The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs Justin Martyr, Chariton, Charites, Paeon,
and Liberianus
The text of this story of the martyrdom of
Justin Martyr is taken from The Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume I. The
grammar, wording, and some details of my perception of the prefect's attitude
have been updated for ease of reading.
Chapter One:
Justin Martyr Is Examined by the Prefect Rusticus
Justin Martyr
Public domain image
ANCIENT INTRODUCTION: In the time of the
lawless practicers of idolatry, wicked decrees were passed against the godly
Christians in town and country. Rome was trying to force them to offer
sacrifices to useless idols. Therefore, the holy men were arrested and brought
before the prefect of Rome, Rusticus.
When they were brought before his judgment
seat, the prefect Rusticus said to Justin, "Obey the gods at once, and
submit to the kings."
"To obey the commandments of our Saviour
Jesus Christ should bring neither blame nor condemnation," replied Justin.
Rusticus ignored the reply. "What kind of
doctrines do you profess?"
Justin answered, "I have tried to learn
all doctrines, but I have given in at last to the true doctrines: those of the
Christians. I know they do not please you who hold false opinions." (see that Justin in no way tries friendship
evangelism or ecumenicalism; he starts with you hold “false opinions” about
doctrine)
"But they please you, don't they, you
completely wretched man?" the prefect sneered.
"Yes," Justin Martyr replied,
"because I follow them with correct dogma." (again Justin cannot be confused with progressive emergent crowd not
all ways are the right ways there is 1 sole correct Way and any other way is a
false way that leads to death)
"So tell me, what is this proper
dogma?"
"Correct dogma is found in the way we
worship the God of the Christians," Justin Martyr began. "He has been
one from the beginning, the maker and designer of the entire creation, visible
and invisible. We also worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was
preached in advance by the prophets. They foretold that he was about to visit
the human race as the herald of salvation and the teacher of good
disciples."
Justin continued, "Nothing I say is
significant compared with his limitless divinity. I acknowledge that only by
prophetic power can he be sufficiently described, and the prophets did proclaim
this One, whom I now say is the Son of God. I know that the prophets foretold
his appearance among men from ancient times."
Rusticus seemed satisfied that this line of
questioning had gone far enough, and he changed the subject.
Chapter Two:
Justin Martyr Is Questioned About Christian Meetings
"Where do you assemble?" Rusticus
proceeded.
It's a beautiful thing to God when a
Christian does battle with pain. When he faces threats, punishments and
tortures by mocking death and treading underfoot the horror of the executioner;
when he raises up his freedom in Christ as a standard before kings and princes;
when he yields to God alone, and-triumphant and victorious-he tramples
upon the very man who has pronounced the sentence upon him … God finds
all these things beautiful.
–Minucius Felix, The
Octavius 37)
"Wherever we want to and are able
to," Justin replied. "Do you imagine that we all meet in the same
place? Not so! The God of the Christians is not limited to a location. He is
invisible, and he fills heaven and earth. Therefore, he is worshipped and
glorified everywhere by the faithful." (its
like I tell dispensationalists in Christianity there is no “holy land” all the
Earth and universe are the Lord’s)
Rusticus sighed. This was no angry prefect. He
was not the least bit interested in Justin's speech. "Just tell me where
you personally assemble. In other words, in what place do you, Justin, gather
your followers?"
"I live above a man named Martin, at the
Timiotinian Bath." Justin paused, then, knowing what the next question
would be, he continued, "During the entire time I've lived here, because
I'm now living in Rome for the second time, I don't know about any other
meetings. I've simply taught the truth to anyone willing to come to me."
Rusticus was ready to get down to business.
"So are you a Christian or not?"
Justin replied, "Yes, I am a
Christian."
Chapter Three:
Rusticus the Prefect Examines Justin Martyr's Companions
Rusticus glanced at the recorder, and the
recorder nodded. With that the prefect was ready to move on to the others.
"And you, Chariton, are you also a
Christian?"
Chariton replied, "I am a Christian by
the command of God."
The prefect turned to the woman. "What
say you, Charito?"
"I am a Christian by the grace of God,"
Charito replied.
He turned to Euelpistus. "And you? What
are you?"
Euelpistus, who was a servant of Caesar,
answered, "I, too, am a Christian. I have been freed by Christ, and by the
grace of Christ I share in the same hope."
Rusticus made sure the recorder was getting
all this, then asked Hierax, "And you? Are you a Christian?"
Hierax said, "Yes, I am a Christian, for
I revere and worship the same God."
Marcus Aurelius would
have been a general
at the time Justin was being martyred
Public domain image
Rusticus swept his eyes across the group in
front of him. He had one more thing to clear up. It was appropriate to make
some effort to save the lives of the accused. "Did Justin make you
Christians?"
Hierax answered first, "I was a
Christian, and I will remain a Christian."
Paeon, who had been asked nothing, chimed in,
"I, too, am a Christian."
Rusticus looked at him. "And who taught you?"
"We received this good confession from
our parents," Paeon replied.
Euelpistus had no intentions of letting Justin
take the rap for all of them. "I listened to Justin willingly, but I
learned to be a Christian from my parents as well."
"Where are your parents?" Rusticus
asked.
"In Cappadocia."
"And yours?" He was asking Hierax.
"Christ is our true father, and faith in
him is our mother. My earthly parents died, and I was driven out of Iconium in
Phrygia. Then I came here."
There was one more to question. Rusticus the
prefect asked Liberianus, "And what say you? Are you a Christian and
unwilling to worship?"
Liberianus said, "I, too, am a Christian,
for I worship and reverence the only true God."
There was one thing left to do. These
Christian martyrs had to be given a chance to recant.
Chapter Four:
Rusticus Threatens Justin Martyr and the Other Christians
The prefect spoke to Justin Martyr first.
"Listen, you who are called learned and think you know true doctrines. If
you are scourged and beheaded, do you believe you'll ascend to heaven?"
"That is my hope," Justin replied.
"If I endure these things, I shall have his gifts. I know that for all who
have lived according to our teachings, the divine favor remains on them until
the completion of the whole world."
Though death is decreed against those who
teach or at all confess the name of Christ, we everywhere both embrace and
teach it. And if you also read these words in a hostile spirit, you can
do no more … than kill us; which indeed does no harm to us, but to you
and all who unjustly hate us and do not repent, brings eternal punishment by
fire.
–Justin Martyr, First
Apology 45
"So you suppose that you will ascend into
heaven to receive some payment for your faithfulness?"
"Not suppose, I know and am fully
convinced of it," Justin Martyr replied.
Rusticus shrugged. "Let's get right to
what matters, then. You've been brought here to offer sacrifice, all of you
together, to the gods."
Justin wasn't interested. "No one in
their right mind leaves godliness to take up ungodliness." (Again not an inkling of ecumenicalism, or
universalism in Christianity)
"You're aware that unless you obey, you
will be mercilessly punished?"
Justin answered, "Through prayer we can
be saved because of our Lord Jesus Christ, even after we have been punished.
This will become salvation and confidence to us at the much more fearful and
universal judgment of our Lord and Savior."
The other martyrs echoed his sentiment.
"Do whatever you want. We are Christians, and we don't sacrifice to idols."
Rusticus was uncaring. He had done his duty.
Chapter Five:
Rusticus Pronounces Sentence on Justin Martyr and His Companions
Rusticus stood to make his pronouncement.
"Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to yield to the
command of the emperor be scourged, then let them be led away and beheaded,
according to the laws."
The holy martyrs, having glorified God, were
taken to the customary place, beheaded, and they perfected their testimony in
the confession of the Savior.
Some of the faithful secretly removed their
bodies, then laid them in a suitable place. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
worked with them, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
This Christian martyrs story is simple and
straightforward, but it testifies to the faith of Justin Martyr and the
Christians with him. It's one thing to say that you believe in Jesus Christ and
the eternal life that he purchased with his blood; it is quite another to prove
your faith by giving up your temporary life on this earth.
Not
Likely To Be Martyred?
Since, o son, you desire martyrdom, hear. Be
like Abel was, or like Isaac himself, or Stephen, who chose for himself on the
way the righteous life. … First of all, overcome the evil one with your good
deeds by living well. … Even now, if you have conquered by good deeds,
you are [already] a martyr in him.
–Instructions of
Commodianus 62
It doesn't take special or unusual events to
make a martyrdom glorious. There is no greater love, says the Scriptures, than
to give up your life for a friend.
Having confessed Christ before men, martyrs
like Justin Martyr, Chariton, Charito, Paeon, Hierax, and Liberianus will find
that Jesus Christ will also confess them before the Father, who is God of all.
Let us be inspired to similar faith. There are
places where men, women, and children continue to give their earthly lives in
hope of the eternal life promised by God, who cannot lie, since before the
world began.
Even here in the West, however, where
martyrdom is unlikely, we have daily opportunities to deny our fears and
embarrassment and to stand up as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing
him before men in return for that final and great confession to be made by
Jesus Christ before his Father and ours.
note].