Justin Martyr
A philosopher who tried the schools; converted after meeting an old man by the sea.
The record
- Born
- c. A.D. 100, Flavia Neapolis, Samaria
- Converted
- after his encounter with an old man, recounted in the Dialogue with Trypho
- Became
- Christian philosopher and apologist at Rome
- Died
- martyred at Rome, c. A.D. 165
- As a witness
- In the library →
Justin, born of pagan parents at Flavia Neapolis in Samaria, was a philosopher who had passed through the schools — Stoic, Peripatetic, Pythagorean, Platonist — in search of the knowledge of God. In his Dialogue with Trypho he describes how, walking in a solitary place near the sea, he was followed by an old man with whom he fell into conversation. The translation is the Ante-Nicene Fathers.
a certain old man, by no means contemptible in appearance, exhibiting meek and venerable manners, followed me at a little distance. And when I turned round to him, having halted, I fixed my eyes rather keenly on him.Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 3 (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
The old man questioned Justin’s confidence in the philosophers and pointed him instead to the Hebrew prophets, who had spoken by the Holy Spirit and foretold Christ. Then he departed.
But straightway a flame was kindled in my soul; and a love of the prophets, and of those men who are friends of Christ, possessed me; and while revolving his words in my mind, I found this philosophy alone to be safe and profitable. Thus, and for this reason, I am a philosopher.Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 8 (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
Justin continued to wear the philosopher’s cloak as a Christian, and taught at Rome, where he wrote two Apologies in defence of the faith. He was scourged and beheaded at Rome, with a group of companions, about A.D. 165 — for which he is called Justin Martyr.