What are the views of St. Justin Martyr (c. 150 A. D.) on participating in military service?

He thought that Christians ought not to participate in war because of the things demanded of soldiers, such as denying faith in Christ and offering sacrifices before and after battle. He says, “We who formerly used to murder one another do not only now refrain from making

918 Origen of Alexandria, The Commentary of Origen on the Gospel of St. Matthew. Vol. 2 , trans., Ronald E. Heine (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2018) Series 102: p. 710.

919 St. Ambrose of Milan, Jacob and the Happy Life 2.6.29 (FOTC 65:163). 920

Everett Ferguson (ed.), Christian Life: Ethics, Morality, and Discipline in the Early Church (Studies in Early Christianity: Vol. 16) (Garland Publishing Inc., 1993): pp. 217ff.

921 Cf. R. M. Grant, Early Christianity and Society (Collins, 1978): pp. 22–23.

922 St. Clement of Rome, First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 37 (ANF 1:15).

war upon our enemies, but also, that we may not lie nor deceive our examiners, and willingly die confessing Christ.”⁹²³