Athenagoras' Embassy for the Christians and On the Resurrection of the Dead: Edited with Notes and Commentary by Rev. Aaron Simms

By St. Polycarp Publishing House

Athenagoras of Athens was a Christian writer who lived in the Roman empire from approximately 133 to 190 AD.  He was well-versed in Greek philosophy and may have been a Platonist philosopher prior to his conversion to the Christian faith.

This edition in the St. Polycarp Church Fathers Series presents Athenagoras' two extant works

• Language: English
• Publisher: St. Polycarp Publishing House
• Release date: Sep 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781947707634

Book preview

Dedication

To my wife Amy and my children Molly and William, blessings from God.

Contents

Dedication

Contents

Introduction

List of Roman Emperors

List of Notable Early Christian Writers and Works

Embassy for the Christians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

On The Resurrection of the Dead

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Index

References

About the Editor

Introduction

Athenagoras of Athens was a Christian writer who lived in the Roman empire from about 133 to 190 AD. He was well-versed in Greek philosophy and may have been a Platonist philosopher prior to his conversion to the Christian faith. This book presents his two extant works: Embassy for the Christians (also known in Latin as the Legatio Pro Christianis) and On the Resurrection of the Dead. The English translation used here is the one provided by Rev. B. P. Pratten as part of the Ante-Nicene Fathers book series from the 19th century and is in the public domain.

Athenagoras used his rhetorical skill and familiarity with Greek philosophy in order to defend the Christian faith before the Roman authorities. For this reason, the Embassy is also called his Apology, in the classical sense of a defense of the faith. It was written and addressed to the Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus, likely in 176 or 177 AD. Marcus Aurelius, in particular, was a philosopher in his own right (of the Stoic school). Thus, Athenagoras’ Apology seeks to reach him on that basis, using philosophical argumentation to express the truth of the Christian faith. His work On the Resurrection of the Dead was written later, seeking to elucidate and defend the Christian doctrine of the bodily resurrection.

In this edition of Athenagoras’ works, I have used the English translation of Rev. Pratten, as noted above. However, in a very few places I have selected more modern words than used in the original translation (given that the original translation is almost 200 years old). In addition, following each chapter of Athenagoras’ text, I have included notes and a brief commentary or summary in order to provide greater context to the thrust of Athenagoras’ argument and additional information where needed.

I have also included some tables as reference. These include a list of Roman emperors up to the fifth century, as well as a list of notable early Christian Church writers. One important note about the Roman emperors is that many times, particularly in the third and fourth centuries, there were co-emperors ruling somewhat concurrently, as well as usurpers to the throne. In addition, many times emperors ruled for less than a year before being murdered by a faction who wished to install their own emperor (particularly in 68/69 AD and 238 AD). Thus, there will be overlaps of the dates in the table.

My purpose in providing this edition of Athenagoras’ works is to allow modern readers access to one of the great works of the early New Testament Church. Athenagoras provides a well-reasoned defense of the Christian faith which would have resonated with the Roman authorities of the time who were trained in philosophy and rhetoric. I hope the reader enjoys this edition of Athenagoras’ works.

List of Roman Emperors

List of Notable Early Christian Writers and Works

Embassy for the Christians

An Embassy For the Christians

By Athenagoras the Athenian: Philosopher and Christian

To the Emperors Marcus Aurelius Anoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, conquerors of Armenia and Sarmatia, and more than all, philosophers.

Chapter 1

Injustice Shown Towards the Christians

In your empire, greatest of sovereigns, different nations have different customs and laws; and no one is hindered by law or fear of punishment from following his ancestral usages, however ridiculous these may be. A citizen of Ilium calls Hector [1] a god, and pays divine honors to Helen [2], taking her for Adrasteia [3]. The Lacedaemonian [4] venerates Agamemnon [5] as Zeus [6], and Phylonoë the daughter of Tyndarus [7]; and the man of Tenedos worships Tennes [8]. The Athenian sacrifices to Erechtheus as Poseidon [9]. The Athenians also perform religious rites and celebrate mysteries in honor of Agraulus and Pandrosus, women who were deemed guilty of impiety for opening the box [10].

In short, among every nation and people, men offer whatever sacrifices and celebrate whatever mysteries they please. The Egyptians reckon among their gods even cats, and crocodiles, and serpents, and asps, and dogs [11]. And to all these both you and the laws give permission so to act, deeming, on the one hand, that to believe in no god at all is impious and wicked, and on the other, that it is necessary for each man to worship the gods he prefers, in order that through fear of the deity, men may be kept from wrong-doing.

But why - for do not, like the multitude, be led astray by hearsay—why is a mere name odious to you [12]? Names are not deserving of hatred: it is the unjust act that calls for penalty and punishment. And accordingly, with admiration of your mildness and gentleness, and your peaceful and benevolent disposition towards every man, individuals live in the possession of equal rights; and the cities, according to their rank, share in equal honor; and the whole empire, under your intelligent sway, enjoys profound peace.

But for us who are called Christians you have not in like manner cared; but although we commit no wrong - nay, as will appear in the sequel of this discourse, are of all men most piously and righteously disposed towards the Deity and towards your government [13] —you allow us to be harassed, plundered, and persecuted, the multitude making war upon us for our name alone.

We venture, therefore, to lay a statement of our case before you - and you will learn from this discourse that we suffer unjustly, and contrary to all law and reason - and we beseech you to bestow some consideration upon us also, that we may cease at length to be slaughtered at the instigation of false accusers. For the fine imposed by our persecutors does not aim merely at our property, nor their insults at our reputation, nor the damage they do us at any other of our greater interests. These we hold in contempt, though to the generality they appear matters of great importance; for we have learned, not only not to return blow for blow, nor to go to law with those who plunder and rob us, but to those who smite us on one side of the face to offer the other side also, and to those who take away our coat to give likewise our cloak [14]. But, when we have surrendered our property, they plot against our very bodies and souls, pouring upon us wholesale charges of crimes of which we are guiltless even in thought, but which belong to these idle praters themselves, and to the whole tribe of those who are like them [15].

Notes

[1] In Greek mythology, Hector was the leader of the Trojans during the Trojan War.

[2] i.e. Helen of Troy

[3] Adrasteia was a nymph in Greek mythology who protected Zeus when he was an infant.

[4] The Lacedaemonians were the Spartans.

[5] Agamemnon was the commander of the Greek armies during the Trojan War.

[6] Zeus, also known as Jupiter by the Romans, was the king of the gods in Greek mythology.

[7] Phylonoë was the daughter of the Spartan King Tyndareus. She was believed to have been granted immortality by Artemis (goddess of the hunt, known as