Athenagoras of Athens

Athenagoras of Athens (* in Athens ) was an early Christian apologist of the second half of the 2nd century. He was born in Athens and is initially in his native city since his conversion to Christianity (c. 160 ), and have taught in Alexandria at the Catechetical School.

We have from him two headings: Legatio per Christianis ( " petition for Christians "), a to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus looking " Apology of Christianity," according to 163 (according to other sources 177 ) drawn, edited by Paul (Hall 1856), and the treatise De resurrectione mortuorum ( " On the Resurrection of the Dead" ), written around 180; Complete edition ( first by H. Stephen, par 1557) by Otto ( Jena 1857).

Among all the apologists Athenagoras is the one who puts the Christian doctrine the least to the fore. He defends the Christians by appealing to their life and doctrine against the then current accusations of atheism, of fornication, infanticide, cannibalism, etc. He also explains the indissolubility of marriage, life after death from the perspective of Christians.

From Athenagoras dates the earliest known use of the term " triad " (literally "Trinity ", which is the usual Greek term for " Trinity " ) for God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.