[Greek] ἀπολογία (apologia), [Latin] defensio, [Latin] ratio, [Latin] defendere: defense, vindication, apology, explanation, justification; Act25:16, 2Cor 7:11,Phil 1:7,16,2 Tim 4:16,1 Pet 3:15
Justin Martyr (born 100 A.D.) is perhaps one of greatest apologists (defenders) of the Catholic faith.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means speech in defense of or response to something.
Antiphon’s On the Choreutes 6.7: “My own attitude to my defense is very different from that of my accusers to their prosecution. They have treated their speech as nothing but an opportunity for malicious falsehood. Even though I am entirely innocent.”
Thucydides’ The Peloponnesian War 3.61: “We should never have asked to make this speech if the Plataeans had contented themselves with shortly answering the question, and had not turned around and made charges against us. However, since they have done so, we must answer their charges and refute them.
Plato’s Apology 28a: “That I am not a wrongdoer seems to me not to need much of a defense, but what has been said is enough. But you may be assured that what I said before is true, that great hatred has risen against in the minds of many persons.”
New Testament: This term means defense and reason.
Scripture:
Acts 22:1: “My brothers and fathers, listen what I am about to say to you in my defense.” (Paul’s first defense is presented to the Jerusalem crowds. Luke presents Paul as a devout and zealous persecutor of the Christian community. Paul relates to others his conversion story to become a Christian apostle.)
Acts 25:16: “I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faces his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.” (As a Roman citizen, Paul was entitled to have the “right to be beheaded” rather than to be crucified like a slave or barbarian. Paul was also entitled to have the right to defend himself and the right to face his accuser.)
2Tim.4:16: “At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me.”
- After the great fire of Rome in 64 A.D., Christians were looked upon as enemies of the state. Accused Christians were killed by being burned to death.
- This scripture implies a second trial for Paul in Rome. Paul could have been charged and given a warning in the complicity of the introduction of Christianity in Rome.
- The second defense (trial) leads to Paul’s second imprisonment for actively introducing Christianity in Rome.
- Christians were fearful and afraid of standing with Paul against the Roman authorities.
- Paul was mindful of other Christians’ fears and concerns. Paul did not hold this against them.
- Tradition [Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History] indicates that Paul was finally beheaded in 64 A.D. in Rome.
1Pet.3:15: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”
Christians suffering and restraint: 1 Pet.3:13-17, 1Pet.18-21
- If you suffer because of righteousness [of God], blessed are you.
- Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.
- It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is God’s will, than to do evil.
- Whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering, following the God’s will, that is a GRACE.
- If you are patient when you suffer for doing good, this is a GRACE before God.
- For this you have been called [to share in Christ’s suffering], because Christ also suffered. Christ leaves you an example that you should follow in His footsteps.
Lk.12:11: “When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.”
- Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
- Jesus extends mercy to those who misunderstand, oppose or even deny Him. Forgiveness remains available through repentance and faith.
- The Holy Spirit bears witness to Christ, exposes sin, and calls sinners into repentance.
- Persistent and informed rejection of this witness hardens the heart against the Savior and rejects forgiveness.
- Jesus, preparing His disciples for opposition from Jews and Gentiles, forbids anxious dependence on human skill when His servants are compelled to testify.
- The Holy Spirit will supply wisdom, courage, and fitting words in the moment of need.
Lk.21:14-15: “Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.”
- Jesus calls His disciples to settle their hearts and to have steadfast faith.
- Jesus forbids anxiousness during future trials. God’s care frees His people from fear of outcomes and from dependence on human strength.
- Jesus immediately promises them words and wisdom that their opponents could not resist or contradict.
- Jesus promises to supply His disciples what they need to stand before hostile rulers and enemies.
- Their witness will not rest on natural ability but on the Lord’s provision.
- Jesus will grant fitting words and spiritual discernment. The Holy Spirit will enable believers to testify clearly to the truth of Christ.
- God-given testimony would expose the weakness of false accusations and unbelief.
Rom. 2:15: “They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thought accuse or even defend them.”
- The Gentiles, who never received the Mosaic Law, reveal that God has implanted moral awareness within human nature.
- Created in God’s image, people recognize basic obligations of righteousness, truthfulness, justice, fairness, and condemnation of evil.
- This conscience serves as an inner witness that responds to God’s moral standard.
- One’s inner reasoning against God’s moral stand will produce accusation or defense.
2Cor.12:19: “Have you been thinking all along that we are defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and all for building you up, beloved.” (Paul corrects the Corinthians’ assumption that Paul’s mission was an attempt to vindicate himself. The false apostles had attacked his character and ministry. Paul’s strongest rebuke proceeds from his pastoral love and care for the Corinthians. Paul seeks to strengthen the Church in truth, holiness, and unity.)
Justin Martyr:
What is the original meaning of apologetics? This term can be used in a legal context, where the accused makes a systemic and logical defense or statement in response to formal charges against detractors and unbelievers. St. Justin Martyr, used philosophical arguments to defend Christianity to the Roman authorities. His First Apology was written around 153-155 AD. His Second Apology was written around 148-161 AD.
How did Justin view Christ? Justin said that Jesus was the missing piece of Socrates’s puzzle. Socrates rejected pagan idolatry. Socrates searched for the one true God. Philosophy brought Justin to Christ. Justin remained as a philosopher to the end.
How did Justin view these Christians? Justin found it impossible that these Christians were not living in wickedness and pleasure. These Christians were fearless of death, even sometimes welcoming it. These Christians would rather escape the observation of others. This was a result of excellent Socratic reasoning. This allowed Justin to recognize baloney when he smelled it. Perhaps this is also the work of the Holy Spirit. Justin laughed at these accusations.
What was the early education of Justin? He showed an early philosophical interest in life. He spent much time with the Stoics, Peripatetics, and the Pythagoreans, before settling upon the study of Plato and Plato’s master Socrates. Justin still had many unanswered questions about Socrates’ Unknown God. Justin seems to have reasoned that these difficulties would surely be resolved one by one
When did Justin convert to Christianity? This is thought to have happened in Ephesus around 130 AD. He was given a warm welcome into the Christian congregation.
Why was Justin’s conduct, after his conversion, somewhat unusual? He raised a few eyebrows from others by his conduct as a new believer. Instead of remaining with his fellow Christians, Justin continued to meet with his fellow philosophers in the Temple grounds. He kept all his old friendships and ran with the same crowd. JUSTIN REMAINED ENGAGED WITH THE CULTURE!
Why did Justin do this? Justin was an apologist. He became a defender of the faith as a philosophical evangelist. Justin seemed to have the desire to see his own people, his fellow philosophers, and to bring the knowledge of the truth to them.
What is the significance of this temple area? Such places were where the philosophers of the day plied their trade. Groups of them could always be found arguing on the steps of every pagan shrine in the Empire. On this particular day, Justin drew the attention of Trypho, a Hellenized rabbi. These competing viewpoints all met here on equal terms, debating philosophy.
Despite being a Christian, why is Justin able to debate in these temple grounds? Justin knew that there was an unwritten code of honor among the Greek philosophers to allow for other points of view. Socrates’ great motto had been to follow the argument wherever it leads. Keeping an open mind was considered to be among the highest virtues. They prided themselves upon that just about any viewpoint could gain a respectful hearing among them, until they felt that viewpoint had been conclusively disproved. Therefore, to surrender their old comrade to the authorities would have been a serious violation of this code of conduct.
SSPX bishop calls Assisi event a great scandal and offense against God.
- This REJECTS the supreme law of the Catholic Church in the SALVATION OF SOULS (stated in Canon 1752 in 1983 Code of Canon Law)
- This REJECTS Pope Gregory XVI’s warning about the need for a human “restoration” of the Church in his encyclical Mirari Vos (1832).
- Vatican II begins the practice of questionable ecumenism, UNDERMINING and REJECTING the idea that the Catholic Church is the sole source of salvation. The Synodal Church continues this practice.
- This REJECTS Jesus’ commands to make disciples of all nations and teach them to observe all that He has commanded. (Mt. 28:19-20)
Etymology:
- Classical Greek: this term apologia means well reasoned and thought-out reply (response).
- The Greek apologos means account or story. The Greek apo- means away from. The Greek logos means speech.
- First recorded in 1590, this term conveyed self justification and a frank expression of regret for wrong done.
- Currently, an apology signifies excuse and extenuating the fault rather than vindication and proving innocence.
- The Greek apologetikos means defensible.
- Progression of this term: reasoned defense (justification) ====> self-justification (excuse) ====> apology (“I’m sorry!”)
Conclusion:
Apology, apologize, apologetics, defense, rationality, rational
Shakespeare perhaps may have become the father of the modern apology: “My lord, there needs no such apologie.” Richard III
It is quite remarkable that St. Justin Martyr sought to evangelize and catechize his fellow philosopher peers while still “in the trenches” rather than staying comfortably safe among the Christian community.
Unfortunately, there are too many cardinals, bishops, and priests WHO WILL NOT STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST heresies, scandal, sacrilege, evil, and secular values. Perhaps these cowardly are fearful of being canceled, fearful of offending their superiors, and fearful of not getting that next great apostolic position.
Modernists arrogantly claim that Jesus’ Church must change in a synodal Church in the image of man. Are they actually saying that Jesus got it wrong??
Yet, at the same time, these priests, suffering in the name of Christ, are actually receiving graces and blessings from God. Do they even realize this!
There are now priests being cancelled, laicized, and excommunicated for defending traditional Church teachings and criticizing Pope Francis’s Modernist changing of Jesus’ Church. This is not a good look for the Modernists! Yet, they continue to do this.
Each of us (in the trenches) most give a reasoned explanation for our appropriate criticism of Pope Francis’ and Pope Leo’s Modernist/Synodalist practices and policies.
Each of us (in the trenches) must give a reasoned explanation for the reason of our hope to others (non-Christians and non-Catholics) in our call to evangelize others.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider disputes Pope Leo’s claim of less active participation in the TLM. Evidently, Pope Leo does not recognize that silence and contemplation is still active participation.
Bishop Schneider stated that Synodality is a codeword to undermine Catholic doctrine.
Archbishop Vigano states that the Catholic Church is alive and the Synodal Church is a corpse. The Holy Spirit inspired movement has lead to a longing for Tradition and the TLM in the Church.
The Synodal leadership often seeks to ratify and justify their Synodal novelties by using the Holy Spirit (“the Holy Spirit of surprises”). This is dangerous and deceitful in that the Holy Spirit CAN ONLY STAND FOR TRUTH!
Synodal hard-heartedness and delusion: The Synodal leadership continue to marginalize Catholic through Traditiones Custodes. Yet, through the Holy Spirit’s providence, this is sparking a counter-response: a Holy Spirit-inspired longing for Tradition, early Catholic Church history, doctrinal clarity, and the TLM.
Pope Leo’s excommunication against the SSPX is backfiring. More priests are joining the SSPX. In contrast doctrinal and liturgical confusion, the SSPX stands for truth and sanity in the Church.
Cardinal Burke reaffirms Mary as Co-Redemptrix in contrast to Pope Leo rejection of this term. This is another illustration of the Synodal Church accommodating Non-Catholics and Protestants.
Following in the tradition of Archbishop Lefebvre, the SSPX, Bishop Schneider and others are now defending traditional Catholic teachings.
The validity of the Vatican’s excommunication of the SSPX continues to be undermined as the Vatican continues to push the doctrinal envelope into heresy and doctrinal confusion.
Bishop Schneider states that the Church is witnessing a hostile takeover within the hierarchy with doctrinal ambiguities, brazen heresies, and apostasy.
Bishop Schneider claims that the Vatican is marginalizing the SSPX because due to its criticism of the defects of the Novus Order Mass and Vatican II.
Why would a parish pastor make the decision to remove the St. Michael Prayer at Mass??? How can praying for having the strengthen to defend against the devil be a bad thing? Who benefits from this? The devil!
“The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself.” St. Augustine
“The enemy surrounds us, and we shall perish unless we fight. If we really fight, we are given assurance of victory.” St. France de Sales
“Christ does not force our will. He takes only what we give Him. But He does not give Himself entirely until He sees that we yield ourselves entirely to Him.” St. Teresa of Avila.
“If the world is against the Truth, then I am against the world.” St. Athanasius
“To separate oneself from Tradition is to separate oneself from the Church.” Archbishop Lefebvre
This is somewhat a lengthy post: Sorry ===> but not sorry!