The Jesus Archive
Who they were

Justin was born at Flavia Neapolis (Nablus) in Samaria, studied several philosophies, became a Christian, and taught in Rome, where he was beheaded around 165 with several of his students. His First Apology, addressed to Antoninus Pius around 150–155, defends Christians against condemnation for the name alone.

He gives the earliest detailed description of Christian Sunday worship and baptism, refers to the Gospels as the apostles’ ‘memoirs’, and argues at length that the Hebrew prophets foretold Jesus. He appended Hadrian’s rescript to his Apology. Tatian was his pupil.

Where to start

The Early ChurchJustin Martyr, First Apologyc. AD 150–155 · Justin Martyr
Witnesses Outside the ChurchHadrian’s Rescript to Minucius Fundanus (Eusebius, Church History 4.9)c. AD 124–125 · Emperor Hadrian (preserved by Justin Martyr and Eusebius)
The Early ChurchEusebius, Church History, Book IVEarly 4th century AD (completed c. 325) · Eusebius of Caesarea

Every mention

11 writings
  1. AD 95The Revelation to JohnThe New Testament1×
  2. AD 125Hadrian’s Rescript to Minucius Fundanus (Eusebius, Church History 4.9)Witnesses Outside the Church1×
  3. AD 153Justin Martyr, First ApologyThe Early Church7×
  4. AD 170Tatian’s DiatessaronThe Other Gospels3×
  5. AD 320Eusebius, Church History, Book IVThe Early Church17×
  6. AD 320Eusebius, Church History, Book VThe Early Church2×
  7. AD 400The Gospel of Nicodemus (Acts of Pilate) and the Pilate LettersThe Other Gospels2×
  8. 2026The prophecies associated with Jesus: a critical catalogueThe Dossier1×
  9. 2026The documentary record of Jesus and the movements that interpreted himThe Dossier1×
  10. 2026From medieval devotion to the presentThe Dossier1×
  11. 2026Sources and further readingThe Dossier3×