Athenagoras

In the second century, Athenagoras of Athens defended the Christian faith before Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Today, Stephen Nichols explains how his treatise, A Plea for the Christians, reflects the early church’s responses to persecution.

Welcome back to another episode of 5 Minutes in Church History. Last week we were visiting in the city of Athens, and this week I want to talk about one of those residents of Athens. In fact, he was such a resident that his name is Athens. It’s two things. It’s the city of Athens and the Agora, which is the marketplace. Put together as a compound name, we have Athenagoras.

Well, before we get to Athenagoras and who he is, we mentioned last week Paul was there in 51 AD, briefly. Of course, he spent more time in cities like Corinth and Ephesus, but he was there. He did deliver his speech on Mars Hill, and Luke tells us in Acts chapter 17 that Dionysius and Damaris were converted through Paul’s ministry. We know that after them and in the early one hundreds came Quadratus and Aristides. These of course, keeping in that tradition of philosophy of the city of Athens, these were early apologists, and Quadratus wrote an apology for Christianity that was specifically written for Hadrian during Hadrian’s visit to Athens.

And then there is Athenagoras. Athenagoras wrote his classic text Plea for the Christians in 176 or 177, and his dates are 133 to 190. He addresses his book to Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus. These were emperors, in fact, as Athenagoras calls them, “conquerors and emperors,” and then Athenagoras says, “and above all, philosophers.” Athenagoras himself was a philosopher. He introduces himself as the author of this book, “Athenagoras, Athenian, philosopher and Christian.” And we believe that Athenagoras was probably a philosopher and then converted to Christianity, and he brought all of his training and all of his skills with him as he made his case for Christianity.

He begins this very short book by pointing out to Marcus Aurelius that in his empire, “different nations have different customs and laws, and no one is hindered by law or fear of punishment from following his ancestral customs, however ridiculous these may be.” He goes on to talk about all the different worship and sacrifices that are performed. He says, “The Athenian sacrifices to Poseidon. The Athenian also performs religious rights and celebrates mysteries and honor of Agraulus and of Pandrosos.” He says, “In short, among every nation and people, men offer whatever sacrifices and celebrate whatever mysteries they please.” He says, “The Egyptians reckon among their gods even cats.” And now he is totally confounded as to why Christians would be persecuted. He says to Marcus Aurelius,

But as for us who are called Christians, you have not in like manner cared. But although we commit no wrong, in fact, as it will appear in the sequel of this discourse, are of all men, most pious and righteously disposed towards the deity and towards your government, that is to say towards being good citizens. You allow us to be harassed, plundered, and persecuted, the multitude of Romans making war upon us for our name alone.

Consequently, he wants to set forth his case, offer his plea as to why the Christians should not be persecuted.

In the next chapter, he turns to the three big charges brought against Christians in those early generations of Christianity, and these will surprise you. Very ironic, these charges. The first is that the Christians are charged with atheism. I said, ironic. Of course, the Christians were not atheists. Theism is at the very center of Christianity. They, however, denied the gods of the state. And so that was the charge. The second is cannibalism, and this is totally absurd, a misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper, of the body and blood of Christ. And the third charge was incest. The Christians who spoke of the love feast and referred to loving their brothers and sisters, again, were totally misunderstood by their contemporaries. Athenagoras points out that instead the Christians promoted a high moral ethic.

Well, that’s Athenagoras and his plea for the Christians. And I’m Steve Nichols and thanks for listening to 5 Minutes in Church History.