The First Apology of Justin Martyr

The First Apology of Justin Martyr is one of the foundational documents of early Christian apologetics, written around 155-157 AD and addressed to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. Justin (c. 100-165 AD) was the most important Christian apologist of the second century and one of the earliest Christian writers whose extensive works survive intact.

The Apology defends Christianity against the various pagan accusations and misunderstandings that were producing periodic Roman persecution of Christians during the period. Justin addresses the accusations of atheism leveled against Christians for refusing to worship the Roman state gods, the charges of cannibalism and immorality based on misunderstandings of the Eucharist and Christian fellowship, and the broader question of why Roman law allowed the persecution of Christians for the name alone without specific criminal conduct.

The work includes the earliest detailed description of Christian baptismal and Eucharistic practice that survives, making it an essential primary source for the history of early Christian worship. Justin’s Second Apology and Dialogue with Trypho complete his major surviving body of work.