{"product_id":"2940013342446","title":"Embassy for the Christians (Illustrated)","description":"Athenagoras was a Father of the Church, a Proto-orthodox Christian apologist who lived during the second half of the 2nd century of whom little is known for certain, besides that he was Athenian (though possibly not originally from Athens), a philosopher, and a convert to Christianity. In his writings he styles himself as “Athenagoras, the Athenian, Philosopher, and Christian.” There is some evidence that he was a Platonist before his conversion, but this is not certain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAthenagoras' feast day is observed on 24 July in the Eastern Orthodox Church.\u003cbr\u003eThis classic work, Historia Acephala, is translated into English for your convenience. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Embassy for the Christians, the date of which is fixed by internal evidence as late in 176 or 177, was a carefully written plea for justice to the Christians made by a philosopher, on philosophical grounds, to the Emperors Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus, whom he flatters as conquerors, “but above all, philosophers.” He first complains of the illogical and unjust discrimination against the Christians and of the calumnies they suffer, and then meets the charge of atheism (a major complaint directed at the Christians of the day was that by disbelieving in the Roman gods, they were showing themselves to be atheists). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe establishes the principle of monotheism, citing pagan poets and philosophers in support of the very doctrines for which Christians are condemned, and argues for the superiority of the Christian belief in God to that of pagans. This first strongly-reasoned argument for the unity of God in Christian literature is supplemented by an able exposition of the Trinity. Assuming then the defensive, he justifies the Christian abstention from worship of the national deities by arguing that it is absurd and indecent, quoting at length the pagan poets and philosophers in support of his contention. Finally, he meets the charges of immorality by exposing the Christian ideal of purity, even in thought, and the inviolable sanctity of the marriage bond. The charge of cannibalism is refuted by showing the high regard for human life that leads the Christian to detest the crime of abortion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis edition comes complete with a Bieber Touch-or-Click Table of Contents and the Bieber Image Collection, a myriad of beautiful religious images. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou can purchase other religious works directly from Bieber Publishing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnjoy.","brand":"Bieber Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47167675171056,"sku":"2940013342446","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013342446_p0.jpg?v=1763580018","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013342446","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}