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The First Apology

Justin Martyr

Chapter 57

About this work

Justin addresses Roman rulers on behalf of Christians, challenging accusations against them while explaining Christian ethics, worship, baptism, Eucharist, prophecy, and belief in Christ in his own day.

Author: Justin Martyr
Date: c. AD 150–155
Origin: Rome
Genre: Apology

Chapter LVII.—And cause persecution.

Nor can the devils persuade men that there will

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be

no

conflagration

for

the

punishment

of

the

wicked

;

as

they

were

unable

to

effect

that

Christ

should

be

hidden

after

He

came

.

But

this

only

can

they

effect

,

that

they

who

live

irrationally

,

and

were

brought

up

licentiously

in

wicked

customs

,

and

are

prejudiced

in

their

own

opinions

,

should

kill

and

hate

us

;

whom

we

not

only

do

not

hate

,

but

,

as

is

proved

,

pity

and

endeavour

to

lead

to

repentance

.

For

we

do

not

fear

death

,

since

it

is

acknowledged

we

must

surely

die

;

and

there

is

nothing

new

,

but

all

things

continue

the

same

in

this

administration

of

things

;

and

if

satiety

overtakes

those

who

enjoy

even

one

year

of

these

things

,

they

ought

to

give

heed

to

our

doctrines

,

that

they

may

live

eternally

free

both

from

suffering

and

from

want

.

But

if

they

believe

that

there

is

nothing

after

death

,

but

declare

that

those

who

die

pass

into

insensibility

,

then

they

become

our

benefactors

when

they

set

us

free

from

sufferings

and

necessities

of

this

life

,

and

prove

themselves

to

be

wicked

,

and

inhuman

,

and

bigoted

.

For

they

kill

us

with

no

intention

of

delivering

us

,

but

cut

us

off

that

we

may

be

deprived

of

life

and

pleasure

.