Crescens the Cynic
Encyclopedia
Crescens was a Cynic philosopher who attacked the Christians
, and was in turn, attacked by Justin Martyr
.
Eusebius
, writing 150 years later, claimed that the plots of Crescens caused Justin's death.
. He was active according to the Chronicon
of Eusebius
around 152-153. Tatian
refers to Crescens as being resident in the "great city," presumably Rome
. According to Justin
, Crescens attacked the Christians
with great acrimony, calling them atheists:
Crescens was interrogated in turn by Justin, who tells us that in consequence, he was apprehensive that Crescens might plot against him. Tatian, in a discourse written around the same time, asserted that Crescens "surpassed all men in his love-of-boys (paiderastia
) and was strongly addicted to the love of money." He then claimed that Crescens "who professed to despise death, was so afraid of death, that he endeavoured to inflict on Justin, and indeed on me, the punishment of death, as being an evil."
Eusebius claimed that Justin's martyrdom (c. 165) was in fact caused by Crescens, but the only evidence he advanced were the statements of Tatian, who did not state that Justin met his death as a direct result of the plots of Crescens.
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
, and was in turn, attacked by Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr, also known as just Saint Justin , was an early Christian apologist. Most of his works are lost, but two apologies and a dialogue survive. He is considered a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church....
.
Eusebius
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
, writing 150 years later, claimed that the plots of Crescens caused Justin's death.
Life
The only information regarding Crescens comes from hostile attacks by the church fathersChurch Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
. He was active according to the Chronicon
Chronicon (Eusebius)
The Chronicon or Chronicle was a work in two books by Eusebius of Caesarea. It seems to have been compiled in the early 4th century. It contained a world chronicle from Abraham until the vicennalia of Constantine I in 325 AD...
of Eusebius
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
around 152-153. Tatian
Tatian
Tatian the Assyrian was an Assyrian early Christian writer and theologian of the 2nd century.Tatian's most influential work is the Diatessaron, a Biblical paraphrase, or "harmony", of the four gospels that became the standard text of the four gospels in the Syriac-speaking churches until the...
refers to Crescens as being resident in the "great city," presumably Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. According to Justin
Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr, also known as just Saint Justin , was an early Christian apologist. Most of his works are lost, but two apologies and a dialogue survive. He is considered a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church....
, Crescens attacked the Christians
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
with great acrimony, calling them atheists:
Crescens, that lover of bravado and boasting; for the man is not worthy of the name of philosopher who publicly bears witness against us in matters which he does not understand, saying that the Christians are atheists and impious, and doing so to win favour with the deluded mob, and to please them.
Crescens was interrogated in turn by Justin, who tells us that in consequence, he was apprehensive that Crescens might plot against him. Tatian, in a discourse written around the same time, asserted that Crescens "surpassed all men in his love-of-boys (paiderastia
Pederasty in ancient Greece
Pederasty in ancient Greece was a socially acknowledged relationship between an adult and a younger male usually in his teens. It was characteristic of the Archaic and Classical periods...
) and was strongly addicted to the love of money." He then claimed that Crescens "who professed to despise death, was so afraid of death, that he endeavoured to inflict on Justin, and indeed on me, the punishment of death, as being an evil."
Eusebius claimed that Justin's martyrdom (c. 165) was in fact caused by Crescens, but the only evidence he advanced were the statements of Tatian, who did not state that Justin met his death as a direct result of the plots of Crescens.