Crescens the Cynic

Crescens the Cynic

Crescens (2nd century) was a Cynic philosopher who attacked the Christians, and was in turn, attacked by Justin Martyr. Eusebius, writing 150 years later, claimed that the plots of Crescens caused Justin's death.

Life

The only information regarding Crescens comes from hostile attacks by the church fathers. He was active according to the Chronicon of Eusebius around 152-153.[1] Tatian refers to Crescens as being resident in the "great city,"[2] presumably Rome. According to Justin, Crescens attacked the Christians with great acrimony, calling them atheists:

Crescens, that lover of bravado and boasting; for the man is not worthy of the name of philosopher who publicly bears witness against us in matters which he does not understand, saying that the Christians are atheists and impious, and doing so to win favour with the deluded mob, and to please them.[3]

Crescens was interrogated in turn by Justin, who tells us that in consequence, he was apprehensive that Crescens might plot against him.[3] Tatian, in a discourse written around the same time, asserted that Crescens "surpassed all men in his love-of-boys (paiderastia) and was strongly addicted to the love of money."[2] He then claimed that Crescens "who professed to despise death, was so afraid of death, that he endeavoured to inflict on Justin, and indeed on me, the punishment of death, as being an evil."[2]

Eusebius claimed that Justin's martyrdom (c. 165) was in fact caused by Crescens,[4] but the only evidence he advanced were the statements of Tatian, who did not state that Justin met his death as a direct result of the plots of Crescens.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Jerome, Chronicle, p.203.13-18 Helm
  2. ^ a b c Tatian, Wikisource-logo.svg Address to the Greeks 19.
  3. ^ a b Justin Martyr, Wikisource-logo.svg Second Apology 3.
  4. ^ Eusebius, Wikisource-logo.svg Church History iv. 16.. See also: Jerome, Wikisource-logo.svg De Viris Illustribus., 23
  5. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia, (1913), Wikisource-logo.svg St. Justin Martyr.
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Greek era
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Roman era
Favonius · Demetrius · Dio Chrysostom · Agathobulus · Secundus · Demonax · Peregrinus Proteus · Theagenes · Oenomaus · Pancrates · Crescens · Heraclius · Horus · Asclepiades · Sallustius

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