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The First Apology

Justin Martyr

Chapter 6

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 VI.—Charge of atheism refuted.

Hence are we called atheists. And we confess that

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we

are

atheists

,

so

far

as

gods

of

this

sort

are

concerned

,

but

not

with

respect

to

the

most

true

God

,

the

Father

of

righteousness

and

temperance

and

the

other

virtues

,

who

is

free

from

all

impurity

.

But

both

Him

,

and

the

Son

(

who

came

forth

from

Him

and

taught

us

these

things

,

and

the

host

of

the

other

good

angels

who

follow

and

are

made

like

to

Him

)

,

and

the

prophetic

Spirit

,

we

worship

and

adore

,

knowing

them

in

reason

and

truth

,

and

declaring

without

grudging

to

every

one

who

wishes

to

learn

,

as

we

have

been

taught

.

Notes

9
This is the literal and obvious translation of Justin’s words. But from c. 13, 16, and 61, it is evident that he did not desire to inculcate the worship of angels. We are therefore driven to adopt another translation of this passage, even though it be somewhat harsh. Two such translations have been proposed: the first connecting “us” and “the host of the other good angels” as the common object of the verb “taught;” the second connecting “these things” with “the host of,” etc., and making these two together the subject taught. In the first case the translation would stand, “taught these things to us and to the host,” etc.; in the second case the translation would be, “taught us about these things, and about the host of the others who follow Him, viz. the good angels.” [I have ventured to insert parenthetic marks in the text, an obvious and simple resource to suggest the manifest intent of the author. Grabe’s note in loc. gives another and very ingenious exegesis, but the simplest is best.]