ＡＲＩＳＴＩＤＥＳ： ”Ｂｅ Ｓｉｌｅｎｔ”

Aristides of Athens Tells Hadrian that Blasphemers Should Be Silent and Embrace the True Faith

Aristides of Athens (d. ca. 134 AD) concluded his apologetic letter (ca. 124 AD) to Emperor Hadrian (r. 117 – 138 AD) with words of warning to those commit blasphemy and slander. The philosopher writes:

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.  Wherefore let all who are without the knowledge of God draw near thereto; and they will receive incorruptible words, which are from all time and from eternity.  So shall they appear before the awful judgment which through Jesus the Messiah is destined to come upon the whole human race.

The Apology of Aristides the Philosopher, XVII.