The Justinian Apologetical Turn, away from Original Petrine Apologetics

Abstract

Christian apologetics is traceable back to Peter’s call in 1Peter 3:15–16. To all faithful, he requested that they be prepared to respond in a Christian manner when another questioned or challenged the faith. This developed in the first century and beyond, until the new approach of Justin Martyr in the third quarter of the second century. Justin, following the apologia on Aristides’ addressing of non-faithful as well as his legal and philosophical background, focused narrowly on a far more intellectual approach and content. This was within the far wider sphere of the general Petrine apologetics. However, with the exception of Irenaeus in the 180s, subsequent apologetics followed Justin’s specific apologetics approach, with it becoming narrow in focus, intellectual thus elite, increasingly clerical, and not for ordinary faithful. It was this apologetics that developed over the centuries until the Second Vatican Council ressourcement calls to return to original Petrine apologetics for all the faithful.