both its popular and its philosophic aspects (as, for example in Origen), emphasized belief, illumination from above embodying the truth, as contrasted with the poverty, and lack of understanding, of the human mind. Because of this the Christians were belittled (see chapter one below), and from this came the derogatory title pistoi (= credulous) which was flung at them. Let us begin our chronological-biographical sketches with Justin Martyr. He was among the first Christian apologists (mid-second