--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Justin's testimony about becoming a…" description: "\"Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions of the time, and then accidentally encount..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/larry-hurtado-31747_becoming_justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-chri_529752.jpg" --- # Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he… ![“Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions of the time, and then accidentally encountered a man who posed questions that pointed Justin [Martyr ] in a new direction.” quote by Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/larry-hurtado-31747_becoming_justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-chri_529752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/larry-hurtado-31747_becoming_justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-chri_529752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/larry-hurtado-31747_becoming_justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-chri_529752.jpg) > “Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions of the time, and then accidentally encountered a man who posed questions that pointed Justin \[Martyr \] in a new direction.” [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justin searched many philosophies before a man’s probing questions redirected his faith toward Christianity. **In simple terms:** He found Christianity after exploring other ideas and meeting a questioning man. Key Takeaway Explore diverse ideas, stay open to unexpected guidance. Themes spiritual search conversion philosophy Mood reflective inquisitive Type narrative spiritual When to use this quote - personal crisis - academic study - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts religious experience intellectual curiosity Questions to Reflect On - What questions sparked your shift? - How do you recognize a pivotal encounter? A Different Perspective May overlook other influences on his conversion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Encountered Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encountered-man-4453734/) [Justin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justin/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justin-martyr-220457/) [Justin Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justin-testimony-4453733/) [Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martyr/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [New directions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-directions/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Pointed Justin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointed-justin-4453735/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/) [Testimony Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony-christian-3658359/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Various](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/various/) ## Related quotes > [Always be ready to give a good testimony for the Lord, but remember that the best testimony a Christian can have is a love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-burkett/always-be-ready-to-give-a-good-testimony-for-the-lord-but-remember/) [Larry Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-burkett/) > [Justin Martyr says that he was impressed in his study of the Old Testament, at the seriousness and contents of these writings, and became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-martyr-says-that-he-was-impressed-in-his-study-of-the-old/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [“IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH, the nature of angels caused some confusion. Writing in the second century, Justin Martyr thought that fallen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-early-days-of-the-church-the-nature-of-angels-caused-some/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Justin Martyr explained the distinction and the sameness of the Father and the Son with the analogy of a candle. The flame can pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-f-madden/justin-martyr-explained-the-distinction-and-the-sameness-of-the/) [Thomas F. Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-f-madden/) > [When I tell people I was in the St. Justin Martyr parish, if they are native Chicagoans they know exactly where I was and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/when-i-tell-people-i-was-in-the-st-justin-martyr-parish-if-they-are/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [“So much had the gospel been spread abroad during this early period of the church that the apostle could speak of it going into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-saucy/so-much-had-the-gospel-been-spread-abroad-during-this-early-period-of/) [Robert L. Saucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-l-saucy/) > [“St. Justin Martyr wrote, “Jesus was born by the will of God the Father for the salvation of believers and the destruction of demons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-healy/st-justin-martyr-wrote-jesus-was-born-by-the-will-of-god-the-father/) [Mary Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-healy/) > [Green is not just about renewable energy. It's also about creating a new direction for the whole economy. This requires government to step up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-mazzucato/green-is-not-just-about-renewable-energy-it-s-also-about-creating-a/) [Mariana Mazzucato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-mazzucato/) > [I don't think it's worth discussing new directions in the context of Chinese art - there were no old directions, either. Chinese art has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-don-t-think-it-s-worth-discussing-new-directions-in-the-context-of/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [The time has come to choose a new direction of global development, to opt for a new civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/the-time-has-come-to-choose-a-new-direction-of-global-development-to/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [I've talked to many individuals who want to discuss their problems. But they don't really have problems. They have chosen to live in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/i-ve-talked-to-many-individuals-who-want-to-discuss-their-problems/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Being an entrepreneur isn’t just a job title, and it isn’t just about starting a company. It’s a state of mind. It’s about seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-burch/being-an-entrepreneur-isn-t-just-a-job-title-and-it-isn-t-just-about/) [Tory Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-burch/) > [I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/i-think-that-it-s-extraordinarily-important-that-we-in-computer/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [When Americans are worried about losing their jobs, their savings, their homes and their chance at the American Dream, Congress and the president must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/when-americans-are-worried-about-losing-their-jobs-their-savings/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Not I, not I, but the wind that blows through me! A fine wind is blowing the new direction of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/not-i-not-i-but-the-wind-that-blows-through-me-a-fine-wind-is-blowing/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) ## More by Larry Hurtado > [In the Marquette Lecture volume, I focus on the question in the title. I emphasize the social and political costs of being a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-the-marquette-lecture-volume-i-focus-on-the-question-in-the-title/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think that Rodney Stark studies of new religious movements in the modern world give us some insights into the kinds of questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-studies-of-new-religious-movements-in-the/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Justin Martyr says that he was impressed in his study of the Old Testament, at the seriousness and contents of these writings, and became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-martyr-says-that-he-was-impressed-in-his-study-of-the-old/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Early Christianity, like Roman-era philosophical traditions, laid emphasis on everyday behavior, about how to live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/early-christianity-like-roman-era-philosophical-traditions-laid/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Studies of the people named and described in earliest Christian texts show that, right from the earliest years, they included craftsmen, merchants, and owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/studies-of-the-people-named-and-described-in-earliest-christian-texts/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > ["Religions" of the Roman world varied. Most of it was ritual practices. There were periodic occasions when cities honored their guardian deities with sacrifices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/religions-of-the-roman-world-varied-most-of-it-was-ritual-practices/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Galen recognized, with some considerable puzzlement it seems, that Christians exhibited the virtues that he associated with the discipline of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/galen-recognized-with-some-considerable-puzzlement-it-seems-that/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think that Rodney Stark puts his foot wrong on some things where he simply wasn't sufficiently current on scholarly developments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-puts-his-foot-wrong-on-some-things-where-he/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [In its Roman-era setting, for example, Christianity was so different that critics of the time referred to it as a "superstition" (meaning a bogus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-its-roman-era-setting-for-example-christianity-was-so-different/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-rodney-stark-makes-a-substantial-contribution-to-the-study-of/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [In Destroyer of the gods I focus on several major features of early Christianity that made it distinctive, even odd or bizarre .We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-destroyer-of-the-gods-i-focus-on-several-major-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Galen's observations reflect one of the distinctive features of early Christianity. Roman-era religion was mainly about ritual actions vis-à-vis the gods, and there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/galen-s-observations-reflect-one-of-the-distinctive-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [ \[Christians\] practiced moderation and chastity in marriage, for example, and Galen was puzzled at how they were able to do so. His comments are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/christians-practiced-moderation-and-chastity-in-marriage-for-example/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I offer early Christianity as a case-study to show that the phenomena that we group under "religion(s)" comprise a somewhat artificial category, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-offer-early-christianity-as-a-case-study-to-show-that-the-phenomena/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [ Some modern scholars contend that in terms of what "religion" was in that \[Roman-era setting\], you can't even call Christianity a religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/some-modern-scholars-contend-that-in-terms-of-what-religion-was-in/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) [Explore all 16 Larry Hurtado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) [Christopher Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wood/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) [Browse all 4,715 Becoming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions of the time, and then accidentally encountered a man who posed questions that pointed Justin [Martyr ] in a new direction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Larry Hurtado" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-christian-is-that-he-had-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Becoming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-christian-is-that-he-had-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/larry-hurtado-31747_becoming_justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-chri_529752.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/larry-hurtado-31747_becoming_justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-chri_529752.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/larry-hurtado-31747_becoming_justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-chri_529752.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions…” — Larry Hurtado", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Larry Hurtado", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-christian-is-that-he-had-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-christian-is-that-he-had-been/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```