1. Edificatory, or "Devotional" (c.100—150)
Shepherd's Notes, The Writings of Justin Martyr gathered believers around him in a "philosophic" school. He published as he taught, recognizing all the while that storm clouds of persecution were building across the Roman
Empire's vast reaches. The Christian faith was not legal then, nor was it tolerated. The worship of several gods was instituted as law.
Pressure mounted, forcing Christians to recant or die. i — Classical Apology About the year 150, Justin knew the time was right to defend Christianity's right to exist. He wrote two treatises demanding a fair hearing
Classical apology has nothing to do with feeling remorse for wrongdoing and seeking restitution.
Instead, itis a vigorous and noble work. An apologist gives a formal written or spoken defense or justification of some for those who followed the teachings of Christ.
Refusing to flinch at the probable backlash, he boldly addressed these to the senate and the emperor of Rome himself. In these documents,
Justin defended both the right of Christianity to exist and the beliefs held by Christians. Justin is the first Christian apologist after the apostolic era. idea, faith, religion, or philosophy.
CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
For purposes of this study, apologists were writers whose mission was to defend the faith. There were other Christian authors from the early church as well. Generally, the writings of this period are classified into four categories:
1. Edificatory, or "Devotional" (c.100—150) 2. Apologetic, or "Christianity on the Defense" (150-200) 3. Polemical, or "Christianity on the Attack"
(185-225) 4. Scientific, or "Systematic Period" (200-254) The Devotional period consisted of informal writings of faith. These authors used no pagan philosophy, no attacks against nonbelievers.
These were simple, practical, discipleship materials used by the church for training and