Saint justin martyr biography of mahatma gandhi

Mark Woods

It's the feast day of Justin Martyr (), one of the earliest of the Early Church fathers and one of the most important.

Saint justin martyr biography of mahatma gandhi Though apomnemoneumata are not carefully defined in rhetorical handbooks, they are essentially expanded chreiai, i. The fragments begin with the assertion that the truth, and God the author of truth, need no witness, but that as a concession to the weakness of men it is necessary to give arguments to convince those who gainsay it. We strive to inspire a loving world that embraces the Franciscan spirit of harmony, joy, and simplicity. His example challenges us to stand firm in our convictions, regardless of the societal pressures or personal risks we may face, and to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel in both word and deed.

He did crucial work in defending the faith against its attackers and developed some fascinating ideas about how ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle anticipated Christianity. Here are 10 things about him you might not know.

1. He was born in Nablus in modern-day Palestine, but he was a Roman. He was fascinated by philosophy from an early age and studied in the famous libraries of Alexandria and Ephesus.

2. Philosophers, unlike clergy, wore distinguishing cloaks.

One day when Justin was walking along the seashore an elderly man engaged him in conversation about Judaism and its promised Messiah, who he said had already come. Justin had never read the Hebrew scriptures before and eagerly perused them. Through reading the scriptures and seeing Christians die in the arena as martyrs he was converted.

3. Justin did not take off his philosopher's cloak after he was baptised.

He believed that only after be became a Christian was he qualified to wear it, as Christ was the key who unlocked all the doors of pagan knowledge.

4. He went to Rome and gave public lectures about the faith at a time when it was very dangerous to do so.

Biography of mahatma gandhi death May we seek the truth with sincere hearts, integrate our faith with reason, and stand firm in the face of trials. Though the precise year of his death is uncertain, it can reasonably be dated by the prefectoral term of Rusticus who governed from and It is narrated in the memoirs of the apostles that as soon as Jesus came up out of the river Jordan and a voice said to him: 'You are My Son, this day I have begotten you', this Devil came and tempted him, even so far as to exclaim: 'Worship me'; but Christ replied: 'Get behind me, Satanas, the Lord your God shall you worship, and Him only shall you serve'. John the Baptist in Sacrofano , a few miles north of Rome, claims to have his relics.

He also wrote two defences of Christianity, addressed to the Emperor and the Senate, answering charges that Christians were atheists who practised incest and cannibalism.

5. He was very critical of the pagan morality of his day, which was marked by adultery, promiscuity and paedophilia.

He condemned homosexual practice, prostitution and abortion, and said Christian living was marked by purity.

6. He also condemned the idea that there were no moral absolutes, saying that the "greatest impiety and wickness" was the idea that "there is no real virtue or vice but only by opinion are things considered good or bad".

7. A very learned man, he found lots of parallels to Christianity in the writings of pagans.

He argued that this was because Christ, the 'Logos' or Word of God, was responsible for the creation of the world and had left traces of himself everywhere. But pagan wisdom was to be judged against the yardstick of Christ.

8.

Saint justin martyr biography of mahatma gandhi for kids The apologetic character of Justin's habit of thought appears again in the Acts of his martyrdom, the genuineness of which is attested by internal evidence. De Ador. He settled in Rome, where he established a school of Christian philosophy. Justin excerpted and rearranged the catechetical sayings material to create Apol.

In rebutting pagan charges of cannibalism – provoked by the language of Communion about eating flesh and drinking blood – Justin offers the earliest account of Christian worship we have. He writes about baptism, communion, preaching and even the offering.

9. Justin's Second Apology (or defence) is addressed to a philospher named Crescens.

Crescens reported him to the prefect of Rome, Rusticus, who had him arrested.

 What may be an accurate account of the trial survives. Rusticus presses Justin on whether he believes he will go to heaven when he dies. "I don't think it, I know it," says Justin.

Saint justin martyr biography of mahatma gandhi in english Justin, like others, thought that the Greek philosophers had derived, if not borrowed, the most essential elements of truth found in their teaching from the Old Testament. Another fragment takes up the positive proof of the resurrection, adducing that of Christ and of those whom he recalled to life. A considerable number of other works are given as Justin's by Arethas of Caesarea , Photius of Constantinople , and other writers, but this attribution is now generally admitted to be spurious. In the Dialogue with Trypho , after an introductory section, Justin undertakes to show that Christianity is the new law for all men.

"I have no doubt about it whatever." He orders Justin to sacrifice to the gods, to which Justin says: "No one in his senses gives up truth for falsehood." Rusticus threatens him with torture. "We ask nothing better than to suffer for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and so to be saved," says Justin.

Together with others, he was scourged and beheaded.

Justin's life and works represent early Christianity struggling with intellectual challenges and political oppression.

He was a profound thinker and a courageous Christian who was faithful unto death.

For more about the early Christian saints and martyrs see Who Were the Church Fathers? by Marcello D'Ambrosio.

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