Author Description

Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 A. D.), the earliest apologist whose works have been preserved even in part, was a Platonist before he was a Christian and Platonic quotations abound in his works. Huber, however, points out, Die Philosophie der Kirchenväter, p. 14, the difficulty of harmonizing Justin’s pro-Platonic and anti-Platonic views. In Apol., II, 13 (Migne, Pat. Gr., VI, p. 465, B. 11) he states that the teachings of Plato are not foreign to Christ, and then again in many places we find that he attacks the heathen philosophers, Plato, Aristotle, etc.; see Cohor. ad Graecos, chap. 5 ff., and declares Plato’s inconsistencies in chap 7. But whether as an advocate or an opponent of Plato’s doctrines he shows a thorough knowledge of his works, quoting from the Republic, Timaeus, Meno and Phaedrus.