Justin Martyr's Apology

Justin Martyr's Apology is one of the foundations of mainstream Christianity.

Justin Martyr provided an apologetic defence of proto-orthodox Christianity dating back to the middle of the Second Century (probably 156 AD).  He has been used as an early defence of 'mainstream' Christianity over the  doctrinal 'aberrations' allegedly introduced by Marcion and Valentinus.

The Apology of Aristides

Strangely the text of his Apology "disappeared" soon after this and was only recovered in the 19th Century. The Apology was delivered to the emperor Hadrian in the Winter of 125 when Hadrian was in Athens to be initiated into the Eleusinian rites.

Jerome in his lives of Illustrius men writes:

XX.  Aristides a most eloquent Athenian philosopher, and a disciple of Christ while yet retaining his philosopher's garb, presented a work to Hadrian at the same time that Quadratus presented his. The work contained a systematic statement of our doctrine, that is, an Apology for the Christians, which is still extant and is regarded by philologians as a monument to his genius.

When a text that has survived the persecution of secular authorities disappears in a time of peace, its worth wondering whether it does so for a reason.

I found it strange that even today whilst many people know of Justin's Apology, few if any are aware of the earlier Apology of Aristides.

If you read the text you may see why.  I believe the text undermines the spin of the proto-orthodox church.  The proto-orthodox Church was trying to deligitimise the position of Marcion and Valentinus, who were resisting the syncretism and holding tight to Pauls witness of the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus came to preach.

Quispel argues that in about 180 AD the Church in Rome performed a cleansing redaction of the books that were later to become the New Testament.  (See Marcion and Pauls Letters)

The proto-orthodox Church, the source of modern Christianity, went to considerable lengths to assert that both Marcion's deprecation of the Old Testament God, and Valentinus' gnosis, were novel innovations unknown prior to Marcion and Valentinus, and had no historical basis.

Justin Martyr's Apology (in the form we have it) provides support to the proto-orthodox position.  Aristides' Apology does the opposite.

Here are some interesting excerpts from Aristides Apology.

(I) I say, then, that God is not born, not made, an ever-abiding nature without beginning and without end, immortal, perfect, and incomprehensible. Now when I say that he is "perfect," this means that there is not in him any defect, and he is not in need of anything but all things are in need of him. And when I say that he is "without beginning," this means that everything which has beginning has also an end, and that which has an end may be brought to an end. He has no name, for everything which has a name is kindred to things created. Form he has none, nor yet any union of members; for whatsoever possesses these is kindred to things fashioned. He is neither male nor female. The heavens do not limit him, but the heavens and all things, visible and invisible, receive their bounds from him. Adversary he has none, for there exists not any stronger than he. Wrath and indignation he possesses not, for there is nothing which is able to stand against him. Ignorance and forgetfulness are not in his nature, for he is altogether wisdom and understanding; and in Him stands fast all that exists. He requires not sacrifice and libation, nor even one of things visible; He requires not aught from any, but all living creatures stand in need of him....

(XIV) And they (The Jews) imitate God by the philanthropy which prevails among them; for they have compassion on the poor, and they release the captives, and bury the dead, and do such things as these, which are acceptable before God and well-pleasing also to men,--which (customs) they have received from their forefathers.
Nevertheless they too erred from true knowledge (gnosis). And in their imagination they conceive that it is God they serve; whereas by their mode of observance it is to the angels and not to God that their service is rendered...

(XV) But the Christians, O King, while they went about and made search, have found the truth; and as we learned from their writings, they have come nearer to truth and genuine knowledge (gnosis) than the rest of the nations....

(XVII) Henceforth let the tongues of those who utter vanity and harass the Christians be silent; and hereafter let them speak the truth. For it is of serious consequence to them that they should worship the true God rather than worship a senseless sound. And verily whatever is spoken in the mouth of the Christians is of God; and their doctrine is the gateway of light. **

These excerpts from Aristides Apology go to the heart of the dispute of the proto-orthodox church on both the nature of God, the Old Testament, and Gnosis.

Having regard to the emphasised exerpts, I think both Marcion and Valentinus would be very comfortable with Aristides position! 

Interestingly the Church's Official historian under Constantine, Eusebius stated:

Interestingly the Church's spin continues!

The Second Edition of New Jerome Biblical Commentary with the Nihil obstat of the Catholic Church summarises Aristides this way:

It (Aristides' Apology) offers philosophical proofs for the existence of God and the nonexistence of pagan gods, argues that Jews misunderstood true worship, gives the basic elements of Christian belief, and closes with an exposition of Christian Moral standards and practices.

It always pays to read the originals yourself!

** (The Gateway of light is a concept found far more frequently in Gnostic texts than in orthodox or proto-orthodox texts)