorean philosophy, St. Justin Martyr was asked to also learn about music, astronomy, and geometry. This did not interest St. Justin Martyr so he did not pursue that particular field of philosophy. St. Justin Martyr also looked into the philosophy of Aristotle, but that teacher was only interested in money. The final stop before converting to Christianity St. Justin Martyr found interest in the philosophy of Platonism. In an encounter with a Platonist teacher St. Justin Martyr had this to say in regards to Platonism, “And the perception of immaterial things quite overpowered me, and the contemplation of ideas furnished my mind with wings, so that in a little while I supposed that I had become wise; and such was my stupidity, I expected forthwith to look upon God, for this is the end of Plato's philosophy.”²    

St. Justin Martyr’s conversion to Christianity came by chance, as surprise one day while walking down the road. An old man approached St. Justin Martyr and struck up a conversation with the future saint. St. Justin Martyr informed the old man that he considered himself to a philosopher and lover of reason. The old man asked St. Justin Martyr why he was not a lover of truth.  The old man told St. Justin Martyr about the Profits and Scriptures, opening up the doors to his true calling of Christianity. Why did it take so long for St. Justin Martyr to come this conclusion and realization of the Truth? After all, St. Justin Martyr surly had heard about the Christians. But, at that time in Christendom, Christianity was looked down upon to say the least, and often time’s followers of Christ would be put to death for practicing their faith. Maybe this was God’s plan all along, testing St. Justin Martyr and his intellect, knowing that this future saint had something missing in his heart, and longing for a love that only God could fill?  St. Justin Martyr did choose God and for that decision he was put to death by the state for holding fast to his faith and never denying Jesus Christ and the True King and True God.

St. Justin Martyr is known as the first great Catholic apologist, apologist in the meaning of defender of the Catholic Faith. There was much to defend the Faith against in the early years of Christianity as there is today. St Justin Martyr debated Jewish followers on how they both could worship the same God and how Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. St. Justin Martyr debated pagans on why Christians do not worship idols, but yet are not to be considered atheists. In regards to debating the followers of the different philosophies of the time, St. Justin Martyr explained to them how Christianity recognized the dignity of all human beings. St. Justin Martyr also taught people about the supernatural greatness found in the Sacraments of Baptism and The Most Holy Eucharist. 

In his “Apologies” St. Justin Martyr explains what the Christian faith truly is and disproves the false accusations of the religion that were circulating around at that time. “Saint Justin Martyr, himself a convert from paganism, wrote his two apologies to explain and defend Christianity as a reasonable religion rooted in the truth and practiced in virtue and thus worthy of toleration rather than persecution. All of his writings, including the two apologies, are intended to clarify the belief of Christians, their moral code, and their sacramental rites.”3   

St. Justin Martyr’s first “Apology” was written for the ruler of that time Emperor Antoninus Pius. Rome was punishing Christians at that time for not worshiping Rome’s pagan gods. St. Justin Martyr explained that it was not possible for Christians to worship other god’s than their one true God Jesus Christ. Basically, St. Justin Martyr was the first Christian working for the freedom of religion in that empire, not asking for exemptions of Christians for punishment from personal crimes. Another fact about the Christian faith that St. Justin Martyr wanted to make known to the emperor was that Christianity was in fact good for the overall well-being of the state. The fact was if a Christian was truly practicing their faith they did not commit crimes, which if course was a good thing for the state. Also, family life was a top priority for a Christian, and strong families meant strong societies, also a good thing for the state. Not to mention, if a Christian was truly following their faith, they would be helping out all of the needy members of the state, praying for their enemies, as well as following all the state civil laws that do not call a Christian to abandon their faith in any way. To make a long story short, the presence of Christianity in the state, translates to a presence of love and peace in the state.

St. Justin Martyr explains the Christian reason for following the states “just” laws is not primarily out of fear of punishment from the state, but rather to be in union with God, in hopes to be with Him in heaven for eternity, an eternity that consists not only of an immortal soul, but also a resurrected body, as seen in the example of Jesus Christ. St. Justin Martyr then goes on to explain that the arrival of Jesus here on earth has been foretold for thousands of years in the Hebrew Scriptures, as well as found in the writings of many of the well-known philosophers such as Plato. Possibly, a reason for this comparison of ancient philosophy and ancient Scripture to Christianity is not only for conversion purposes, but also to ease possible tensions the state might have in regards to a new religion, that in the states mind could possibly cause the state to lose its reign.

Next, St. Justin Martyr goes on to explain the Sacraments and The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to Emperor Antoninus Pius. This is an important explanation because of the false accusations Christians were having orgies, blood sacrifices at their meetings. St. Justin Martyr goes on to explain that Christian worship is for Christians only because of what Christians believe and profess at the worship services, not because they are hiding anything. Those who are baptized in the name of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit and accepted into the community do receive what is to be the body and blood of their savior, in the form of bread and wine. Also, the community prays together, takes up collections for the poor, needy, and imprisoned.

After St. Justin Martyr’s death, his second “apology” was published; this work was intended for the Roman Senate. This work went over some of the same topics as the previous work, again revealing the injustice the Romans were inflicting on the Christians. St Justin Martyr used an example of a previous court case that wrongly prosecuted teachers of Christianity, and he believed this would be his fate. In this case a woman who had converted to Christianity to lead a better life in virtue, won her case in court, but her teachers were punished. Also, in this work St. Justin Martyr explains the Christian mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, as well as an explanation of Creation and the Fall of man. He then goes on to explain human responsibility for the sin they cause, out of the use of their free will. This also explains the mystery of evil. St. Justin Martyr then teaches how we are punished for our freely choosing to perform evil acts and how Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins.  St. Justin Martyr makes reference to the philosophers Plato and Socrates having partial truth that was contained in their beliefs, and fulfilled in the belief of Christ. For instance, Christians could not in gauge in sinful sensual pleasures similar to the teachings of Plato.            

St. Justin Martyr’s example of practicing what he preached is a rock solid example of how all Christians should walk with Christ. Granted, not all Christians are called to a red martyrdom like St. Justin, but Christ did promise all His followers will be persecuted in some fashion or another, if they are truly living out their Christian calling.  After reading this it is not hard to see how St. Justin earned the titles, Apologist, Philosopher, Martyr, and most of all Saint.

        

 

 

 

 

    

 

References

 ¹ Retrieved from: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08580c.htm

 ² Retrieved from: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=74

 ³ Retrieved from: https://www.enotes.com/topics/first-second-apologies