Journal for the Study of the New Testament | 2019
20. Early Christianity
Abstract
This book is a lightly revised version of a Cambridge PhD thesis, supervised by Judith Lieu and defended in 2012. In his introduction, the author provides a brief overview of what is known of Justin and his work, and explains that his focus is on the literary-rhetorical strategies that Justin employs in defence of Christianity in his 1 Apology. His interest is in the narrative and argumentation of the 1 Apology and what he describes as ‘the complicated relations between text, argument and function’. In chapter 2 Nyström sets out his understanding of ancient apologetic literature in general, and of Justin’s Apology in particular, and argues (convincingly, and at some length) that it was written mainly for an internal Christian audience. In subsequent chapters Nyström discusses what he identifies as Justin’s major apologetic strategies. These are his doctrine of the Logos and his ‘theft theory’, which Nyström explains as two ways in which Justin dealt with the recent origin of Christianity, and Justin’s ‘proof from prophecy’, through which he sought to demonstrate the validity of Christian claims to truth. A fifth chapter considers how Justin also used negative arguments, intended to deride the views of both pagans and also Christian heretics. In a brief conclusion Nyström notes how Justin’s various strategies all serve to support his construction of an alternative reality to that of Roman imperial ideology, by means of which Justin set out to enable Christians to understand who they are and why the world is as it is. An appendix includes a summary and outline of the 1 Apology in which the author highlights the different strategies and themes that he discusses. Nyström’s work is clearly written and succinct. It provides a useful and accessible introduction to Justin’s 1 Apology and to key issues in its study, including a detailed and persuasive account of why it was very likely written for an internal Christian audience.