Skip to content

Chapters

🎧 The Second Apology
0:000:00
The Second Apology0:00 / 0:00

More

See 1885 English translation

Chapter 3: Justin Accuses Crescens of Ignorant Bias Against Christians.

THEREFORE: I too expect to be plotted against and condemned to punishment by some of those I have mentioned, or perhaps by Crescens, that lover of bravado and boasting. This man is not worthy of the name philosopher, as he publicly criticizes us on matters he does not understand, claiming that Christians are atheists and impious to gain favor with the misguided crowd and to please them. If he attacks us without having read the teachings of Christ, he is thoroughly depraved and far worse than the uneducated, who often refrain from discussing or bearing false witness about things they do not comprehend.

Or, if he has read them but does not understand their majesty, or understanding them, behaves this way to avoid being suspected of being a Christian, he is even more base and thoroughly depraved, overcome by irrational opinion and fear. I want you to know that I posed certain questions to him on this subject and interrogated him, finding conclusively that he indeed knows nothing. To prove that I speak the truth, I am ready, if these discussions have not been reported to you, to conduct them again in your presence.

This would be an act worthy of a leader.

But if my questions and his answers have been shared with you, you are already aware that he knows nothing of our matters. Or, if he knows them but, out of fear of those who might hear him, does not dare to speak out like Socrates, he proves himself, as I said before, no philosopher, but a man of opinions. At least he does not consider that Socratic and most admirable saying: “But a man must in no way be honored above the truth.” It is impossible for a Cynic, who makes indifference his goal, to know any good but indifference.