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The holy, glorious, right-victorious martyr '''Justin the Philosopher''' (also '''Justin Martyr''') was one of the earliest apologists for the Christian [[faith]]. A [[convert]] to Christianity, he produced a number of works during the middle of the second century, amongst them two ''Apologies'' addressed to the Roman emperors, defending and explaining Christianity that he believed was as the true philosophy. The power of his arguments was to earn him his [[martyr]]dom.

The dates of Justin Martyr’s birth and death are not known. He is believed to have been born between 100 and 114A.D., just as the first century ends. His and his death is believed to be have occured between 162 and 168. Most of what is known of his life comes from his own writings. He was born in Palestine in Flavia Neapolis, known in [[Old Testament]] times as Shechem, but now as Nablus. He called himself a Samaritan, although his father, Priscos, and grandfather, Baccheios, may have been Greek or Roman. As a child he was raised a [[pagan]] in a family of means and studied philosophy at various schools , including those in Alexandria and Ephesus. He appears to have traveled extensively and eventually settled in Rome.

In his studies he initially leaned toward Stoicism, then toward Pythagoreanism followed by Platoism and Platonism before becoming interested in Christianity while in Ephesus. There he recounts his conversion as a semi-mystical experience: while walking along the seashore, there appeared an old man alongside him. He was impressed by an elderly this Christian , who explained that Jesus was the fulfillment of the promises made through the Jewish prophetsand thus the only true philosophy. He was had also been impressed by the steadfastness of the Christian martyrs. His soul inflamed with a love of the [[prophet]]s and those who were friends of [[Christ]], Justin became a Christian about 130. As a philosophy student his approach to Christianity was that it brought completeness to the pagan philosophies.

Justin’s martyrdom appears to be the result of his bettering the Cynic philosopher Crescens in debates in Rome. Around 165, on chargeshe was charged, possibly by Crescens, of following an illegal religion . Subsequently the prefect, Rustcus, condemned Justin to death by beheading with six of his companions: Chariton, Charito, Evelpostos, Paeon, Hierax, and Liberianos. ''The Acts of Justin the Martyr'' is believed to be a record of this trial.

Justin was a prolific writer. Many of his writings now are known only through excerpts and quotation by other authors of antiquity. Only three of Justin’s works of certain authenticity are extant of which their authenticity is certain: two versions of his ‘‘Apology’‘ and one of ‘‘Diologue’‘ His his ‘’Dialogue with Trypho’’ Trypho.’’ The latter purports to record conversations that Justin had with a Jewish rabbi named Tryphon, who may have been the rabbi Tarphon mentioned often in the Talmud, in verbal attempts to reconcile Christian and Jewish positions, in the second century. Among other works attributed to him are: