Athenagoras of Athens

About Athenagoras of Athens

Athenagoras was a Christian philosopher and apologist who wrote around 177 AD. His "Plea for the Christians" (or "Legatio") addressed to Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus defended Christians against charges of atheism, cannibalism, and incest. He argued with philosophical rigor for monotheism, explained Christian theology using Platonic concepts, and defended Christian morality. His "On the Resurrection of the Dead" presented philosophical arguments for bodily resurrection. Athenagoras was one of the most sophisticated early Christian philosophers, demonstrating that Christianity was intellectually credible and morally superior to paganism.