APOLOGY
APOLOGY Chapter 1 Ii]AGISTRATES of the Roman Empire, seated as you are " before the eyes of all, in almost the highest position in the state to pronounce judgment: if you are not allowed to conduct an open and public examination and inquiry as to what the real truth is with regard to the Christians; if, in this case alone your authority fears or blushes to conduct a public investigation with the diligence demanded by justice; if, in fine-as happened lately in the private courtsl-hatred of this group2 has been aroused to the extent that it actually blocks their defense, then let the truth reach your ears by the private and quiet avenue of literature. (2) Truth makes no appeal on her own behalf, because she does not wonder at her present condition. She knows that she plays the role of an alien on earth, that among strangers she readily discovers enemies, but she has her origin, abode, hope, recompense, and honor in heaven. Meanwhile, there is one thing for which she strives: that she be not condemned without a hearing. (3) As for the laws, supreme in their own realm, what have they to lose if she be given a hearing? Or shall their power be glorified the more for this, that they condemn her without a hearing? But, if they condemn her without a hearing, they will incur the stigma of acting unjustly; in addition, they will deserve the suspicion of realizing to some extent their injustice, in that they refuse to hear a case 1 The incident to which he refers is obscure. 2 Christians. 7 8 TERTULLIAN on which they would be unable to pass adverse judgment once it was heard. (4) This, then, is the first grievance we lodge against you, the injustice of the hatred you have for the name of Christian. The motive which appears to excuse this injustice is precisely that which both aggravates and convicts it; namely, ignorance . For, what is more unjust than that men should hate what they do not know, even though the matter itself deserves hatred? Only when one knows whether a thing deserves hatred docs it deserve it. (5) But, when there is no knowledge of what is deserved, how is the justice of hatred defensible? Justice must be proved not by the fact of a thing's existence, but by knowledge of it. When men hate because they are in ignorance of the nature of the object of their hatred, what is to prevent that object from being such that they ought not to hate it? Thus we counterbalance each attitude by its opposite : men remain in ignorance as long ,as they hate, and they hate unjustly as long as they remain in ignorance. (6) The proof of their ignorance, which condemns while it excuses their injustice, is this: In the case of all who formerly indulged in hatred [of Christianity] because of their ignorance of the nature of what they hated, their hatred comes to an end as soon as their ignorance ceases. From this group come the Christians, as a result, assuredly, of their personal experience . They begin now to hate what once they were and to profess what once they hated; and the Christians are really as numerous as you allege us to be. (7) Men cry that the city is filled with Christians; they are in the country, in the villages, on the islands; men and women, of every age, of every state and rank of life, are transferring to this group, and this they lament as if it were some personal injury. In spite of this fact, men's minds are not directed to the consideration of some underlying good. (8) They cannot APOLOGY 9 guess more accurately; they do not choose to investigate more closely. Here only does the curiosity of mankind lack its keenness . They delight in their ignorance, while others rejoice in their knowledge. How much more fault would Anacharsis:l have found with those who, though lacking in insight, pass judgment on those who have it than he did in the case of those unskilled in music judging musicians! (9) They prefer to remain ignorant because they are already filled with hatred. Consequently, they form a preconceived idea with regard to that of which they are ignorant. Yet, if they knew it, they could not hate it; because, if no ground for their 'hatred be found, it would certainly be best to cease their...
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