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| Chapter I.—Examination of Justin by the prefect. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter I.—Examination of Justin by
the prefect.
In the time of the lawless
partisans of idolatry, wicked decrees were passed against the godly
Christians in town and country, to force them to offer libations to vain
idols; and accordingly the holy men, having been apprehended, were
brought before the prefect of Rome, Rusticus by name. And when they had
been brought before his judgment-seat, said to Justin, “Obey the
gods at once, and submit to the kings.”2643 Justin
said, “To obey the commandments of our Saviour Jesus Christ is
worthy neither of blame nor of condemnation.” Rusticus the prefect
said, “What kind of doctrines do you profess?” Justin said,
“I have endeavoured to learn all doctrines; but I have acquiesced
at last in the true doctrines, those namely of the Christians, even
though they do not please those who hold false opinions.” Rusticus
the prefect said, “Are those the doctrines that please you, you
utterly wretched man?” Justin said, “Yes, since I adhere to
them with right dogma.”2644
2644 Μετὰ δόγματος ὀρθοῦ, orthodoxy.
| Rusticus the prefect said, “What is the dogma?”
Justin said, “That according to which we worship the God of the
Christians, whom we reckon to be one from the beginning, the maker and
fashioner of the whole creation, visible and invisible; and the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had also been preached beforehand by
the prophets as about to be present with the race of men, the herald of
salvation and teacher of good disciples. And I, being a man, think that
what I can say is insignificant in comparison with His boundless
divinity, acknowledging a certain prophetic power,2645
2645 That is, that a prophetic inspiration is
required to speak worthily of Christ. | since it was prophesied
concerning Him of whom now I say that He is the Son of God. For I know
that of old the prophets foretold His appearance among men.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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