Re: The Early Christians: Self-Portraits and Portrayals

Adam wrote:

> The first elders were very distressed unless they had to suffer
> physically in some way all the time. They preferred to speak the truth
> rather than to write it down.
> 
> Clement of Alexandria about the oral tradition of the Elders
> in early Christian times. Selections from the Prophets 11.27.
> 

We are accused of being "Christians" [chresteu meaning "excellent"] but it

is not right to hate what is excellent. And again, when one of the accused

denies his faith and simply says he is not one, you acquit him as though 
you knew of no charge to bring against him. But if anyone confesses that
he 
is one, you punish him because of his confession. It would be your duty 
rather to investigate the conduct of both the confessor and the renegade
so 
that the deeds of each one establish his guilt or his innocence.	

Justin, First Apology 4.