Apology for the Christian Faith

The Apology for the Christian Faith was written by Aristides, an Athenian philosopher and one of the earliest Christian Apologists in the 2nd century. This work is among the oldest surviving documents defending Christianity.1

Aristides presented his Apology to either Emperor Hadrian or Antoninus Pius. His argument, considered a precursor to later, more elaborate apologies, began by discussing the harmony of creation to establish the existence of a divine creator. He then categorized pre-Christian humanity based on their religious practices: "barbarians" (Babylonians, Egyptians), Greeks, and Jews, finding all of them lacking in their understanding of the divine.1

Only Christians, whom he called a "new nation," possessed a true concept of God, understood through His Son and the Holy Spirit. Aristides emphasized the moral life of Christians, guided by Christ's commandments, and their belief in resurrection. He highlighted the charity within the Christian community and argued that Christians, despite their small numbers, were vital for the world's salvation through their intercession with God. The text, once thought lost, was rediscovered in the late 19th century.1