ＪＵＳＴＩＮ： ”Ｗｅ Ｗｈｏ Ｆｏｒｍｅｒｌｙ”

Justin Martyr on Christianity as a Transformational Faith

Justin Martyr (ca. 100 – ca. 165 AD) was an early Christian apologist, philosopher, and martyr, who defended the Christian faith against all of Christ’s enemies. The following excerpt comes from a context of discussing demons and what happens to those who break free from their clutches by turning to Christ. Justin writes:

We who formerly delighted in fornication, but now embrace chastity alone;

we who formerly used magical arts, dedicate ourselves to the good and unbegotten God;

we who valued above all things the acquisition of wealth and possessions, now bring what we have into a common stock, and communicate to every one in need;

we who hated and destroyed one another, and on account of their different manners would not live with men of a different tribe, now, since the coming of Christ, live familiarly with them, and pray for our enemies, and endeavour to persuade those who hate us unjustly to live conformably to the good precepts of Christ, to the end that they may become partakers with us of the same joyful hope of a reward from God the ruler of all. 

The First Apology of Justin, Chapter 14.