Introductory Note to the Martyrdom of Justin Martyr
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Text edited by Rev. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson and
first published by T&T Clark in Edinburgh in 1867. Additional
introductionary material and notes provided for the American
edition by A. Cleveland Coxe, 1886.
Crescens, a cynic, has the ill-renown of stirring up the persecution in
which Justin and his friends suffered for Christ. The story that he died by
the hemlock seems to have originated among the Greeks, who naturally gave
this turn to the sufferings of a philosopher. The following Introductory
Notice of the translator supplies all that need be added.
Though nothing is known as to the date or authorship of the following
narrative, it is generally reckoned among the most trustworthy of the
Martyria. An absurd addition was in some copies made to it, to the effect
that Justin died by means of hemlock. Some have thought it necessary, on
account of this story, to conceive of two Justins, one of whom, the
celebrated defender of the Christian faith whose writings are given in this
volume, died through poison, while the other suffered in the way here
described, along with several of his friends. But the description of Justin
given in the following account, is evidently such as compels us to refer it
to the famous apologist and martyr of the second century. [2642]
Footnotes
[2642] [See Cave, Lives of the Fathers, i. 243. Epiphanius, by fixing the
martyrdom under the prefecture of Rusticus, seems to identify this history;
but, then, he also connects it with the reign of Hadrian. Ed. Oehler, tom
ii. 709. Berlin, 1859.]
The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs Justin, Chariton, Charites, Pæon, and
Liberianus, who Suffered at Rome
[Translated by the Rev. M. Dods, M.A.]
Chapter I. Examination of Justin by the prefect.
In the time of the lawless partisans of idolatry, wicked decrees were passed
against the godly Christians in town and country, to force them to offer
libations to vain idols; and accordingly the holy men, having been
apprehended, were brought before the prefect of Rome, Rusticus by name. And
when they had been brought before his judgment-seat, said to Justin, "Obey
the gods at once, and submit to the kings." [2643] Justin said, "To obey the
commandments of our Saviour Jesus Christ is worthy neither of blame nor of
condemnation." Rusticus the prefect said, "What kind of doctrines do you
profess?" Justin said, "I have endeavoured to learn all doctrines; but I
have acquiesced at last in the true doctrines, those namely of the
Christians, even though they do not please those who hold false opinions."
Rusticus the prefect said, "Are those the doctrines that please you, you
utterly wretched man?" Justin said, "Yes, since I adhere to them with right
dogma." [2644] Rusticus the prefect said, "What is the dogma?" Justin said,
"That according to which we worship the God of the Christians, whom we
reckon to be one from the beginning, the maker and fashioner of the whole
creation, visible and invisible; and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
who had also been preached beforehand by the prophets as about to be present
with the race of men, the herald of salvation and teacher of good disciples.
And I, being a man, think that what I can say is insignificant in comparison
with His boundless divinity, acknowledging a certain prophetic power, [2645]
since it was prophesied concerning Him of whom now I say that He is the Son
of God. For I know that of old the prophets foretold His appearance among
men."
Footnotes
[2643] i.e., the emperors.
[2644] Meta dogmatos orthou, orthodoxy.
[2645] That is, that a prophetic inspiration is required to speak worthily
of Christ.
Chapter II. Examination of Justin continued.
Rusticus the prefect said, "Where do you assemble?" Justin said, "Where each
one chooses and can: for do you fancy that we all meet in the very same
place? Not so; because the God of the Christians is not circumscribed by
place; but being invisible, fills heaven and earth, and everywhere is
worshipped and glorified by the faithful." Rusticus the prefect said, "Tell
me where you assemble, or into what place do you collect your followers?"
Justin said, "I live above one Martinus, at the Timiotinian Bath; and during
the whole time (and I am now living in Rome for the second time) I am
unaware of any other meeting than his. And if any one wished to come to me,
I communicated to him the doctrines of truth." Rusticus said, "Are you not,
then, a Christian?" Justin said, "Yes, I am a Christian."
Chapter III. Examination of Chariton and others.
Then said the prefect Rusticus to Chariton, "Tell me further, Chariton, are
you also a Christian?" Chariton said, "I am a Christian by the command of
God." Rusticus the prefect asked the woman Charito, "What say you,
Charito?" Charito said, "I am a Christian by the grace of God." Rusticus
said to Euelpistus, "And what are you?" Euelpistus, a servant of Cæsar,
answered, "I too am a Christian, having been freed by Christ; and by the
grace of Christ I partake of the same hope." Rusticus the prefect said to
Hierax, "And you, are you a Christian?" Hierax said, "Yes, I am a Christian,
for I revere and worship the same God." Rusticus the prefect said, "Did
Justin make you Christians?" Hierax said, "I was a Christian, and will be a
Christian." And Pæon stood up and said, "I too am a Christian." Rusticus the
prefect said, "Who taught you?" Pæon said, "From our parents we received
this good confession." Euelpistus said, "I willingly heard the words of
Justin. But from my parents also I learned to be a Christian." Rusticus the
prefect said, "Where are your parents?" Euelpistus said, "In Cappadocia."
Rusticus says to Hierax, "Where are your parents?" And he answered, and
said, "Christ is our true father, and faith in Him is our mother; and my
earthly parents died; and I, when I was driven from Iconium in Phrygia, came
here." Rusticus the prefect said to Liberianus, "And what say you? Are you a
Christian, and unwilling to worship [the gods]?" Liberianus said, "I too am
a Christian, for I worship and reverence the only true God."
Chapter IV. Rusticus threatens the Christians with death.
The prefect says to Justin, "Hearken, you who are called learned, and think
that you know true doctrines; if you are scourged and beheaded, do you
believe you will ascend into heaven?" Justin said, "I hope that, if I endure
these things, I shall have His gifts. [2646] For I know that, to all who
have thus lived, there abides the divine favour until the completion of the
whole world." Rusticus the prefect said, "Do you suppose, then, that you
will ascend into heaven to receive some recompense?" Justin said, "I do not
suppose it, but I know and am fully persuaded of it." Rusticus the prefect
said, "Let us, then, now come to the matter in hand, and which presses.
Having come together, offer sacrifice with one accord to the gods." Justin
said, "No right-thinking person falls away from piety to impiety." Rusticus
the prefect said, "Unless ye obey, ye shall be mercilessly punished." Justin
said, "Through prayer we can be saved on account of our Lord Jesus Christ,
even when we have been punished, [2647] because this shall become to us
salvation and confidence at the more fearful and universal judgment-seat of
our Lord and Saviour." Thus also said the other martyrs: "Do what you will,
for we are Christians, and do not sacrifice to idols."
Footnotes
[2646] Another reading is dogmata, which may be translated, "I shall have
what He teaches [us to expect]."
[2647] This passage admits of another rendering. Lord Hailes, following the
common Latin version, thus translates: "It was our chief wish to endure
tortures for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so to be saved."
Chapter V. Sentence pronounced and executed.
Rusticus the prefect pronounced sentence, saying, "Let those who have
refused to sacrifice to the gods and to yield to the command of the emperor
be scourged, [2648] and led away to suffer the punishment of decapitation,
according to the laws." The holy martyrs having glorified God, and having
gone forth to the accustomed place, were beheaded, and perfected their
testimony in the confession of the Saviour. And some of the faithful having
secretly removed their bodies, laid them in a suitable place, the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ having wrought along with them, to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
Footnotes
[2648] [This wholesale sentence implies a great indifference to the probable
Roman citizenship of some of them, if not our heroic martyr himself; but
Acts xxii. 25-29 seems to allow that the condemned were not protected by the
law.]
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