feb 1, 124 - Primitive apologists

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The first Christian apologists (Quadratus of Athens and Aristides) address a defense of the faith to Emperor Hadrian.

There is a bit of confusion over Aristides, in that his work have been addressed to Antoninus Pius instead of Hadrian, which would date somewhere in the range of 138-161CE. However, in tenor and topic, it is quite primitive as compared to the Christian apologies being written at that later date.

The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus may also date from this period, as it seems to crib a lot of material from Aristides, or else be trading in very similar memes.

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