7/12/17
Justin on the Sole Government of God. (translated by Rev. G. Reith, M.A. Loc. 9969-10210 in The Complete Ante-Nicene & Nicene & Post-Nicene Church Fathers Collection. Catholic Way Publishing, 2014. ANF 01 The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus.Kindle Electronic Edition.
Chapter 3, Loc. 10045-10075.
In chapter 3 Justin discusses literary testimony of a future judgment. He begins with Sophocles, saying, “That time of times shall come, shall surely come, when from the golden ether down shall fall Fire’s teeming treasure, and in burning flames all things of earth and heaven shall be consumed” (Loc. 10045). Sophocles continues with a scene of destruction and of the god destroying the evil and saving the good. Justin references Philemon in a speech addressed to Nicostratus affirming that the good and evil must not meet the same end, but will face a righteous judge (Loc. 10057). Euripides also affirms that there will be a time of divine justice (Loc. 10066). In the final judgments predicted by Sophocles, Philemon, and Euripides humans always receive judgment based on what they do.