Before concluding his apology, Justin gives some indication of how he moved from being a Platonist to being a Christian. For him, a significant factor was the faithfulness of Christians when faced with death, which points to them as people committed to the truth.
Justin did not so much reject platonism, as see this philosophy having but part of the "spermatic word" revealed fully in Christ.
More clues regarding Justin's Christology: Christ is worshipped and loved "next to God" and through his sufferings brought healing.
Showing posts with label Second Apology of Justin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Second Apology of Justin. Show all posts
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Justin and Socrates
In chapter 10 Justin once again comments on Socrates as an example of a pagan philosopher who apprehended part of the Word. In fact, for Justin, all wisdom outside of Christianity comes when people are able to know the Word in a partial manner.
In terms of his Christology, Justin affirms that Christ became "the whole rational being, both body, and reason, and soul"
In terms of his Christology, Justin affirms that Christ became "the whole rational being, both body, and reason, and soul"
Friday, March 23, 2007
Justin on free will
In chapter 7, after claiming that the destruction of the whole world is delayed due to the "seed of the Christians", Justin goes on to affirm his belief in human free will. In fact, it is only due to the fact that "each man by free choice acts rightly or sins" that God can be said to be just in punishing evil with eternal punishment.
Both chapter 7 and 8 see Justin develop also his "seed of the Logos" concept. Not only is Socrates honoured through this principle, but others from the Stoic school such as Heraclitus. However, before we push Justin into a pomo pluralist direction, in chapter 9 he points to Jesus as the "right Reason" who proved that not all opinions nor all doctrines are good.
Both chapter 7 and 8 see Justin develop also his "seed of the Logos" concept. Not only is Socrates honoured through this principle, but others from the Stoic school such as Heraclitus. However, before we push Justin into a pomo pluralist direction, in chapter 9 he points to Jesus as the "right Reason" who proved that not all opinions nor all doctrines are good.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Names of God and Christ
Chapter 6 has many theological points:
(1) God, the Father, has no name, only apellations as there is no one superior to him to name him.
(2) The Word/Son named as Christ to refer to his anointing, named as Jesus to refer to his status as saviour and man.
(3) Christ came for the sake of believing men and for the destruction of demons. Christus Victor!
(4) John Wimber you have a friend! Justin points to the significance of Christian exorcists healing numberless demoniacs, even in Rome itself.
(1) God, the Father, has no name, only apellations as there is no one superior to him to name him.
(2) The Word/Son named as Christ to refer to his anointing, named as Jesus to refer to his status as saviour and man.
(3) Christ came for the sake of believing men and for the destruction of demons. Christus Victor!
(4) John Wimber you have a friend! Justin points to the significance of Christian exorcists healing numberless demoniacs, even in Rome itself.
Justin and the Watcher Tradition
After pointing out in chapter 4 that Christians do not kill themselves because they do not wish to block God's purposes, Justin explains the origin of evil and persecution of Christians in the world.
In a nutshell, Justin refers to the watcher tradition (Genesis 6 via 1 Enoch) in which fallen angels have intercourse with women, their offspring being demons. These demons are the source of evil and of paganism. Particularly surprising is Justin's claim that the names given to pagan gods by "poets and mythologists" are the very names the fallen angels chose for themselves and their offspring.
Spiritual warfare was the subject of my MA dissertation, and the Watcher tradition was one of the more entertaining stories to explore. Although the bulk of the tradition is fantasy, and lacks Biblical support, one should not discard this awareness of non-human evil to readily.
In a nutshell, Justin refers to the watcher tradition (Genesis 6 via 1 Enoch) in which fallen angels have intercourse with women, their offspring being demons. These demons are the source of evil and of paganism. Particularly surprising is Justin's claim that the names given to pagan gods by "poets and mythologists" are the very names the fallen angels chose for themselves and their offspring.
Spiritual warfare was the subject of my MA dissertation, and the Watcher tradition was one of the more entertaining stories to explore. Although the bulk of the tradition is fantasy, and lacks Biblical support, one should not discard this awareness of non-human evil to readily.
The Second Apology of Justin: Persecution
In chapters 1-3 Justin reminds us of the context of his teaching: persecution. It is particularly poignant to read that: "I expect to be plotted against and fixed to the stake". This, sadly, is the background that church members and students I live with who come from Pakistan and Myanmar live with on an everyday basis. If, at times Justin's words about paganism come across harsh, it is important to remember that these are the people who are endangering their lives (just as many Pakistani Christians find it harder to be "moderate" about Islam).
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