The Philosophers of the First Three Centuries of the Church

[...]-ness, already truly in heaven. This is felt when one attentively reads these beautiful works, and especially the writings of Saint JustinJustin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD), a pioneer of Christian philosophy who was later executed for his faith. and CyprianSt. Cyprian (c. 210–258 AD), the Bishop of Carthage who led the North African church during a time of intense Roman persecution..

This heroic courage of the virtues, this lofty feeling, this entirely divine way of thinking and judging—by which these great men distinguished themselves—was the result of the fervent faith that animated them. This lively and ardent faith made a stronger impression on them than the most sensory and striking objects usually make on other people. They spoke of the matter as if they had seen the Lord himself in his unspeakable majesty and had heard the words of life from his divine mouth; as if the entire glory of heaven and all the horrors of hell had been unlocked before their eyes. In a word, it seemed as if faith, for them, was without a veil, without secrets, and without darkness.

Such a lively faith was a necessary consequence of the zeal and the manner in which they studied religion. They regarded the sacred books as the source of all knowledge and truths. Scriptureoriginal: Die Schrift — referring to the Bible as the primary authority for early Christians. was the subject of their incessant contemplations, the guide for their judgments, and the comfort of their souls. From it they drew that strength, that always resolute courage, to undertake everything and endure everything for the honor and defense of religion: in it they always found everything necessary to enjoy the most intimate communion with God and to make the most magnificent conquests In this context, "conquests" (original: Eroberungen) refers to the conversion of souls to Christianity. among the heathensoriginal: Heyden — a term used historically for practitioners of polytheistic Roman or local religions., to whom they brought the knowledge of the true God.