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.For not only among the Greeks did reason(Logos) prevail to condemn these things through Socrates, but also amongthe Barbarians were they condemned by Reason (or the Word, the Logos)Himself, who took shape, and became man, and was called Jesus Christ;and in obedience to Him, we not only deny that they who did such thingsas these are gods, but assert that they are wicked and impious demons,whose actions will not bear comparison with those even of men desirousof virtue.CHAPTER 6CHARGE OF ATHEISM REFUTEDHence are we called atheists.And we confess that we are atheists, so far asgods of this sort are concerned, but not with respect to the most true God,the Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who isfree from all impurity.But both Him, and the Son (who came forth fromHim and taught us these things, and the host of the other good angels whofollow and are made like to Him), and the prophetic Spirit, we worshipand adore, knowing them in reason and truth, and declaring withoutgrudging to every one who wishes to learn, as we have been taught. 296CHAPTER 7EACH CHRISTIAN MUST BE TRIED BY HIS OWN LIFEBut some one will say, Some have ere now been arrested and convicted asevil-doers.For you condemn many, many a time, after inquiring into thelife of each of the accused severally, but not on account of those of whomwe have been speaking.And this we acknowledge, that as among theGreeks those who teach such theories as please themselves are all called bythe one name Philosopher, though their doctrines be diverse, so alsoamong the Barbarians this name on which accusations are accumulated isthe common property of those who are and those who seem wise.For allare called Christians.Wherefore we demand that the deeds of all those whoare accused to you be judged, in order that each one who is convicted maybe punished as an evil-doer, and not as a Christian; and if it is clear thatany one is blameless, that he may be acquitted, since by the mere fact ofhis being a Christian he does no wrong.For we will not require that youpunish our accusers; they being sufficiently punished by their presentwickedness and ignorance of what is right.CHAPTER 8CHRISTIANS CONFESS THEIR FAITH IN GODAnd reckon ye that it is for your sakes we have been saying these things;for it is in our power, when we are examined, to deny that we areChristians; but we would not live by telling a lie.For, impelled by thedesire of the eternal and pure life, we seek the abode that is with God, theFather and Creator of all, and hasten to confess our faith, persuaded andconvinced as we are that they who have proved to God by their worksthat they followed Him, and loved to abide with Him where there is no sinto cause disturbance, can obtain these things.This, then, to speak shortly,is what we expect and have learned from Christ, and teach.And Plato, inlike manner, used to say that Rhadamanthus and Minos would punish thewicked who came before them; and we say that the same thing will bedone, but at the hand of Christ, and upon the wicked in the same bodies 297united again to their spirits which are now to undergo everlastingpunishment; and not only, as Plato said, for a period of a thousand years.And if any one say that this is incredible or impossible, this error of oursis one which concerns ourselves only, and no other person, so long as youcannot convict us of doing any harm.CHAPTER 9FOLLY OF IDOL WORSHIPAnd neither do we honor with many sacrifices and garlands of flowerssuch deities as men have formed and set in shrines and called gods; sincewe see that these are soulless and dead, and have not the form of God (forwe do not consider that God has such a form as some say that they imitateto His honor), but have the names and forms of those wicked demonswhich have appeared.For why need we tell you who already know, intowhat forms the craftsmen, carving and cutting, casting and hammering,fashion the materials? And often out of vessels of dishonor, by merelychanging the form, and making an image of the requisite shape, they makewhat they call a God; which we consider not only senseless, but to be eveninsulting to God, who, having ineffable glory and form, thus gets His nameattached to things that are corruptible, and require constant service.Andthat the artificers of these are both intemperate, and, not to enter intoparticulars, are practiced in every vice, you very well know; even theirown girls who work along with them they corrupt.What infatuation! thatdissolute men should be said to fashion and make gods for your worship,and that you should appoint such men the guardians of the temples wherethey are enshrined; not recognizing that it is unlawful even to think or saythat men are the guardians of gods.CHAPTER 10HOW GOD IS TO BE SERVEDBut we have received by tradition that God does not need the materialofferings which men can give, seeing, indeed, that He Himself is the 298provider of all things.And we have been taught, and are convinced, and dobelieve, that He accepts those only who imitate the excellences whichreside in Him, temperance, and justice, and philanthropy, and as manyvirtues as are peculiar to a God who is called by no proper name.And wehave been taught that He in the beginning did of His goodness, for man ssake, create all things out of unformed matter; and if men by their worksshow themselves worthy of this His design, they are deemed worthy, andso we have received of reigning in company with Him, being deliveredfrom corruption and suffering.For as in the beginning He created us whenwe were not, so do we consider that, in like manner, those who choosewhat is pleasing to Him are, on account of their choice, deemed worthy ofincorruption and of fellowship with Him.For the coming into being at firstwas not in our own power; and in order that we may follow those thingswhich please Him, choosing them by means of the rational faculties He hasHimself endowed us with, He both persuades us and leads us to faith.Andwe think it for the advantage of all men that they are not restrained fromlearning these things, but are even urged thereto.For the restraint whichhuman laws could not effect, the Word, inasmuch as He is divine, wouldhave effected, had not the wicked demons, taking as their ally the lust ofwickedness which is in every man, and which draws variously to allmanner of vice, scattered many false and profane accusations, none ofwhich attach to us
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