First and Second Apologies of Justin Martyr

By Adam Mendoza

Written in the middle of the second century, the First and Second Apologies of Justin Martyr are among the earliest surviving Christian defenses addressed to Roman imperial authority. These works are not sermons or devotional reflections, but carefully reasoned appeals to law, justice, and conscience, composed at a time when Christians were often condemned simply for bearing the name.

Justin, a philosopher who later suffered martyrdom, argues that Christianity is neither irrational nor socially dangerous. He insists that people should be judged according to their actions rather than rumor or prejudice, exposing the injustice of punishing believers without proof of wrongdoing. Along the way, Justin offers invaluable insight into early Christian belief and practice, addressing worship, morality, free will, resurrection, judgment, and the identity of Christ as the divine Logos.

This volume presents a faithful modern-English translation of the First and Second Apologies, based primarily on Parisinus graecus 450, the earliest and most important extant Greek manuscript preserving Justin's apologetic writings. The translation preserves Justin's full argument without condensation, aiming for clarity while remaining attentive to the sense and structure of the Greek text.

Designed for pastors, students, and serious readers, this edition makes one of the foundational texts of early Christianity accessible without sacrificing historical integrity. Justin's voice emerges here as thoughtful, reasoned, and strikingly relevant, engaging enduring questions of faith, justice, and truth in the public square.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GM6XVW71
• ISBN13: 9798247259909
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 8.0"