The Ancient Witnesses

76 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

fires from a single fire, we see that the original fire is undiminished.” 13

The Logos of God Justin Martyr paused to give us time to ponder his words. “Did he answer the question?” asked Preacher. “Of course!” said Cesar, “the Father is like the sun, Jesus is the sun rays, and the Holy Spirit is its warmth.” “That’s cool!” said Preacher. “No, that’s hot!” replied Cesar, teasing. “He also said the Son of God was sent in whatever form the Father chose,” I added, “but that sounds a little like Modalism .” “Ask the Apologist to say more about the Logos ,” said Father Greg. “The what?” asked Preacher. “The Word,” explained Father Greg, “in Greek, logos is the Word.” “So, Jesus is the Logos ?” I asked. “Precisely,” said Father Greg. I wasn’t sure what to ask, but Justin Martyr had overheard Father Greg and replied, “We admire the philosophers for their knowledge of the Logos —the reason—in all men, yet they understood the Logos only in part, and were unaware that Christ, who appeared for our sakes, became a whole rational being— Logos —body, reason, and soul. Our doctrines, then, are

13 Paraphrase based on Justin Martyr, First Apology , especially chapter 63(ANF 1, 184) and Dialogue with Trypho , chapters 113 and 132 (ANF 1, 255 and 266).