Aristides, a Greek who was converted to Christianity by the ecclesia in Athens about 60 years after its establishment by the apostle Paul, wrote an “apology” for the Christian brotherhood It is in the form ofan appeal to the Roman government, seeking official recognition (It faded, but not because its claims were not true) The earliest existing copy is in Aramaic, Jesus’ mother tongue
It is the Christians, O Emperor, who have sought and found the Truth They have learned it from the scriptures They are closer to the Truth and to a right understanding than all other people, for they acknowledge God They believe m Him, the Creator and Designer of the Universe, in whom all things exist and from whom everything comes They worship no other God They have His commandments imprinted on their hearts They observe them because they live in the hope and expectation of the coming kingdom age of the world They do not commit adultery They do not live in fornication They speak no untruth They do not keep for themselves goods entrusted to them They do not covet what belongs to others.
They honor father and mother They show love to their neighbors Their decisions are based upon justice They do not do to another what they would not wish to have done to themselves They speak gently to those who oppress them and in this way they make them their friends It has become their passion to do good to their enemies.
Their women, O Emperor, are pure Their daughters are chaste, kind and gentle Their men endeavor to keep free from impurity, for they live m the expectation of their future reward m the age to come Any male or female slaves whom individuals among them may have, they persuade to become Christians because of the love they feel toward them If they do become Christians, they are brother and sisters to them without discrimination.
Kindliness is their watchword They love one another They do not neglect widows Orphans they rescue from those who are cruel to them Every one of them who has anything gives ungrudgingly to one who has nothing They bring any traveling member, even if they do not know him personally, under their roof They rejoice over him as over a real brother, for they do not call one another brothers after the flesh, but they know they are brothers in spirit and in God.
If one of their poor dies, they provide for his burial as well as they can If they hear that one of them is imprisoned or oppressed for the sake of Christ’s name, all of them take care of all his needs and the needs of his family If he can be ransomed, they will collect funds to do so.
If anyone among them is poor or comes into want, and they themselves have nothing to spare, they fast two or three days for him In this way they can supply any poor brother with the food he needs.
They are ready to give up their lives for Christ, for they observe his words with great care Their life is one of consecration and justice Every morning, yes, every hour, they are praising and honoring their God for all the good things He gives to them They give thanks for their food and drink When a baby is born to one of their sisters, they join to give praise to God and care tenderly for the little child When one of their faithful members dies, they give thanks when they escort the body to rest But if he was a backslider who had refused their pleas, they weep bitterly over him because they know he will have to face his punishment.
This, O Emperor, is the manner of life of the Christians Truly it is they who have sought and found the Truth Yet they do not cry out m the ears of the masses the good deeds they do Rather, they take care that no one should notice them They hide their giving like someone who conceals a treasure he has found They strive after righteousness because they live in the expectation of seeing their Christ in his radiance and receiving from him the fulfillment of all the Promises.
Take their scriptures and read them, and you will see that I have not invented anything here, and that I am not biased Rather, through their scriptures I came myself to the same firm convictions, and now look to the future for the fulfillment of the things to which they witness This is why I feel urged to declare the Truth to all who will seek it.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One