Apologetics
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Apology to Autolycus

The Apology to Autolycus is one of the earliest extant Christian apologetic discourses, penned by the 2nd-century overseer Theophilus of Antioch, who wrote his apology during the reign of Commodus in the second half of the century. Notably, his apology is the earliest extant work using the word “Trinity” to define the Godhead (τριάς in the Greek). He was also a clear proponent of conditionalism and utilization of the Sibylline Oracles as evidenced by various statements, quotes, and expositions within the Apology.




Where to Read It in Print

The Complete Apocrypha

All-In-One Holy Bible with Apocrypha


Where to Read It Online

Wikisource







A Plea for the Christians

In about AD 177, seven short years after Melito’s Apology, Athenagoras of Athens likewise wrote to Emperor Marcus Aurelius, requesting justice for the Christians and defending the faith in apologetic form. Notably, although he does not use a word for “Trinity” as Theophilus would do as shortly as three years subsequent to Athenagoras’ work, he aptly defends the biblical doctrine of One God in three Persons (see Ch. 10). Given that the two were contemporaries, it is evident that the doctrine of the Trinity was well established in the Church by the mid- and late-2nd century.




Where to Read It in Print

The Complete Apocrypha

All-In-One Holy Bible with Apocrypha


Where to Read It Online

Wikisource







Apology to Marcus Aurelius

Melito’s only mostly extant work, his Apology to Marcus Aurelius, addressed to his then contemporary Roman emperor, was written sometime in the years AD 169–170. Aurelius succeeded Antoninus Pius, co-reigning with Lucius Verus; thus, Melito’s Apology comes under the very next emperor’s reign after the time when Justin Martyr wrote, only 13 or so years earlier.




Where to Read It in Print

The Complete Apocrypha

All-In-One Holy Bible with Apocrypha


Where to Read It Online

Early Christian Writings







Second Apology

Justin Martyr’s Second Apology was written sometime shortly after the First, probably in the range of AD 155–157. It is addressed to the Roman Senate and is thought to be supplementary to his first Apology.




Where to Read It in Print

The Complete Apocrypha

All-In-One Holy Bible with Apocrypha


Where to Read It Online

Wikisource







First Apology

Justin Martyr, one of Christianity’s earliest theologians and apologists (born c. AD 90–100; died c. 165), was born into a Greek family in Flavia Neapolis, near the biblical city of Shechem. He pursued truth in the philosophical schools of Stoicism, Peripateticism, Pythagoreanism, and eventually Platonism, but found all of man’s philosophies sorely lacking. Then one day, perchance he stumbled upon an old man by the seashore—a Syrian Christian—who persuaded him that supreme truth is found only in Christ, the incarnate Word, who merely 100 years earlier had died and risen again in the very region in which Justin had been born and raised. Justin placed his faith in Christ and dedicated his life to the truth. He founded a philosophical school in Rome to further the Gospel, but the stoic philosopher Crescens denounced him to the Roman authorities, and Justin and six of his friends were martyred for their faith via beheading, valiantly refusing to deny the Name of Christ. His most famous extant works are his two Apologies, the first addressed to the emperor Antoninus Pius, his sons, and the Senate; and the second to the Roman Senate alone. The First Apology was written in about AD 155.




Where to Read It in Print

The Complete Apocrypha

All-In-One Holy Bible with Apocrypha


Where to Read It Online

Wikisource







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