Natural
One of the earliest Christian apologists or “defenders” of the Christian faith, Aristides wrote an argument defending Christianity as superior to all other philosophies and religions, which he addressed to the pagan Emperor Hadrian around AD 125. His apology was widely read and later used by apologists such as Justin Martyr.
Details
Aristides the Athenian was a 2nd-century Christian Greek author who is primarily known as the author of the Apology of Aristides.
Very little is known of Aristides, except for the introductory information given by Eusebius of Caesarea and Saint Jerome. According to their account, Aristides practiced philosophy in Athens, where he lived, prior to and after his conversion to Christianity. Eusebius writes that Aristides has left an Apology of the faith dedicated to Hadrian.Eusebius and Jerome both state that the Apology was given to Hadrian at the same time that Quadratus delivered his own apology. This suggests that Aristides gave his apology during Hadrian's reign (r. 117–138) as emperor of Rome, which supports the theory of Aristides died between the years 133–134 AD.
His Apology is the oldest Christian apologetic work preserved. Other apologists of the 2nd century were the following: Saint Justin the Martyr, Quadratus, Aristo of Pella, Tatian the Syrian, Miltiades, Apollinaris of Hierapolis, Athenagoras of Athens, Hermias, Theophilus of Antioch and Melito of Sardis.
Videos