The Second Apology
Classic translationAncient Greek original
2nd c. · Apologetics · English translation, 1890
Source edition: The Ante-Nicene Fathers (ed. Roberts & Donaldson, 1885)
Written in mid-second-century Rome and transmitted under an address to the Roman Senate, St. Justin Martyr's Second Apology is a brief but incisive companion to his longer First Apology — prompted by the summary execution of Christians under Prefect Urbicus, and moving from that incident to Justin's boldest claim: that every truth Plato or Socrates ever spoke belongs to Christians, because all rational souls share in the same divine Word who became flesh in Christ.
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Contents
- Chapter 1.—Introduction
- 2. Urbicus condemns the Christians to death
- 3. Justin accuses Crescens of ignorant prejudice against the Christians
- 4. Why the Christians do not kill themselves
- Chapter 5.—How the Angels Transgressed
- 6. Names of God and of Christ, their meaning and power
- 7. The world preserved for the sake of Christians. Man’s responsibility
- 8. All have been hated in whom the Word has dwelt
- 9. Eternal punishment not a mere threat
- Chapter 10.—Christ Compared With Socrates
- Chapter 11.—How Christians View Death
- 12. Christians proved innocent by their contempt of death
- 13. How the Word has been in all men
- 14. Justin prays that this appeal be published
- Chapter 15.—Conclusion