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A
Modern Reading
Post-Apostolic
Church
This is a reading of
the Martyrdom of Justin. Please see more
information in the video's description.
If you haven't already, see the video about Justin Martyr. If you would like to download a copy of the
original translation of the Martyrdom of Justin, there is a link in the
description.
INTRO
In the time of the
lawless supporters of idolatry, wicked laws were passed against the godly Christians
in town and country, to force them to offer drink offerings to vain idols. Accordingly, when these holy men were
apprehended, they were brought before the prefect of Rome
(* Full name: Junius Rusticus)
QUESTIONING
JUSTIN
He said to Justin,
"Obey the gods at once, and submit to the kings."
Justin said,
“Obedience to the commandments of our Savior Jesus Christ is not worthy of
blame nor condemnation."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “What kind of doctrines do you acknowledge?"
Justin said, “I have
endeavored to learn all doctrines. But I
have yielded at last in the true doctrines, namely, those 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 belief."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “What is the belief?"
Justin said,
“According this belief, 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 also the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached
beforehand by the prophets that He was about to be present with the race of
men. He is the herald of salvation and
teacher of good disciples. [2.9] Being a man myself, I think that
what I can say is insignificant in comparison with His boundless divine
nature. He acknowledged a certain prophetic
power, since it was prophesied about Him that He is the Son of God. For I know that in old times the prophets
foretold His appearance among men."
Rusticus
the prefect said, “Where do you assemble?"
Justin said, “Where
each one chooses and can. For do you
fancy that we all meet in the very same place? This is not so, because the God of the Christians
is not limited by place. But being
invisible, He fills heaven and earth.
Everywhere, He is worshipped and glorified by the faithful."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “Tell me where you assemble, or into what place do you gather your
followers?"
Justin said, “I live
above one named Martinus, at the Timiotinian Bath. During the whole time I have lived in Rome (and I am now living in Rome
Rusticus said, “Are
you not a Christian, then?"
Justin said, “Yes, I
am a Christian."
QUESTIONING JUSTIN'S
FRIENDS
Then
said the prefect Rusticus to Chariton, “Tell me further, Chariton ,
are you also a Christian?"
Rusticus the prefect
asked the woman Charito, “What say you, Charito?"
Charito said, “I am
a Christian by the grace of God."
Rusticus said to
Euelpistus, “And what are you?"
Euelpistus, who was a
servant of Caesar, answered, “I too am a Christian, having been freed by Christ. By the grace of Christ I partake of the same
hope."
Rusticus the prefect
said to Hierax, “And you, are you a Christian?"
Hierax said, “Yes, I
am a Christian, for I revere and
worship the same God."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “Did Justin make you Christians?"
Hierax said, “I was
a Christian, and will be a Christian."
Paeon stood up and said,
“I am a Christian too."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “Who taught you?"
Paeon said, “From
our parents we received this good confession."
Euelpistus said, “I
willingly heard the words of Justin. But
from my parents also I learned to be a Christian."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “Where are your parents?"
Euelpistus said, “In
Cappadocia ."
Rusticus says to
Hierax, “Where are your parents?"
He answered, and
said, “Christ is our true father, and faith in Him is our mother. My earthly parents died. When I was driven from Iconium in Phrygia , I came here."
Rusticus the prefect
said to Liberianus, “And what say you? Are
you a Christian, and unwilling to worship [the gods]?"
Liberianus said, “I
too am a Christian, for I worship and revere the only true God."
QUESTIONING
THE GROUP
The prefect said to Justin, “Listen, you
who are called ‘learned’ and think that you know true doctrines. If you are scourged and beheaded, do you
believe you will ascend into heaven?"
Justin said, “I hope
that, if I endure these things, I shall have His gifts. For I know that, within all who have lived
this way, the divine favor waits until the completion of the whole world.”
Rusticus the prefect
said, “Then do you assume that you will ascend into heaven to receive some reward?"
Justin said, “I do
not assume it, but I know and am fully persuaded of it."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “Then let us now come to the pressing matter at hand. Having come together, offer sacrifice with one
accord to the gods."
Justin said, “No
right-thinking person falls away from piety to impiety."
Rusticus the prefect
said, “Unless you all obey, you all shall be mercilessly punished."
Justin said, “We can
be saved through prayer on account of our Lord Jesus Christ, even when we have been
punished, because this shall be to us salvation and confidence compared to the
more fearful and universal judgment seat of our Lord and Savior."
Then the other
martyrs also said: “Do what you will, for we are Christians, and do not
sacrifice to idols."
Rusticus the prefect pronounced
sentence, saying, “Let those be scourged who have refused to sacrifice to the
gods and to yield to the command of the emperor. Let them be led away to suffer the punishment
of decapitation, according to the laws."
Having glorified
God, the holy martyrs went forth to the assigned place and were beheaded. They perfected their testimony in the confession
of the Savior. Some of the faithful
secretly removed their bodies and laid them in a suitable place, the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ having worked along with them. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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