Chapter III.—Justin accuses Crescens of ignorant prejudice against the Christians.
I too, therefore, expect to be plotted against and fixed to the stake, by some of those I
have named, or perhaps by Crescens, that lover of bravado and boasting;166 for the man is
not worthy of the name of philosopher who publicly bears witness against us in matters
which he does not understand, saying that the Christians are atheists and impious, and doing
so to win favour with the deluded mob, and to please them. For if he assails us without
having read the teachings of Christ, he is thoroughly depraved, and far worse than the illit-
erate, who often refrain from discussing or bearing false witness about matters they do not
understand. Or, if he has read them and does not understand the majesty that is in them,
or, understanding it, acts thus that he may not be suspected of being such [a Christian], he
is far more base and thoroughly depraved, being conquered by illiberal and unreasonable
opinion and fear. For I would have you to know that I proposed to him certain questions
on this subject, and interrogated him, and found most convincingly that he, in truth, knows
nothing. And to prove that I speak the truth, I am ready, if these disputations have not been
reported to you, to conduct them again in your presence. And this would be an act worthy
of a prince. But if my questions and his answers have been made known to you, you are
already aware that he is acquainted with none of our matters; or, if he is acquainted with
them, but, through fear of those who might hear him, does not dare to speak out, like Socrates,
he proves himself, as I said before, no philosopher, but an opinionative man;167 at least he
does not regard that Socratic and most admirable saying: “But a man must in no wise be
honoured before the truth.”168 But it is impossible for a Cynic, who makes indifference his
end, to know any good but indifference.
166 Words resembling “philosopher” in sound, viz. φιλοψόφου καὶ φιλοκόμπου. [This passage is found
elsewhere. See note, cap. viii., in the text preferred by Grabe.]
167 φιλόδοξος, which may mean a lover of vainglory.
168 See Plato, Rep., p. 595.
Chapter III.—Justin accuses Crescens of ignorant prejudice against the Christians.
506
Chapter III.—Justin accuses Crescens of ignorant prejudice against the …