The First Apology

More than any other people, we are your helpers and allies in promoting peace, because we believe it is impossible for the wicked, the covetous, the conspirators, and even the virtuous to escape God's notice. Each person faces everlasting punishment or salvation based on their actions. If everyone knew this, no one would choose wickedness, even briefly, knowing they'd face everlasting punishment in fire. Instead, they would strive to control themselves and embrace virtue to receive the good gifts of God and avoid punishment.

Those who try to avoid detection when they offend because of your laws and punishments—assuming they can escape your notice since you are just humans—would, if they understood that nothing, whether done or intended, escapes God's knowledge, choose to live decently because of the threatened penalties, as you would also admit. Yet, you seem to fear that if everyone became righteous, you would have no one to punish. This concern might be fitting for executioners but not for good leaders.

As we said before, we believe these fears come from evil spirits seeking sacrifices and service even from unreasonable individuals.

However, we hope that you, striving for a reputation of piety and philosophy, will not act unreasonably.

But if, like the foolish, you prefer custom over truth, do what you have the power to do. Rulers who value opinion over truth have no more authority than robbers in the wilderness. Your success seems unlikely, as declared by the Word, than whom, after God who birthed Him, there is no ruler more just and kingly.

Just as people avoid inheriting the poverty or suffering or obscurity of their fathers, whatever the Word forbids us to choose, a wise person will not choose. All these things were foretold by our Teacher, who is both the Son and Apostle of God the Father of all and the Ruler, Jesus Christ; from Him, we are called Christians. We are more assured of all He taught because everything He foretold is now visibly coming to pass, and it is the work of God to declare events before they happen and then to fulfill them.

It would be possible to stop here, believing we ask for what is just and true, but knowing it's not easy to change a mind clouded by ignorance suddenly, we will add a few points to persuade those who love the truth, understanding that ignorance can be dispelled by presenting the truth.