The Second Apology of St. Justin Martyr

St. Justin Martyr

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Urbicus condemns the Christians to death
3. 3. Justin accuses Crescens of ignorant prejudice against the Christians
4. 4. Why the Christians do not kill themselves
5. 5. How the angels transgressed
6. 6. Names of God and of Christ, their meaning and power
7. 7. The world preserved for the sake of Christians. Man's responsibility
8. 8. All have been hated in whom the Word has dwelt
9. 9. Eternal punishment not a mere threat
10. 10. Christ compared with Socrates
11. 11. How Christians view death
12. 12. Christians proved innocent by their contempt of death
13. 13. How the Word has been in all men
14. 14. Justin prays that this appeal be published
15. 15. Conclusion

Romans, the things which have recently happened in your city under Urbicus, and the things which are likewise being everywhere unreasonably done by the governors, have compelled me to frame this composition for your sakes, who are men of like passions, and brethren, though you know it not, and though you be unwilling to acknowledge it on account of your glorying in what you esteem dignities. For everywhere, whoever is corrected by father, or neighbour, or child, or friend, or brother, or husband, or wife, for a fault, for being hard to move, for loving pleasure and being hard to urge to what is right (except those who have been persuaded that the unjust and intemperate shall be punished in eternal fire, but that the virtuous and those who lived like Christ shall dwell with God in a state that is free from suffering — we mean, those who have become Christians), and the evil demons, who hate us, and who keep such men as these subject to themselves, and serving them in the capacity of judges, incite them, as rulers actuated by evil spirits, to put us to death. But that the cause of all that has taken place under Urbicus may become quite plain to you, I will relate what has been done.