Editing Justin Martyr (section)

=== Scriptural sources ===

==== Gospels ====
Justin uses material from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) in the composition of the ''First Apology'' and the ''Dialogue'', either directly, as in the case of Matthew,<ref name="Skarsaune 1987 pp. 130,163" /> or indirectly through the use of a [[gospel harmony]], which may have been composed by Justin or his school.<ref name="Koester 2000 p. 344" />  However, his use, or even knowledge, of the [[Gospel of John]] is uncertain.  One possible reference to John is a saying that is quoted in the context of a description of Christian baptism (''1 Apol''. 61.4 – "Unless you are reborn, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.").  However, Koester contends that Justin obtained this saying from a baptismal liturgy rather than a written gospel.<ref name="Koester 1990 pp. 360–361">Koester (1990) ''Ancient Christian Gospels'' pp.&nbsp;360–361; p.&nbsp;360 – "He knew and quoted especially the Gospels of Matthew and Luke; he must have known the Gospel of Mark as well, though there is only one explicit reference to this Gospel (''Dial''. 106.3); he apparently had no knowledge of the Gospel of John." footnote #2: "The only possible reference to the Gospel of John is the quotation of a saying in ''1 Apol''. 61.4.."</ref> Justin's possible knowledge of John's gospel may be suggested by verbal similarities to John 3:4 directly after the discussion about the new birth ("Now, that it is impossible for those who have once been born to enter their mother's womb is manifest to all"). Justin also uses language very similar to that of John 1:20 and 1:28. Furthermore, by employing the term "memoirs of the apostles" and distinguishing them from the writings of their "followers", Justin must have been of the belief that at least two gospels were written by actual apostles.

==== Apocalypse ====
Justin does not quote from the [[Book of Revelation]] directly, yet he clearly refers to it, naming [[John of Patmos|John]] as its author (''Dial''. 81.4 "Moreover also among us a man named John, one of the apostles of Christ, prophesied in a revelation made to him that those who have believed on our Christ will spend a thousand years in Jerusalem; and that hereafter the general and, in short, the eternal resurrection and judgment of all will likewise take place").  Scholar [[Brooke Foss Westcott]] notes that this reference to the author of the single prophetic book of the New Testament illustrates the distinction Justin made between the role of prophecy and fulfillment quotations from the gospels, as Justin does not mention any of the individual [[canonical gospels]] by name.<ref name="Westcott 1875 p. 120">Westcott (1875) ''A general survey of the canon of the New Testament'', p.&nbsp;120 – "To quote prophecy habitually without mentioning the Prophet's name would be to deprive it of half its value; and if it seem strange that Justin does not quote the Evangelists like Prophets, it is no less worthy of notice that he does quote by name the single prophetic book of the New Testament.&nbsp;... This reference to the Apocalypse appears to illustrate the difference which Justin makes between his quotations from the Prophecies and the Gospels."</ref>
[[File:Justin Martyr.jpg|thumb|16th century engraving of Justin]]

==== Letters ====
The apologetic character of Justin's habit of thought appears again in the Acts of his martyrdom, the genuineness of which is attested by internal evidence.<ref name="Bonwetsch 1914 p. 284">Bonwetsch (1914) ''New Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'', p.&nbsp;284; Also see, [[s:Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume I/JUSTIN MARTYR/Introductory Note to the Martyrdom of Justin Martyr|Martyrdom of Justin Martyr]] at Wikisource</ref>