Justin the Philosopher

Justin, a philosopher who wore the dress of a philosopher, was a citizen of Neapolis, a city of Palestine, and the son of Priscus Bacchius. He labored hard for the religion of Christ, so much so that he delivered to Antoninus Pius, to his sons and to the senate a work written Against the Nations, and did not shrink from the shame of the cross. He addressed another book also to the successors of this Antoninus, Marcus Antoninus Verus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus. Another volume of his Against the Nations is also in existence, in which he discusses the nature of demons, and a fourth against the nations, which he entitled Refutation. There is yet another On the Sovereignty of God; another book which he entitled The Psalmist; and another On the Soul; the Dialogue against the Jews, which he held against Trypho, the leader of the Jews; and also notable volumes Against Marcion, which Irenaeus too mentions in the fourth book Against Heresies; and also another book Against All Heresies, which he mentions in the Apology addressed to Antoninus Pius. [a]

He had held his public discussions in the city of Rome, and he had proved Crescens the Cynic, who said many blasphemous things against the Christians, guilty of gluttony and of the fear of death, and had shown him to be given over to luxury and lusts. At last, through the efforts and schemes of Crescens, he was accused of being a Christian, and he shed his blood for Christ.