Folia Theologica 17. (2006)

László Perendy: A Christian Platonist

A CHRISTIAN PLATONIST

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of the Stoics, Peripatetics, Pythagoreans, and Platonists, i.e. all significant schools of philosophy of his time.

This form of learning, i.e. travelling extensively to find the best masters of various schools of philosophy, was typical at that period of time. It can be read also in his acts of martyrdom that he was making serious efforts to gather all sorts of knowledge. Finally, disappointed from various schools of philosophy, he accepted the teaching of a Platonic master. He got acquainted with Platonism either in Palestine or in Ephesus.

He relates also in the Dialogue that later he met a venerable old man, who suggested that he should read the works of the prophets. If this narrative reflects a historical fact, and is not a literary fiction, then it took place either on the shores of the Dead Sea, or in Ephesus.1 As the old man suddenly disappeared after the conversation, this remark may mean that there was no real encounter. It may have taken place before the outbreak of the Bar-Kochba insurrection, i.e. before 132.2 Some authors think that before his adult age he did not get acquainted with the teaching of Moses or the prophets. Others think that he had got acquainted already with the Torah in Samaria, at least to some extent. We do not know exactly where and how he became familiar with Christianity, but with all probability he became Christian when he read the Old Testament under the direction of certain Christians. He mentions that in his decision he was deeply influenced by the personal integrity of the Christians: he admired their moral courage in time of persecution. Both Eusebius and Jerome relate that even after his conversion he kept wearing the pallium, which was a typical piece of clothing of philosophers.3 He wanted to give utterance also this way that in Christianity he found the most perfect form of philosophy. In his view, by joining the community of Christians he did not deny the intellectual values he had appreciated already before his conversion.

1 I. M. PFÄTTISCH, Justinus' des Philosophen und Märtyrers Apologien, I. Teil: Text; //• Teil: Kommentar, Münster i. W., 1912, VI-XII.

2 L. W. BARNARD, St. Justin Martyr: The First and Second Apologies (Ancient Christian Writers, 56), New York-Mahwah, N.J., 1997, 3-5.

3 E. F. OSBORN, Justin Martyr, Tübingen, 1973, 6-10.