The Philosopher Who Searched for
God
Justin Martyr
Justin, a young philosopher of the second century A.D., listened politely to the speech of another well-educated man.
"These people who follow the dead Nazarene are superstitious fools," the speaker said. "They worship nothing but clouds and the influence of the sky. I say they're a threat to the empire."
Heads nodded around the circle of men gathered there. But Justin was not so quick to agree. "I'm not so sure about that," he commented. "They are so sincere. I've heard of Christians who confessed their faith even though they knew they would be thrown into a caldron of boiling oil for their beliefs."
One of the men snickered. "Justin, you're not thinking of becoming a Christian, are you?"
"I want to know the truth," Justin answered soberly.
From his childhood Justin had been searching. He had inherited a sizable fortune which financed his travels throughout the Roman empire. He became a familiar traveler along the trade routes. Wherever he went in his search for knowledge and truth, he saw the persistent faith of the despised Christians.
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"What is most important in life?" Justin asked a Stoic teacher. The Stoics believed that the world was God's body.
The man replied, "Seek for virtue."
A follower of Plato advised Justin to flee the world and in this way he would become like God by returning to the world of the pure spirit. But no matter how Justin tried, he could not suppress his bodily desires.
He received advice from other celebrated teachers, but none gave him an answer which satisfied. Where, oh where, he asked himself over and over, is the meaning of life: Where is God, if there be a God?
He thought again of the brave Christians he knew. At that time, Christianity was an illegal religion in the Roman empire. Thousands had died as martyrs. Justin had decided that the Christians were innocent of any real guile. He felt that they might possibly be misguided, but they certainly were not evil.
One day the seeking philosopher went for a walk in a lonely field near Ephesus. As he walked, he noticed that an old man was following behind him. Suddenly he turned and faced the stranger.
"Why are you staring at me?" the old man asked.
"I am surprised to find someone else in this quiet field," Justin replied.
"I am here to look for one of my household. But why are you here?" the old man queried.
"To exercise my reason."
"Does philosophy give one happiness?"
"Yes," Justin replied. But his tone was uncertain.
"Tell me, young man. What is philosophy and happiness?"
Justin gave a stock answer. "Philosophy is the full
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knowledge of reality and the clear perception of truth. Happiness is the reward of such knowledge and wisdom."
"What is your definition of God?" the old man asked.
Again Justin used a glib answer from what he had been taught. "The changeless cause of all other things."
"Then can one know God without hearing one who has seen Him? How can the philosophers, who have never seen God, judge correctly?"
Justin answered by quoting Plato. "God can only be known by the mind, and then only when the mind is pure and well disposed."
The old man was not shaken. "There are ancient teachers who spoke by the divine Spirit and foretold the future. They proved themselves by their predictions and miracles."
Justin stared quizzically at the old man. He could give no reply.
"Pray, my son, that the gates of light may be opened to you. These things can be understood only by the man to whom God and His Christ have given wisdom."
Justin never saw the old stranger again. Later he referred to the incident and wrote: "Straightway a flame was kindled in my soul and a love . . . of these men who are friends of Christ possessed me. I found this philosophy alone to be safe and profitable. Moreover, I wish that all . . . would not keep themselves away from . . . the Saviour."
When he came to believe that Christianity was the only true philosophy, Justin set out to tell other philosophers about Christ. After his baptism, he became a wandering teacher. He visited early Christian communities
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in such famous places as Ephesus, Alexandria, and Rome.
He took up his pen to challenge the critics and persecutors of Christianity. Today, almost 1800 years later, his Apologies are regarded as classics in Christian literature. Justin himself is looked upon as the greatest of the Christian apologists or defenders of the faith.
It was inevitable that Justin would clash with the Romans and be arrested for his teaching. In the year 163 A.D. he and several other Christians were brought before Rusticus, prefect of Rome. When Justin and his friends freely confessed their faith and refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, they were beheaded.
After his death, the noted philosopher became known as Justin the Martyr. His noble example became an inspiration to future Christians who would die as martyrs because they chose to follow the despised Nazarene.
