Justin Martyr Quotes on Knowledge
Justin Martyr (c. 100 – c. 165), the second-century Christian philosopher whose First and Second Apologies and Dialogue with Trypho preserve the earliest extended philosophical defence of Christianity, gave patristic epistemology its founding doctrine of the "seminal Logos" (logos spermatikos). The pre-Christian Greek philosophical tradition is on this view a partial participation in the same divine Logos that has now appeared fully in the incarnation, so that Socrates, Heraclitus, and the Stoics — wherever they spoke truly — spoke as Christians before Christ. The framework supplied the conceptual permission under which patristic theology would systematically incorporate the categories of Greek philosophy.
Quotes
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Attributed to Justin Martyr:
“Whatever has been spoken truly belongs to us Christians.”
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Attributed to Justin Martyr:
“Christianity is the true philosophy.”
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Attributed to Justin Martyr:
“Reason is the seed of the divine Word in every man.”
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Attributed to Justin Martyr:
“Those who lived in accordance with reason are Christians, even if they were called atheists, like Socrates.”
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“First Apology, chap. xiv (trans. Marcus Dods )”
...we who valued above all things the acquisition of wealth and possessions, now bring what we have into a common stock, and communicate to every one in need; we who hated and destroyed one another, and on account of their different manners would not live with men of a different tribe, now, since the coming of Christ, live familiarly with them, and pray for our enemies, and endeavour to persuade t -
“If, therefore, any one makes the accusation, and furnishes proof that the said men [Christians] do anything contrary to the laws, you shall adjudge punishments in proportion to the offences. And this, by Hercules, you shall give special heed to, that if any man shall, through mere calumny, bring an accusation against any of these persons [Christians], you shall award to him more severe punishments in proportion to his wickedness.”
The first apology of Justin, chapter LXVIII. In ANF1, that is, Roberts A, Donaldson J and Coxe AC (1885) Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol 1 . [Justin quotes from a letter of c122AD from the Emperor Hadrian to Minucius Fundanus. ANF1 footnote: "Generally credited as genuine."] -
“The first apology of Justin, chapter LXVIII. In ANF1, that is, Roberts A, Donaldson J and Coxe AC (1885) Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol 1 . [Justin quotes from a letter of c122AD from the Emperor Hadrian to Minucius Fundanus. ANF1 footnote: "Generally credited as genuine."]”
If, therefore, any one makes the accusation, and furnishes proof that the said men [Christians] do anything contrary to the laws, you shall adjudge punishments in proportion to the offences. And this, by Hercules, you shall give special heed to, that if any man shall, through mere calumny, bring an accusation against any of these persons [Christians], you shall award to him more severe punishments -
“But yet, since He knew that it would be good, He created both angels and men free to do that which is righteous, and He appointed periods of time during which He knew it would be good for them to have the exercise of free-will; and because He likewise knew it would be good, He made general and particular judgments; each one’s freedom of will, however, being guarded.”
Dialogue with Trypho, chapter CII. In ANF1, that is, Roberts A, Donaldson J and Coxe AC (1885) Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol 1 . [Cf chapter LXXXVIII.] -
“Dialogue with Trypho, chapter CII. In ANF1, that is, Roberts A, Donaldson J and Coxe AC (1885) Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol 1 . [Cf chapter LXXXVIII.]”
But yet, since He knew that it would be good, He created both angels and men free to do that which is righteous, and He appointed periods of time during which He knew it would be good for them to have the exercise of free-will; and because He likewise knew it would be good, He made general and particular judgments; each one’s freedom of will, however, being guarded.