Justin Martyr

~90/100CE-165CE

• Justin Martyr operated in Rome but there is no record of him conversing with or mentioning any Popes or Bishops of the Church. He does mention a president carrying out the ritual of the Eucharist. This may suggest a less centralised structure at the time.
• Justin Martyr noted that the Christians are Chrestians.
• Justin Martyr was the first to equate the apostle John with the author of Revelation. Eusebius refutes this hypothesis, stating it was a different John.
• Justin Martyr wrote about the customs of the eucharist. He states that worshipers of Mithras commanded the same thing.

Dialog with Trypho Chapter 8 (155CE-160CE)

Trypho: I approve of your other remarks, and admire the eagerness with which you study divine things; but it were better for you still to abide in the philosophy of Plato, or of some other man, cultivating endurance, self-control, and moderation, rather than be deceived by false words, and follow the opinions of men of no reputation. For if you remain in that mode of philosophy, and live blamelessly, a hope of a better destiny were left to you; but when you have forsaken God, and reposed confidence in man, what safety still awaits you? If, then, you are willing to listen to me (for I have already considered you a friend), first be circumcised, then observe what ordinances have been enacted with respect to the Sabbath, and the feasts, and the new moons of God; and, in a word, do all things which have been written in the law: and then perhaps you shall obtain mercy from God. But Christ — if He has indeed been born, and exists anywhere — is unknown, and does not even know Himself, and has no power until Elias come to anoint Him, and make Him manifest to all. And you, having accepted a groundless report, invent a Christ for yourselves, and for his sake are inconsiderately perishing.