Justin Martyr
(c.100 - c.165)

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Synopsis

Justin came from a Greek-speaking non-Jewish family living in Flavia Neapolis (Shechem) in Samaria.[1] He wrote of how he searched for truth, attaching himself to a succession of philosophical schools: Stoicism, Aristotelianism, Pythagorianism and Platonism.[2] Finally (in about AD 130)[3] he met an old man while walking on the seashore at Ephesus who pointed out some of the weaknesses in his Platonic system. He showed Justin how the Old Testament predicted the coming of Christ; but it was seeing the courage of the Christian martyrs that finally convinced him.[4] Still wearing his philosopher’s cloak[5] he dedicated the rest of his life to defending orthodox Christianity against its philosophical opponents.[6]

During the reign of Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) Justin ministered in Rome, founding a school that attracted a wide variety of students, including Tatian from Nisibis in Assyria, Irenaeus from Smyrna and Theophilus from near the Euphrates.[7] There he vigorously opposed the Cynic philosopher Crescens,[8] the Gnostic Valentinians, the Marcionites[9] and the Jews.[10] Justin earned his surname when he perished during the persecution of Christians by Marcus Aurelius (121-180) in about AD 165.[11]

Most scholars agree that Justin was verbose, confused, inconsistent and often not convincing in his arguments. Nevertheless, he is an important figure in the history of the Church. For him Christianity was "theoretically, the true philosophy,[12] and, practically, a new law of holy living and dying.[13] The former is chiefly the position of the Apologies, the latter that of the Dialogue."[14] In recent years the traditional view that Justin’s theology was dominated by his philosophical background has been questioned. As we shall see, his view of creation was very much influenced by Platonism. He used philosophy as a tool to spread orthodox Christianity, rather than translate Christianity into an academic philosophical system.[15]

Justin used allegory extensively in his writings, but it was the Palestinian allegory of the Rabbis rather than the Alexandrian allegory of Philo.[16] Given that Justin was born in Samaria this it is not really surprising. For Justin, the key to understanding the Old Testament was Christ and his Christocentric interpretation meant that the meaning of the original writers was considered unimportant.[17] There appears to be some dispute as to how much of his hermeneutic Justin derived from his study of the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament. W.H.C. Frend states that there "is no evidence that he was influenced by any of the writers of the NT."[18] William Shotwell, on the other hand, argues at length that Justin was heavily dependent on the New Testament writers.[19] However, Shotwell also states that the New Testament writers were not interested in the historical background of the Old Testament passages they used,[20] and the validity of such a statement is extremely doubtful. In balance I think that it is most likely that Justin formulated his method of interpretation from a variety of sources: the New Testament, his Christian predecessors, Palestinian Jewish exegesis, and Stoic allegory.[21]

Rob Bradshaw, Webmaster

References

[ 1](48) Robert M. Grant, Greek Apologists of the Second Century. (London: SCM, 1988), 50; Justin Martyr, 1 Apology 1.1 (ANF, Vol. 1, 163).

[2 Justin Martyr, Dialogue, 2 (]ANF, Vol. 1, 195).

[3] L.W. Barnard, Justin Martyr, His Life and Thought. (Cambridge: CUP, 1967), 13, places the date of his conversion shortly before the Bar Vochba rebellion of 132-135.

[4] Justin Martyr, 2 Apology, 12.2; Eusebius, History, 4.8.5 (NPNF, 2nd series, Vol. 1, 181).

[5] Justin, Dialogue, 1 (ANF, Vol. 1, 163); Eusebius, History, 4.11.8 (NPNF, 2nd series, Vol. 1, 184).

[ 6] Barnard, 12.

[ 7] Philip Carrington, The Early Christian Church, Vol. 2. (Cambridge: CUP, 1957), 101-102.

[ 8] Justin Martyr, 2 Apology, 3.1 (ANF, Vol. 1, 189).

[9] Justin Martyr, 1 Apology, 26.8; 58 (ANF, Vol. 1, 171-172, 182).

[ 10] Justin Martyr, Dialogue, Theodore Stylianopoulos, "Justin Martyr," Everett Ferguson, ed., Encyclopedia of Early Christianity. New York: Garland Press, 1990. pp.514-516.

[11] Barnard, 13.

[12] Justin, Dialogue, 100.8 (ANF, Vol. 1, 249).

[ 13] Justin, Dialogue, 100.11 (ANF, Vol. 1, 249).

[ 14] Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, 1910. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989), 722.

[ 15] Stylianopoulos, "Justin Martyr," Everett Ferguson, ed., Encyclopedia of Early Christianity. New York: Garland Press, 1990. p.515.

[ 16] William A. Shotwell, The Biblical Exegesis of Justin Martyr. (London: SPCK, 1965), 40: "In Palestine it was symbolical and 3typological, but in Hellenistic Judaism it was generally philosophical and mystical."

[ 17] Shotwell, 7-8.

[18] Shotwell, 42: "Although, in the Apologies and the Dialogue, Justin dues not use the word "allegory" to describe his method, he does use the allegorical method of interpretation. He interprets the Old Testament as saying one thing and yet meaning another. This is allegory as it is defined by the Greek themselves." See Pseudo-Heraclitus, Quaestiones Homericae, 6.

[ 19] W.H.C. Frend, The Rise of Christianity. Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1984. p.237.

[ 20] Shotwell, 49-64.

[ 21] Shotwell, 63-64.

Primary Sources

	Justin Martyr (Christian Classic Ethereal Library)
	St. Justin Martyr the First and Second Apologies, Leslie William Barnard, trans. Ancient Christian Writers, No. 56. Paulist Press, 1997. Hbk. ISBN: 0809104725. pp.211. {CBD}
	Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Fathers of the Church, Vol. 3, Thomas B. Falls, translator. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2003. Hbk. ISBN: 081321341X. pp.256. A new translation with up-to-date bibliography.
	Justin Martyr, The Writings of Justin Martyr Entries from Earliest Times to the Present Day. Broadman / Holman, 1998. Pbk. ISBN: 0805492208. pp.100.
	Alexander Roberts [1826-1901] & James Donaldson [1831-1915], eds., The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Translations of the Fathers down to A.D. 325, Vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers—Justin Martyr—Irenaeus. Buffalo, NY: The Christian Literature Publishing Company, 1887. Hbk. pp.602. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	Arthur Lukyn Williams [1853-1943], translator, Justin Martyr. The Dialogue with Trypho. London: SPCK, 1930. Hbk. pp.301. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]

Secondary Sources

	David E. Aune, "Justin Martyr's use of the Old Testament," Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society 9.4 (Fall 1966): 179-197. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]
	A. Baker, "Justin's Agraphon in the Dialogue with Trypho," Journal of Biblical Literature 87 (1968): 277-87.
	L.W. Barnard, "Hadrian and Christianity," Church Quarterly Review 155 (1964): 277-89.
	L.W. Barnard, "The Old Testament and Judaism in the Writings of Justin Martyr," Vetus Testamentum 14 (1964): 395-406.
	L.W. Barnard, "Justin Martyr in Recent Study," Scottish Journal of Theology 22.2 (1969): 152-164.
	L.W. Barnard, "The Logos Theology of St. Justin Martyr," Downside Review 89.295 (1971): 132-141.
	A.J. Bellinzoni, The Sayings of Jesus in the Writings of Justin Martyr. Leiden: Brill, 1967.
	D. Jeffrey Bingham, "Justin and Isaiah 53," Vigiliae Christianae 54.3 (2000): 248-261.
	Gary Bisbee, "The Acts of Justin Martyr: A Form-Critical Study," Second Century 3.3 (1983): 129-157.
	Eric F.F. Bishop, "Some Reflections on Justin Martyr and the Nativity Narratives [Luke 2]," The Evangelical Quarterly 39.1 (Jan.-Mar. 1967): 30-39. pdf [All reasonable efforts have been made to contact the copyright holder of this article without success. If you hold the rights, please contact me]
	A.W.F Blunt, The Apologies of Justin Martyr, Cambridge, 1911.
	Daniel Boyarin, "Justin Martyr Invents Judaism," Church History 70.3 (2001): 427-461.
	Anthony Buzzard, "Justin Martyr on Dying Souls Going to Heaven," Resurrection 97.2 (1994): 21-22.
	Henry Chadwick, "Justin Martyr's Defence of Christianity," Bulletin of the John Ryland's Library, Vol. 47 (1965): 275-297.
	Henry Chadwick, Early Christian Thought and the Classical Tradition. Oxford: Clarendon, 1984. Pbk. ISBN: 0198266731. pp182.. {CBD}
	Charles H. Cosgrove, "Justin Martyr and the Emerging Christian Canon: Observations on the Purpose and Destination of the Dialogue with Trypho," Vigiliae Christianae 36.3 (1982): 209-232.
	F.L. Cross, The Early Christian Fathers. Studies in Theology 1. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd., 1960. Hbk. pp.48-53.
	D.M. Davey, "Justin Martyr and the Fourth Gospel," Scripture 17 (1965): 117-22. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the Catholic Biblical Association (UK)]
	Arthur J. Droge, "Justin Martyr and the Restoration of Philosophy," Church History 56.3 (1987): 303-319.
	Church, God, and Martyrdom, in Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr (Martin Eastwood) pdf
	M.J. Edwards, "On the Platonic Schooling of Justin Martyr," Journal of Theological Studies 42.1 (1991): 17-34.
	M.J. Edwards, "Justin's Logos and the Word of God," Journal of Early Christian Studies 3.3 (1995): 261-280.
	M.S. Enslin, "Justin Martyr: An Appreciation," Jewish Quarterly Review 34 (1943-4): 179-205.
	Arnold Ehrhardt, "Justin Martyr's Two Apologies," The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 4.1 (1953): 1-12.
	Peter Ensor, "Justin Martyr and penal substitutionary atonement," Evangelical Quarterly 83.3 (July 2011): 217-232. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]
	Everett Ferguson, "Justin Martyr and the Liturgy," Restoration Quarterly 36.4 (1994): 267-278.
	William John Ferrar [1868-1945], The Early Christian Books. Handbooks of Christian Literature. London: SPCK, 1919. Hbk. pp.108. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	E.R. Goodenough [1893-1965], The Theology of Justin Martyr. Jena: Frommann, 1923.
	Robert M. Grant, "A Woman Of Rome: The Matron In Justin, 2 Justin 2.1-9," Church History 54.4 (1985): 461-472.
	Anthony J. Guerra, "The Conversion of Marcus Aurelius and Justin Martyr: The Purpose, Genre, and Content of the First Apology," Second Century 9.3 (1992): 171-187.
	D.A. Hagner, "The Sayings of Jesus in the Apostolic Fathers and Justin Martyr," Gospel Perspectives 5 (1985): 233-68.
	R. Heard, "The APOMNHMONEYMATA in Papias, Justin and Irenaeus," Bulletin of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas 1/2 (1954): 122-29.
	A. J. B. Higgins, "Jewish Messianic Belief in Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho," Novum Testamentum 9 (1967):298-305.
	Marc Hirshman, "Polemic Literary Units in the Classical Midrashim and Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho," Jewish Quarterly Review 83.3-4 (1993): 369-384.
	R. Holte, "Logos Spermatikos: Christianity and Ancient Philosophy According to St. Justin's Apologies," Studia Theologica, Vol. 12 (1958): 109-168.
	Timothy J. Horner, Listening to Trypho: Justin Martyr's Dialogue With Trypho Reconsidered. Contributions to Biblical Exegesis and Theology, 28. Peeters Publishers, 2002. Pbk. ISBN: 9042910402. pp.224.
	Fenton John Anthony Hort [1828–1892], Six Lectures on the Ante-Nicene Fathers. London & New York: MacMillan & Co., 1895. Hbk. pp.138. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	G. Hulen, "Dialogue as a Source of Jewish anti-Christian Polemics," Journal of Biblical Literature (1932): 58-70.
	T.G. Jalland, "Justin Martyr and the President of the Eucharist," Studia Patristica (1962): 83-85.
	Justin Martyr, the First Outstanding Apologist of the Second Century ( Johnson Thomaskutty, Faculty of New Testament, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India)
	Justin Martyr (Peter Kirby)
	P. Katz, "Justin's Old Testament Quotations and the Greek Dodekapropheton Scroll," Studia Patristica 1. Berlin, 1957. p.343.
	Graham A. Keith, "Justin Martyr and Religious Exclusivism," Tyndale Bulletin 43.1 (1992): 57-80. pdf
	F. Kenyon, "The Date of the Apology of Justin Martyr," The Academy 49 (1896): 98f.
	Leslie L. Kline, "Harmonized Sayings of JEsus in the Pseudo-Clementine Homilies and Justin Martyr," Zeitschrift für die neutesamentliche Wissenschaft 66.3/4 (1975): 223-241.
	Benedict Kominiak, The Theophanies of the Old Testament in the Writings of St. Justin. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1948.
	Gordon W. Lathrop, "Justin, Eucharist and 'Sacrifice': A Case of Metaphor," Worship 64.1 (1990): 30-48.
	Frederick Meyrick [1827-1906], "The Life and Times of Justin Martyr," William Lefroy [1836-1909], ed., Church Leaders in Primitive Times. Lectures on Their Words and Works. Delivered in Norwich Cathedral by Eminent Anglican Devines, 2nd edn. London: Chas. J. Thynne, 1909. Hbk. pp.53-80. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	Andrew Louth & Veselin Kesich, "Review Essays: Recent Research on St. Maximus the Confessor: A Survey (Louth), and St. Justin Martyr: The First and Second Apologies (Kesich)," St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly 42.1 (1998): 67-97.
	J.E. Morgan-Wynne, "The Holy Spirit and the Christian Experience in Justin Martyr," Vigiliae Christianae 38.2 (1984): 172-177.
	Charles Nahm, "The Debate on the 'Platonism' of Justin Martyr," Second Century 9.3 (1992): 129-151.
	J. Nilson, "To Whom is Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypo Addressed," Theological Studies, Vol. 38 (1977): 538-546.
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	W.L. Petersen, "Tatian's Dependence upon Justin's APOMNHMONEYMATA," New Testament Studies 36 (1990): 512-34.
	O.A. Piper, "The Nature of the Gospel acc, to Justin Martyr," Journal of Religion 41 (1961): 155-68.
	R.M. Price, "'Hellenization' and Logos Doctrine in Justin Martyr," Vigiliae Christianae 42.1 (1988): 18-23.
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	David Ivan Rankin, From Clement to Origen. The Social and Historical Context of the Church Fathers. London: Routledge, 2016. ISBN: 9781317132424. pp.182. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
	E.C. Ratcliff, "The Eucharistic Institution Narrative of Justin Martyr's First Apology," Journal of Ecclesiastical History 22.2 (1971): 97-102.
	J.S. Romanides, "Justin Martyr and the Fourth Gospel," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 4 (1958-9): 115-34.
	Michael Root, "Images of Liberation: Justin, Jesus, and the Jews," Thomist 48.4 (1984): 512-534.
	H.P. Schneider, "Some Reflections on the Dialogue of Justin Martyr With Trypho," Scottish Journal of Theology 15 (1962): 164-175.
	J.S. Sibinga, The Old Testament Text of Justin Martyr. Leiden: Brill, 1963.
	O. Skarsaune, "The Conversion of Justin Martyr," Studia Theologica, Vol. 30 (1976): 53-73.
	Oskar Skarsaune, The Proof from Prophecy: A Study in Justin Martyr's Proof Text Tradition Text-Type, Provenance, Theological Profile. Supplements to Novum Testamentum 56. Leiden: Brill, 1987. Hbk. ISBN: 9004074686. pp.505.
	William A. Shotwell, The Biblical Exegesis of Justin Martyr. London: SPCK, 1965.
	Hendrik F. Stander, "Is Justin Really a Bad Stylist?" Second Century 86, 5(4) (1986): 226-232.
	Cullen I K. Story, The nature of Truth in 'The Gospel of Truth' and in the Writings of Justin Martyr: a Study of the Pattern of Orthodoxy in the Middle of the Second Christian Century. Novum Testamentum. Supplements 25. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1970. pp. xiv + 47.
	Theodore Stylianopoulos, Justin Martyr and Mosiac Law. Missoula: Scholars, 1975. Pbk. ISBN: 089130018X.
	Donald F. Hudson, "The Attitude of the Apologists to Non-Christian Religions," Indian Journal of Theology 6.1 (Jan.-Mar. 1957): 15-18. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]
	Demetrius Christ Trakatellis, The Pre-Existence of Christ in Justin Martyr. Missoula: Scholars, 1976. Pbk. ISBN: 0891300988.
	Demetrios Trakatellis, "Justin Martyr's Trypho," Harvard Theological Review 79.1-3 (1986): 289-297.
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	Frederick Watson [1844-1906], The Defenders of the Faith; or, the Christian Apologists of the Second and Third Centuries. The Fathers for English Readers, 4th edn. London: SPCK, 893. Hbk. pp.196. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	Craig M. Watts, "The Humanity of Jesus in Justin Martyr's Soteriology," The Evangelical Quarterly 56.1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984): 21-34. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]
	J.C.M. van Winden, An Early Christian Philosopher: Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho Chapters One to Nine. Leiden: Brill, 1971. Hbk. ISBN: 9004017321.
	Prof. Francis Watson, "Have you not read…?" Christians, Jews and Scripture in Justin's Dialogue with Trypho . The Ethel M. Wood Lecture, University of London, 3 March 2005. pdf
	Craig M. Watts, "The Humanity of Jesus in Justin Martyr’s Soteriology," The Evangelical Quarterly 56.1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984): 21-34. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]
	Rodney Werline, "The Transformation of Pauline Argument in Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho," Harvard Theological Review 92.1 (1999): 79-93.
	Peter Widdicombe, "Justin Martyr and the Fatherhood of God," Laval Theologique et Philosophique 54.1 (1998): 109-126.
	Peter Widdicombe, "The Wounds and the Ascended Body: The Marks of Crucifision in the Glorified Christ from Justin Martyr to John Calvin," Laval Theologique et Philosophique 59.1 (2003): 137-154.
	David F. Wright, "Christian Faith in the Greek World: Justin Martyr's Testimony," The Evangelical Quarterly 54.2 (Apr.-June 1982): 77-87. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]

Biographies

	L.W. Barnard, Justin Martyr, His Life and Thought. Cambridge: CUP, 1967. (Out of print).
	Frederic William Farrar [1831-1903], Lives of the Fathers. Sketches of Church History in Biography, 2 Vols. London: Adam & Charles Black, 1907. Hbk. pp.781+737. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	Cyril Charlie Martindale, S.J. [1879-1963], Justin Martyr. London: Harding & More Ltd., 1921. pp.156.
	C.E. Stowe, "Sketch of Justin Martyr," Bibliotheca Sacra 9 No. 36 (1852): 821-831. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]