1 NB: This is a final Essay submitted by Fr Andrew Smith as part of the course requirements for Introduction to Patristics, in Semester 2, 2018, taught by Abraam Mikhail, a lecturer with St Athanasius College, a college of the University of Divinity. Since submission, only formatting has been changed for the sake of readability. The Apology – St Justin Martyr The writings of St Justin Martyr are among the earliest Christian sources on a variety of topics, and especially on Christian liturgics (Apology 61,65-67) . 1 Yet, his purpose in writing the Apology was not to make a record of practices for researchers of Christianity; rather, it was to convince the Roman authorities to cease their persecution of Christians. The Apology was written between 147-154AD, 2 likely in response to the martyrdom of Polycarp, 3 and it cemented his position as a “pioneer Apologist” for two reasons: 4 firstly, because it began the Christian use of a legal and administrative style, an ‘apology,’ to preach the Gospel to the Romans; and secondly, because the Apology was “directed outwards … towards pagans”, while previous patristic writings were for “Christian communities.” 5 1 Translation from: Justin Martyr, “The First Apology of Justin,” in ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, edited by Philip Schaff et al (Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 2005). 2 Denis Minns and Paul Parvis, Justin, Philosopher and Martyr: Apologies (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), 44. 3 This would explain the references to eternal fire. Robert M. Grant, Greek Apologists of the Second Century (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1988), 53-54. 4 L.W. Barnard, Justin Martyr: His Life and Thought, (London: Cambridge University Press, 1967), vii. 5 John Behr, The Way to Nicaea, (Crestwood: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2001), 93 .