Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Justin Martyr opposes predestination

Excerpt from the 1st Apology

Chapter XLIII.—Responsibility asserted.
But lest some suppose, from what has been said by us, that we say that whatever happens, happens by a fatal necessity, because it is foretold as known beforehand, this too we explain. We have learned from the prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, and chastisements, and good rewards, are rendered according to the merit of each man’s actions. Since if it be not so, but all things happen by fate, neither is anything at all in our own power. For if it be fated that this man, e.g., be good, and this other evil, neither is the former meritorious nor the latter to be blamed. And again, unless the human race have the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice, they are not accountable for their actions, of whatever kind they be. But that it is by free choice they both walk uprightly and stumble, we thus demonstrate. We see the same man making a transition to opposite things. Now, if it had been fated that he were to be either good or bad, he could never have been capable of both the opposites, nor of so many transitions. But not even would some be good and others bad, since we thus make fate the cause of evil, and exhibit her as acting in opposition to herself; or that which has been already stated would seem to be true, that neither virtue nor vice is anything, but that things are only reckoned good or evil by opinion; which, as the true word shows, is the greatest impiety and wickedness. But this we assert is inevitable fate, that they who choose the good have worthy rewards, and they who choose the opposite have their merited awards. For not like other things, as trees and quadrupeds, which cannot act by choice, did God make man: for neither would he be worthy of reward or praise did he not of himself choose the good, but were created for this end; nor, if he were evil, would he be worthy of punishment, not being evil of himself, but being able to be nothing else than what he was made.

5 comments:

Dromedary Hump said...

Not exactly a hotbed of activity here, eh Xtian Apol.?

Haven't posted since Oct., and you had all of what... 4 readers?
So, what happened here? Probably was due to a lack of belief in yourself. Or did jesus not see fit to make your 3000word religious rants a big hit with your brethren? It was "god's will" that your blog is a bust, right?

No, don't answer, it's ok. It was a rhetorical question.

Christian Apologist said...

It could just be that I dont make blogging a big priority.

Dromedary Hump said...

That's interesting, seeing as how you make posting idiotic comments to MY blog a priority. LOL!!!

Christian Apologist said...

No worries Hump. I am done posting on your blog. You have shown that you are incapable of hearing any point of view other than your own. I will let you get back to patting each other on the back affirming how smart you all are.

Dromedary Hump said...

That's good. You single handedly lower the average IQ of my blog comments by 15 points every time you post there.

Do yourself a favor read more, secular stuff. History, Jefferson's writings, real science books, comparative religion, biblical crtiticism by scholars.

It will help you with your reasoning ability which is
dreadfully lacking.

I now leave you to your defunct blog and your superstitions.