First and Second Apologies of Justin Martyr

Justin Martyr was a mid-second century Christian writer. A Greek-speaking Gentile, he was born in Flavia Neapolis (present day Nablus) in Samaria and was martyred around 165 AD in Rome. In approximately 150 AD, he wrote his First and Second Apologies as defenses of the Christian faith.  Justin addressed the First Apology to the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius and his sons Lucius and Verissimus (better known as Marcus Aurelius); the Second Apology was addressed to the Roman Senate.  In both Apologies, Justin seeks to defend the Christian faith from the misrepresentations that were current in his day, demonstrate that persecutions of Christians were unjust, and convert his readers to the faith.

This edition in the St. Polycarp Church Fathers Series presents these two works with notes and commentary by Rev. Aaron Simms.

About the Editor

Rev. Aaron Simms is a writer specializing in Christian theology, history and classical studies.  He is also a pastor in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, a member of the American Academy of Religion, and the founder of St. Polycarp Publishing House.  His academic studies include international relations, economics, psychology, classical history, and theology at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia), Troy University (Troy, Alabama), and Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri).  His blog is at aaronsimms.com