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| Chapter III.—Justin accuses Crescens of ignorant prejudice against the Christians.
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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;1930
| 1930 Words resembling
“philosopher” in sound, viz. φιλοψόφου
καὶ φιλοκόμπου. [This
passage is found elsewhere. See note, cap. viii., in the text preferred
by Grabe.] | 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;1931
| 1931 φιλόδοξος, which may
mean a lover of vainglory. | at least he does not regard that
Socratic and most admirable saying: “But a man must in no wise be
honoured before the truth.”1932
| 1932 See Plato, Rep., p. 595. | But it is
impossible for a Cynic, who makes indifference his end, to know any good
but indifference.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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