It is important to recall those of the faith that have gone before us, to examine the history of the Church, and its profound influence in the world particularly in the area of thought. As J.R. Lowell said, "History is clarified experience." History can help us clarify and validate the truth claims of the Christian faith.
Secondly, history provides particular examples of how earlier Christians dealt with issues similar to those we face today. Our experience is not unique to us or foreign to those who have gone before us. The conflict is spiritual and therefore timeless, just as Solomon wrote: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
It is also history that both the modern and postmodern mind gives little or no credibility, so it can be a challenge to first demonstrate the relevance of history's lessons. Nonetheless, history offers irrefutable examples of the truth of scripture as revealed in reality throughout the ages that must be brought to bear in our daily discussions. Since we understand that the cultural battle is a spiritual conflict fought on intellectual terms - a battle of ideologies and philosophies that oppose the Gospel, we therefore must be prepared to effectively engage the debate on these terms.
The first recognized Christian philosopher after the Apostles was Justin, who later became known as Justin Martyr - born Flavius Justinus in the Roman colony of Neapolis in Samaria. Justin was a well-born Roman and as such he received a classical education in Greek and Latin. In his search for truth he studied various popular philosophies. But none of them filled his hungry heart. The Stoics had no concern if God cared for man or not. The Peripatetics, who taught Aristotelian philosophy, were more interested in collecting their fees than in teaching truth. The Pythagoreans required intensive study of music, arithmetic, and geometry. Finding nothing in these philosophies, Justin became a Platonist, admiring Socrates' and Plato's notions of the invisible world.
Around 132 AD, Justin encountered an elderly Christian man who patiently exposed the weaknesses in Plato's philosophy. He shared with Justin the writings of the Old Testament prophets and the prophecies surrounding Jesus. He demonstrated that any truths taught by Greek and pagan philosophies were in fact natural revelations of the one true God, the God of the Bible.
In response to the persecution of Christians, Justin wrote his famous First Apology to Titus Caesar in 150 AD. Justin provided an excellent example for us today, demonstrating the role of reason in defending all aspects of the Christian faith.
