Re: The Early Christians - The State, Society and Martyrs

Adam wrote:

> You also accuse him [Jesus] of having taught the same godless, wicked,
> and criminal teachings which you bring up in condemnation of all those
> who everywhere confess Christ to be their teacher and the son of God.
> Moreover, not even now, after your city has been conquered and your
> country laid waste, do you repent, but dare to curse Jesus and all who
> believe in him. 
> 
> Justin, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 108.2.3.
> 


My friends, is there any matter in which you blame us other than this,
that 
we do not live according to the law, and that we do not cir***cise the 
flesh as your forefathers did or keep the Sabbaths as you do? Or are our 
life and morals also slandered among you? I must ask you this: do you also

hold the opinion about us that we actually eat human beings and that,
after 
a carousal, we extinguish the lights and engage in promiscuous
intercourse? 
Or do you simply condemn us because we follow the one or the other
teaching 
but do not follow that belief which you hold to be the true one?”

Trypho replied, This is what amazes us. But concerning the things of which

the m***** speak, they are not worth believing, for they go right against 
human nature. Moreover, I know that your teachings, written down in the
so-
called Gospel, are so wonderful and so great that in my opinion no one can

keep them; for I have read them with interest. But this is what we cannot 
grasp at all: that you want to fear God and that you believe yourselves 
favored above the people around you, yet you do not withdraw from them in 
any way or separate yourselves from the pagans, you observe neither the 
festivals nor the Sabbaths, you do not cir***cise, and you set your hopes 
on a man who was crucified and believe you will receive good things from 
God in spite of the fact that you do not obey his commandments.

Justin, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 10.1.2.