I. Произведения апологетов II века

In its final foundation, apologetic literature arose from the internal opposition in which Christianity from the very beginning stood in relation to paganism in all directions - in teaching, cult, private and public life; this contrast in the 2nd century. acted more and more sharply and outwardly. But specifically and historically, the reason for the development of apologetic literature was not this general abstract opposition between Christianity and paganism, but the opposition that gradually developed between the Roman state (and Judaism) and the ancient Christian Church. From this follows the absolute necessity, when studying apologetic literature, to always keep in mind the relationships that have been established between Christianity, on the one hand, and paganism and Judaism, on the other, in order to know the soil on which this literature arose and developed. The circumstances in which the Christian Church had to fulfill its purpose were extremely complex. This depended entirely on the diversity and complexity of relations in the Greco-Roman Empire, within the vast boundaries of which it first of all had to win a position and the right to freely spread. Under the external uniformity, due to the strong power of Rome, the empire represented a very motley combination of various nationalities that once had a more or less developed statehood, their own special system of moral and religious life, their own beliefs, prejudices and attitudes towards other beliefs. But, separated by deep mutual antipathy, all these forces united when circumstances required entering into a struggle, which, by the very nature of the enemy and his desire, excluded the possibility of any compromise. Never in the entire course of world history have sharper contrasts collided than those of Christianity and ancient culture, the Christian Church and the Roman state. There was to be a struggle between them for dominance over the world - such a struggle was supposed to end only with the complete victory of one of the opponents. Our task does not include a detailed presentation of this struggle and an investigation of the reasons for this or that direction of it, means, results, etc. It is important for us to note only those essential features of it that are reflected in the works of apologists; Therefore, in the following presentation, we everywhere assume additional information from general church history, limiting ourselves to stating conditions negative for the interests of the Church and intending to establish what real problems presented themselves to the apologists - these pioneers of Christian civilization.