Christian apologist; d. c. 165. A pagan philosopher, Justin converted to Christianity and eventually suffered martyrdom during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Justin was one of the great Christian apologists (from Greek apologia, ‘‘defense’’), scholars who defended the faith against pagans. The first twelve chapters of Justin’s Apology (‘‘defense,’’ c. 150—some 175 years before Nicaea) seek to prove that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah predicted in the Jewish Scriptures. See also Jesus as Son of God.