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The Second Apology of Justin for the Christians Addressed to the Roman Senate

Chapter III.--Justin accuses Crescens of ignorant prejudice against the Christians.

I too, therefore, expect to be plotted against and fixed to the stake, by some of those I have named, or perhaps by Crescens, that lover of bravado and boasting; ¹ for the man is not worthy of the name of philosopher who publicly bears witness against us in matters which he does not understand, saying that the Christians are atheists and impious, and doing so to win favour with the deluded mob, and to please them. For if he assails us without having read the teachings of Christ, he is thoroughly depraved, and far worse than the illiterate, who often refrain from discussing or bearing false witness about matters they do not understand. Or, if he has read them and does not understand the majesty that is in them, or, understanding it, acts thus that he may not be suspected of being such [a Christian], he is far more base and thoroughly depraved, being conquered by illiberal and unreasonable opinion and fear. For I would have you to know that I proposed to him certain questions on this subject, and interrogated him, and found most convincingly that he, in truth, knows nothing. And to prove that I speak the truth, I am ready, if these disputations have not been reported to you, to conduct them again in your presence. And this would be an act worthy of a prince. But if my questions and his answers have been made known to you, you are already aware that he is acquainted with none of our matters; or, if he is acquainted with them, but, through fear of those who might hear him, does not dare to speak out, like Socrates, he proves himself, as I said before, no philosopher, but an opinionative man; ² at least he does not regard that Socratic and most admirable saying: "But a man must in no wise be honoured before the truth." ³ But it is impossible for a Cynic, who makes indifference his end, to know any good but indifference.

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Zweite Apologie (BKV)

3 (4). Warum die Christen nicht Hand an sich selbst legen¹.

S. 142 Damit aber niemand sage: „Tötet euch selbst alle, gehet schon jetzt zu eurem Gott und macht uns keine Scherereien“, so will ich auseinandersetzen, warum wir das nicht tun, und warum wir doch, wenn wir verhört werden, furchtlos bekennen. Wir sind gelehrt worden, daß Gott die Welt nicht zwecklos, sondern für das Menschengeschlecht erschaffen habe; wir haben auch früher (I 10) gesagt, daß er an denen, die seine Vollkommenheiten nachahmen, seine Freude habe, kein Gefallen aber an denen, die das Böse in Wort und Tat lieben. Wollten wir uns nun alle das Leben nehmen, so würden wir, soviel an uns liegt, schuld daran sein, daß keiner mehr geboren und in den göttlichen Lehren unterrichtet würde und daß das Menschengeschlecht ausstürbe; wir würden, wenn wir wirklich so täten, dem göttlichen Ratschluß auch selber entgegenhandeln. Beim Verhöre aber leugnen wir nicht, weil wir uns keiner Schlechtigkeit bewußt sind, es aber auch für Sünde halten, nicht in allem die Wahrheit zu sagen, was nach unserer Überzeugung auch Gott gefällt, und weil wir damit auch euch von eurem ungerechten Vorurteil befreien möchten.