Justin the Martyr

Justin describes a network of congregations 150 before Constantine planted the seeds of his modern Church. Like the Church in Acts early Christians had no dependence upon the free bread of Rome. Justin wrote the Emperor to explain the private religion of Christianity and their practice of Pure Religion which creates the social bonds of true Christian fellowship. He was expressing how it differed from the public religion and "legal charity" which were the covetous practices of Rulers which were contrary to the decrees of Christ.
When Christians were being persecuted by the government of Rome Justin wrote emperor Antonius Pious and explained why Christians did not sign up for the "free bread" offered by their government.
The duties of pastors included rightly dividing bread from house to house^[1] in a "daily ministration" of fervent charity. The diligence and sacrifice required in the practice of pure Religion created the bonds of fellowship of Christ.

Justin Martyr (A.D. 103-165).

Justin Martyr was a native of Flavia Neapolis, in Samaria, and was born A.D. 103. Justin was a scholar who investigated the Stoic and Peripatetic philosophy, and sought the way of the Pythagorean, but found the behavior of its professors disgusting because of personal corruption.

He studied the Platonic way but when he was thirty years of age, he became a convert to Christianity and perceived the real nature of the truth.

He wrote epistles to the Gentiles, and sought to convince the Jews of the truth of the Christian rites and eventually abode in Rome on the Viminal mount.

He kept a public school, wrote a treatise to confuse heresies of all kinds.

The envy and jealousy

As jealousy rose against the Christians he wrote his first apology which caused the emperor to at first, publish an edict in favor, of the Christians.

He debated Crescens, a celebrated cynic philosopher, which was disgusting to the cynic but often defeated them.

The second apology of Justin gave Crescens an opportunity of prejudicing the emperor against the writer of it; upon which Justin, and six of his companions, were apprehended.

Being commanded to sacrifice to the pagan idols, they, including Concordus, a deacon of the city of Spolito, refused and were condemned to be scourged, and then beheaded under the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

Conflict with Rome

Justin the Martyr explained the Christian conflict with covetous practices of Rome and why it was "idolatry".^[2]

Christians were not to exercise authority one over the other^[3] like the welfare system of the world.

They were practice of Pure Religion through service of love which creates the social bonds of true "Christian fellowship" in the kingdom of God which was "Israel".^[4]

He explained in his Apology to the emperor how Christian religion and it's fervent charity differed from the "legal charity" of the Roman welfare State or the "Corban" of the Pharisees and Herod.

Apology to Antonius Pius

Around 150 AD Justin the Martyr wrote his Apology to Antonius Pius the emperor to explain how Christians took care of their own system of free bread for the needy.

Since they did not apply to the Emperor through their government temples for his dainties of free bread or wine or cheese or anything else they distributed in their welfare system... Justin was inspired to write the emperor in defense of the Christian faith and their allegiance to Christ:^[3]

“And the wealthy among us help the needy ... and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.” "Justin the Martyr's Apology" to the Emperor Antonius Pius in 150 AD, (Ch. 65-67)^[5]

Does anyone remember what the sin of Sodom was?

Ezekiel 16:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."

Babylon and its Benefactors always offer "gifts, gratuities and benefits" which will reduce the liberty of the people if the people covet those benefits. That is why Christ condemned the Corban of the Pharisees. That system was making the word of God to non-effect because it was rooted in the covetous practices Peter warned us would make us merchandise and curse children.

Welfare systems of the world and Babylon often "serve the needy without condition" which weakens the poor.

As we saw with ministers like Stephen, we also see the Didache stating:

“Therefore, elect for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, true and approved, for they also perform for you the ministry of the prophets and teachers.” Didache 15:1^[6]

The nature of these appointments would remain the same for centuries. In the 10th century, drastic reforms were enforced to “unify the liturgy” of the Church. This authoritarian call for unity under a centralized Church had been creeping into societies thinking from the beginning.

Liturgy is defined as “a prescribed form or set of forms for public religious worship.”^[7]

It is from the Greek word leitourgi and leitourgos, meaning “public service” and “public servant” respectively. Liturgy was not about singing and vestments and the smoke and mirrors of modern Christendom. It was about the public servants of the kingdom of God operating under the perfect law of liberty in true worship of God ^[8] by service to the people.

God’s doctrine is summarized in the virtuous application of Love God and His ways with all that you do and actively love your neighbor's rights to his life and liberty as much as you love your own. The Church that comes together according to these ancient may overcome all tyrants, despots, and enemies of freedom and liberty. They can and will inherit the earth.

Rome had once depended upon freewill offerings for both its military and its welfare system. Like the Israelites in the days of foolish Saul,^[9] and then Solomon and Rehoboam,^[10] they steadily moved to systems of compelled contributions, eventually licensing, regulating, and controlling their temples through civil statutes and authority. Instead of charity they fostered covetousness through the right hand or agency of governmental power. They redistributed wealth, forced the contributions of the people, establish welfare^[11] and social benefits in abundance by benefactors who exercised authority. But, even in a time of abundance and affluence, those systems weaken the virtuous character of the people and eat away at the bonds of brotherhood and community^[12] to say nothing of their substance.

There are two things to keep in mind when reading the Apology of Justin the Martyr. First, Justin was writing a foreign government leader, the Emperor of Rome, as an official of a Kingdom of God, and a minister of the Church who had been “called out”. He was explaining that they, the Christians, were a different kind of government and that they considered the matter of their sovereignty settled and also quoted the Acts of Pontius Pilate, the Procurator of Rome, for part of that proof.

Secondly, we should note that the word Eucharist is simply the Greek word for “thanksgiving”. It is about giving life to others not saving our own and being thankful for the opportunity to do so. God gives life and we were originally made in the image of God. We should be thankful that we can give our lives for our king and His kingdom by investing in the honest needs of our brothers and sisters.

Justin the Martyr wrote in defense of the Christian faith to the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius makes mention of a written account of Pontius Pilate of the event of Christ's death that were known to the Emperors of Rome.

Originally Rome prided itself on the support of the truly needy of their society based on freewill offerings through their network of hearths. But by the time of Christ it had moved to a more socialist state, providing benefits through their tax supported Qorban.

Quotes of Justin

“And this food is called among us Eucharistia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, ‘This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;’ and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, ‘This is My blood;’ and gave it to them alone.” —St. Justin Martyr

“Jews dishonor and curse Christians in your synagogues”

· “All the house of Israel are uncircumcised in their hearts”

· "Christ is King of Israel, and Christians are the Israelite Race.” JUSTIN MARTYR, DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO, Chapter 135 - Justin Martyr 100-165 A.D.

We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies." Justin Martyr

Let it be understood that those who are not found living as He taught are not Christian - even though they profess with the lips the teaching of Christ.

The world suffers nothing from Christians but hates them because they reject its pleasures.

We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the goodly precepts of Christ, that they may become partakers with us of the joyful hope of blessings from God, the Lord of all.

· “We hewn out of the side of Christ, are the true people of Israel”

· “We from Christ, who begat us unto God, are called and are the true sons of God”

· “Jews in their synagogues have cursed and still do curse those who believe”

· “In your synagogues you curse Christians, and use Gentiles [as agents] to put into effect your curse, by killing Christians.”

· “Ignore your Pharisaic teachers, do not scorn the King of Israel, as your synagogue officials instruct you do in your prayers”

· “Ignore your Pharisaic teachers who teach you to curse Christians in your synagogues and your prayers.”

· “To our persecutors we say: “You are our brothers and we pray for you that you might experience the mercy of Christ”

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Footnotes

↑ Acts 2:46 "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"
↑
Covetousness is idolatry
Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
- For it is written that the tables of dainties provided by rulers of the world are a snare because they cause the masses to bite one another through government systems of legal charity which are covetous practices which are a form of fornication or adultery where the people are devoured as merchandise, curse children and are "entangled again in the yoke of bondage" with the aid of the false religion of the whore who rides the beast.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Not exercise authority
Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."

Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."

Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."
↑ “We hewn out of the side of Christ, are the true people of Israel” JUSTIN MARTYR, DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO, Chapter 135 - Justin Martyr 100-165 A.D. Israel was not a geographical location but a place of the heart because the kingdom is within.
↑ alternate translation:
“And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.” Chapter LXVII
Geof T Emery interlinear:
6. Οἱ εὐποροῦντες δὲ καὶ βουλόμενοι κατὰ προαίρεσιν ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ὃ βούλεται
The prospering and also wishing according to choosing each one the of himself what willing
δίδωσι, καὶ τὸ συλλεγόμενον παρὰ τῷ προεστῶτι ἀποτίθεται, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπικουρεῖ
he gives, and the being collected with the having presided is deposited, and he he gives aid
ὀρφανοῖς τε καὶ χήραις, καὶ τοῖς διὰ νόσον ἢ δι’ ἄλλην αἰτίαν λειπομένοις,
to orphans both and widows, and to the through sickness or through other cause being in want,
καὶ τοῖς ἐν δεσμοῖς οὖσι, καὶ τοῖς παρεπιδήμοις οὖσι ξένοις, καὶ ἁπλῶς πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν
and to the in chains are, and to the sojourning being strangers, and briefly to all the in
χρείᾳ οὖσι κηδεμὼν γίνεται.
in need being a guardian he is.
↑ The Didache is mentioned by Eusebius (c. 324) as the Teachings of the Apostles following the books recognized as canonical (Historia Ecclesiastica III, 25): ...
↑ The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
↑ What is worship www.hisholychurch.info/sermon/whorship.php
↑ 1 Samuel 13:13 “And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.” Romans 13
↑ 1 Kings 12:14 “And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
↑ Psalms 69:22 “Let their table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap.”
↑ Ezekiel 16:49 “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”

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Brother Gregory
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[1] Acts 2:46 "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"

[Isidolatry-2] Covetousness is idolatry
Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."

For it is written that the tables of dainties provided by rulers of the world are a snare because they cause the masses to bite one another through government systems of legal charity which are covetous practices which are a form of fornication or adultery where the people are devoured as merchandise, curse children and are "entangled again in the yoke of bondage" with the aid of the false religion of the whore who rides the beast.

[3] For it is written that the tables of dainties provided by rulers of the world are a snare because they cause the masses to bite one another through government systems of legal charity which are covetous practices which are a form of fornication or adultery where the people are devoured as merchandise, curse children and are "entangled again in the yoke of bondage" with the aid of the false religion of the whore who rides the beast.

[exauth-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Not exercise authority
Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."

Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."

Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."

[4] “We hewn out of the side of Christ, are the true people of Israel” JUSTIN MARTYR, DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO, Chapter 135 - Justin Martyr 100-165 A.D. Israel was not a geographical location but a place of the heart because the kingdom is within.

[5] ternate translation:
“And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.” Chapter LXVII
Geof T Emery interlinear:
6. Οἱ εὐποροῦντες δὲ καὶ βουλόμενοι κατὰ προαίρεσιν ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ὃ βούλεται
The prospering and also wishing according to choosing each one the of himself what willing
δίδωσι, καὶ τὸ συλλεγόμενον παρὰ τῷ προεστῶτι ἀποτίθεται, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπικουρεῖ
he gives, and the being collected with the having presided is deposited, and he he gives aid
ὀρφανοῖς τε καὶ χήραις, καὶ τοῖς διὰ νόσον ἢ δι’ ἄλλην αἰτίαν λειπομένοις,
to orphans both and widows, and to the through sickness or through other cause being in want,
καὶ τοῖς ἐν δεσμοῖς οὖσι, καὶ τοῖς παρεπιδήμοις οὖσι ξένοις, καὶ ἁπλῶς πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν
and to the in chains are, and to the sojourning being strangers, and briefly to all the in
χρείᾳ οὖσι κηδεμὼν γίνεται.
in need being a guardian he is.

[6] The Didache is mentioned by Eusebius (c. 324) as the Teachings of the Apostles following the books recognized as canonical (Historia Ecclesiastica III, 25): ...

[7] The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.

[8] What is worship www.hisholychurch.info/sermon/whorship.php

[9] 1 Samuel 13:13 “And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.” Romans 13

[10] 1 Kings 12:14 “And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”

[11] Psalms 69:22 “Let their table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap.”

[12] Ezekiel 16:49 “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”

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Justin the Martyr

Contents

Justin Martyr (A.D. 103-165).

The envy and jealousy

Conflict with Rome

Apology to Antonius Pius

Quotes of Justin

Footnotes

About the author

Subscribe

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Justin the Martyr

Justin Martyr (A.D. 103-165).

The envy and jealousy

Conflict with Rome

Apology to Antonius Pius

Quotes of Justin

Footnotes

About the author

Subscribe

Navigation menu

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