VIII AGNOSTICISM: A REJOINDER 289 



doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul is, 

 for -Justin, a heresy ; and he is as firm a believer 

 in the resurrection of the body, as in the 

 speedy Second Coming and the establishment of 

 the millennium. 



This pillar of the Church in the middle of 

 the second century a much- travelled native of 

 Samaria was certainly well acquainted with 

 Rome, probably with Alexandria ; and it is likely 

 that he knew the state of opinion throughout the 

 length and breadth of the Christian world as well 

 as any man of his time. If the various categories 

 above enumerated are arranged in a series 

 thus : 



s 



Justin'* Chrittlanity 



Judaea-Christianity Idolnthytic 



Christianity Pnganiu 



III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. 



it is obvious that they form a gradational series 

 from orthodox Judaism, on the extreme left, to 

 Paganism, whether philosophic or popular, on the 

 extreme right ; and it will further be observed 

 that, while Justin's conception of Christianity is 

 very broad, he rigorously excludes two classes of 

 persons who, in his time, called themselves 

 Christians; namely, those who insist on circum- 

 cision and other observances of the Law on the 

 part of Gentile converts ; that is to say, the strict 

 Judaeo-Christians (II.) ; and, on the other hand, 

 those who assert the lawfulness of eating meat 



