The Second Apology

When I discovered the wicked disguise the evil spirits had placed upon the divine doctrines of the Christians to deter others from joining them, I laughed at both those who created these falsehoods and at the disguise itself, as well as at popular opinion. I admit that I proudly and wholeheartedly strive to be recognized as a Christian; not because Plato's teachings are entirely different from those of Christ, but because they are not completely alike, just as those of the Stoics, poets, and historians are not. Each person spoke well according to the portion of the divine word they possessed, understanding what was related to it. However, those who contradict themselves on the more important points seem not to have possessed heavenly wisdom and the indisputable knowledge. Whatever truths were rightly expressed among all people belong to us Christians. For next to God, we worship and love the Word who comes from the unbegotten and indescribable God, since He also became man for our sake, so that by sharing in our sufferings, He might bring us healing. All writers were able to perceive realities dimly through the presence of the implanted word within them. The seed and imitation granted according to capacity is one thing, and the actual thing, of which there is participation and imitation according to the grace from Him, is quite another.