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The First Apology
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Chapter 4: Christians Unfairly Condemned Simply for Their Name
BY SIMPLY USING A NAME: nothing is decided, whether good or evil, apart from the actions suggested by the name; and indeed, as far as one can judge from the name we are accused of, we are very good people.
But just as we do not think it right to ask for acquittal based solely on the name, if we are guilty of wrongdoing, so, on the other hand, if we are found not to have committed any offense, either in naming ourselves or in our behavior as citizens, it is your duty to be very careful not to face just punishment by unfairly punishing those who are not proven guilty.
For neither praise nor punishment should logically arise from a name alone, unless some excellent or base action is proven. Among your own people, you do not punish those accused before they are convicted; but in our case, you accept the name as evidence against us, even though you should actually punish our accusers based on the name. We are accused of being Christians, and it is unjust to hate what is excellent (Chrestian).
Moreover, if any of the accused deny the name and say they are not Christian, you acquit them, as there is no evidence against them as wrongdoers; but if anyone acknowledges being a Christian, you punish them for admitting it.
Justice requires that you look into the life of both those who confess and those who deny, so that through their actions it becomes clear what kind of person each is. Just as some who have been taught by the Master, Christ, to not deny Him, encourage others when questioned, likely those who lead wicked lives cause others to unjustly accuse all Christians of impiety and wickedness. This is also unfair. For in philosophy, too, some adopt the name and appearance without acting worthy of their profession; and you know well that even though the opinions and teachings of ancient philosophers differed greatly, they are all still called philosophers.
Some of these taught atheism; and poets among you have mocked the immorality of Jupiter with his own children. Those who now embrace such teachings are not stopped by you; instead, you award prizes and honors to those who skillfully insult the gods.
Hear the Scriptures cited in The First Apology
The First Apology quotes or alludes to these Bible chapters more than any others. Each link opens the free audio Bible, where the chapter is read aloud alongside the text, cross-references, and what other early Christian writers said about it.
- Hear Isaiah 52 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 5 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 6 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 49 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Numbers 21 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 22 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Isaiah 65 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Matthew 19 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 14 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 18 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 32 (audio Bible)
- Hear Exodus 3 (audio Bible)