Justin Martyr
The greatest Christian Apologist and martyr, in the turn of the second century, who stood firm in defending the belief of Christianity, was the great philosopher and early Christian apologist and martyr - Justin Martyr. Justin Martyr (100-165CE), was born in Samaria, near Jacob’s well, around turn of the century in modern day Palestine. Justin was a Gentile and well educated, who has traveled extensively in search for the life’s meaning in the philosophies of his day.
In Justin’s child hood, his parents provided good education in rhetoric, poetry, and history. His study’s in various school started from Alexandria and Ephesus, began with the Stoics, Ari/sto/tel/ians, Py/tha/gor/eans, and Plat/on/ists, “earnestly longing after knowledge of Devine things.” His First teacher was a stoic who “knew nothing of God and did not even think knowledge of him to be necessary.” There followed a Per/i/pat/etic (itinerant philosopher), who seemed most interested in getting his fees. Then, came a Py/tha/gor/ean, but his required course of music, astronomy, and geometry discourage Justin’s interested. Finally, Plat/on/ism, through intellectually demanding, proved unfulfilling for Justin’s hunger heart. With his refined perceptions, from various studies, he became a disciple of Socrates and Plato.
While in Ephesus, Justin was impressed by the devotion of Christian martyrs. One day, while Justin was strolling by the seashore, a old Christian man walked beside Justin and spoke to him about Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises made through the Jewish prophets. Justin was overwhelmed. For Justin said, “straightway a flame was kindled in my soul, and a love of the prophets and those man who had loved Christ; I reflected on all their words and found that this philosophy alone was true and profitable. That is how and why I became a philosopher. And I wish that everyone felt the same why that I do.”
In turn, these lead Justin to eventually
In Justin’s child hood, his parents provided good education in rhetoric, poetry, and history. His study’s in various school started from Alexandria and Ephesus, began with the Stoics, Ari/sto/tel/ians, Py/tha/gor/eans, and Plat/on/ists, “earnestly longing after knowledge of Devine things.” His First teacher was a stoic who “knew nothing of God and did not even think knowledge of him to be necessary.” There followed a Per/i/pat/etic (itinerant philosopher), who seemed most interested in getting his fees. Then, came a Py/tha/gor/ean, but his required course of music, astronomy, and geometry discourage Justin’s interested. Finally, Plat/on/ism, through intellectually demanding, proved unfulfilling for Justin’s hunger heart. With his refined perceptions, from various studies, he became a disciple of Socrates and Plato.
While in Ephesus, Justin was impressed by the devotion of Christian martyrs. One day, while Justin was strolling by the seashore, a old Christian man walked beside Justin and spoke to him about Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises made through the Jewish prophets. Justin was overwhelmed. For Justin said, “straightway a flame was kindled in my soul, and a love of the prophets and those man who had loved Christ; I reflected on all their words and found that this philosophy alone was true and profitable. That is how and why I became a philosopher. And I wish that everyone felt the same why that I do.”
In turn, these lead Justin to eventually