Review article

Traces of Platonism and Stoicism in Justin’s Thought

Josip Knežević orcid.org/0000-0002-1014-3908 ; Catholic Seminary of Vrhbosna, Sarajevo, Bosna and Hercegovina

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the encounter between Christianity and ancient philosophy through Justin’s doctrine of the Logos by referring to his work Dialogue with Trypho, and especially to his two Apologies. In the ancient times there was a tendency of interpreting the word »philosophy« more in terms of a lifestyle, rather than as an intellectual attitude. In this article the author will try to illustrate the relationship between faith and reason, that is, Christianity and ancient philosophy, through the thought of one of the most important apologist – St. Justin. In this context, the question is whether this ancient philosophy, Stoicism and different forms of Platonism that can be observed in his teachings, can be used as a tool to explain certain concepts that are more clearly presented and analyzed in the Scriptures. The author also explains in which way St. Justin recognized the possibility of a »Christological philosophy« that would be appropriate for elaborating and deepening Christian thought to emperors of the Roman Empire that was hostile to Christianity and engaged in an attempt to eradicate it.

Keywords

Justin; platonism; stoicism; Logos; λόγοι σπερματικοί

Hrčak ID:

193217

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/193217

Publication date:

2.2.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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