Era 3 of 5 · AD 130–180

The Apologists

Philosophers defend the faith before emperors and mobs.

Events of the era

• AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
• AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
• AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
• AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
• AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180

Every named figure, by year of death

• Gaius Suetonius Tranquillusc. AD 69 – after 122Roman biographer · Witness of 'Chrestus' and Nero's punishments · Rome
• Levi of Jerusalemfl. c. 129 (death unrecorded)12th bishop of Jerusalem (of the circumcision) · Jerusalem
• Papias of Hierapolisc. 60 – c. 130Bishop of Hierapolis · Collector of apostolic memory · Hierapolis, Phrygia
• Saturninus of Antiochfl. c. AD 120 (death unrecorded)Syrian Gnostic teacher · Disciple of Menander · Antioch
• Serennius Granianusproconsul of Asia c. AD 121–122Proconsul of Asia · Questioner of the trials · province of Asia
• Ephres of Jerusalemfl. c. 131 (death unrecorded)13th bishop of Jerusalem (of the circumcision) · Jerusalem
• Joseph of Jerusalemfl. c. 132 (death unrecorded)14th bishop of Jerusalem (of the circumcision) · Jerusalem
• Aquila the Translatorfl. c. AD 130 (death unrecorded)Proselyte of Pontus · Translator of the Hexapla's Aquila column · Pontus → Palestine
• Aristides of Athensfl. c. 125Philosopher · Earliest surviving apologist · Athens
• Euplus of Ephesusattested AD 107 (death unrecorded)Ephesian companion of Ignatius's route · Ephesus
• Fronto of Ephesusattested AD 107 (death unrecorded)Ephesian companion of Ignatius's route · Ephesus
• Judas of Jerusalemuntil AD 13515th & last Hebrew bishop of Jerusalem · Jerusalem
• Simon bar Kokhbad. AD 135 (fall of Betar)Leader of the Second Jewish Revolt · Persecutor of Christians · Judaea
• Telesphorus of Romed. c. 136Bishop of Rome · Martyr · Rome
• Emperor Hadriand. AD 138Roman Emperor (117–138) · Rome
• Agrippa Castorfl. c. AD 135 (death unrecorded)Apologist · First named refuter of Basilides · unknown (probably Alexandria)
• Carpocrates of Alexandriafl. c. 130 (death unrecorded)Gnostic teacher of Alexandria · Alexandria
• Daphnus of Smyrnaattested AD 107 (death unrecorded)Householder of the Smyrnaean church · Smyrna
• Eutecnus of Smyrnaattested AD 107 (death unrecorded)Believer of the Smyrnaean church · Smyrna
• Tryphofl. c. 135 (death unrecorded)Jewish interlocutor of Justin's Dialogue · Ephesus (a refugee of the Bar Kokhba war)
• Valens of Philippideposed c. AD 110–120Presbyter of Philippi, fallen through avarice · Philippi
• Eumenes of Alexandriad. c. 141Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria
• Hyginus of Romed. c. 142Bishop of Rome · Rome
• Basilides of Alexandriafl. c. 120 – 145 (death unrecorded)Gnostic teacher of Alexandria · Alexandria
• Cerdo the Syrianfl. c. 138 – 144 (death unrecorded)Teacher at Rome, repeatedly readmitted and finally expelled · Forerunner of Marcion · Syria → Rome
• Hermas of Romefl. c. 90 – 140Freedman · Prophet of the Roman church · Rome
• Cornelius of Antiochd. c. 148Bishop of Antioch · Antioch
• Crescens, courier of Polycarpattested c. AD 110–120Letter-carrier of Polycarp to Philippi · Smyrna → Philippi
• Minucius Fundanusproconsul of Asia c. AD 122–123Proconsul of Asia · Recipient of Hadrian's rescript · province of Asia
• The Epistle to Diognetus (anonymous)treatise c. 130 – 200Anonymous apologetic letter · Unknown (Greek East)
• Lucius of Romed. c. AD 152 (beheaded)Bystander who protested · Martyr · Rome
• Marcus of Alexandriad. c. 152Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria
• Ptolemaeus of Romed. c. AD 152 (beheaded)Teacher · Martyr under the prefect Urbicus · Rome
• Epiphanes, son of Carpocratesd. c. 155 (aged seventeen)Gnostic author · Object of a posthumous cult · Alexandria → Same, Cephallenia
• Germanicus of Smyrnad. c. 155Martyr of Smyrna · Smyrna
• Herod the Irenarchfl. c. 155 (death unrecorded)Police magistrate (irenarch) at Smyrna · Smyrna
• Isidore, son of Basilidesfl. c. 150 (death unrecorded)Gnostic teacher · Heir of the Basilidean school · Alexandria
• Pius I of Romed. c. 155Bishop of Rome · Rome
• Polycarp of Smyrna69 – 155Bishop of Smyrna · Martyr · Smyrna
• Quintus the Phrygianfl. c. 155 (apostatized)Volunteer who recanted at Smyrna · Phrygia → Smyrna
• Statius Quadratusfl. c. 155 (Proconsul of Asia)Proconsul of Asia · Judge of Polycarp · Smyrna
• Nicetes of Smyrnafl. c. 155 (death unrecorded)Civic notable of Smyrna · Father of the irenarch Herod · Smyrna
• Diognetusfl. mid-2nd c. (death unrecorded)Pagan inquirer · Addressee of the Epistle to Diognetus · Unknown (Greek East)
• Justinus the Gnosticfl. 2nd century (death unrecorded)Author of the Book of Baruch · unknown
• Marcellina the Carpocratianfl. c. AD 155–165 (death unrecorded)Carpocratian teacher at Rome · Alexandria → Rome
• Marcion of Sinopec. 85 – c. 160Member of the Roman church, expelled AD 144 · Founder of a rival church · Sinope, Pontus → Rome
• Philip the AsiarchAsiarch at Smyrna, AD 155Asiarch of the province · President of the games · Tralles / Smyrna
• Quintus Lollius Urbicusurban prefect c. AD 146–160Urban Prefect of Rome · Judge of Ptolemaeus and Lucius · Rome
• Emperor Antoninus Piusd. AD 161Roman Emperor (138–161) · Rome
• Charitod. c. 165Martyr · Companion of Justin · Rome
• Charitond. c. 165Martyr · Companion of Justin · Rome
• Crescens the Cynicfl. c. 165 (death unrecorded)Cynic philosopher · Denouncer of Justin · Rome
• Euelpistusd. c. 165Martyr · Imperial slave · Companion of Justin · Cappadocia → Rome
• Florafl. c. 160 (death unrecorded)Roman Christian woman · Addressee of Ptolemy's letter · Rome
• Hieraxd. c. 165Martyr · Companion of Justin · Iconium → Rome
• Junius Rusticusfl. c. 165 (Prefect of Rome)Urban Prefect of Rome · Judge of Justin · Rome
• Justin Martyrc. 100 – 165Philosopher · Apologist · Martyr · Flavia Neapolis → Rome
• Liberiand. c. 165Martyr · Companion of Justin · Rome
• Paeond. c. 165Martyr · Companion of Justin · Rome
• Thraseas of Eumeniad. c. AD 165 (martyr, buried at Smyrna)Bishop of Eumenia · Martyr · Eumenia, Phrygia → Smyrna
• Celadion of Alexandriad. c. 166Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria
• Sagaris of Laodicead. c. AD 166 (martyr)Bishop of Laodicea · Martyr · Laodicea, Asia
• Fronto of Cirtac. AD 100 – c. 167Orator · Tutor of Marcus Aurelius · Accuser of the Christians · Cirta, Numidia → Rome
• Anicetus of Romed. c. 168Bishop of Rome · Rome
• Emperor Lucius VerusAD 130 – 169Roman co-Emperor (161–169) · Rome
• Eros of Antiochd. c. 169Bishop of Antioch · Antioch
• Papirius of Smyrnad. c. AD 170Successor in Polycarp's tradition · 'Blessed Papirius' · Smyrna
• Ptolemy the Valentinianfl. c. 150 – 170 (death unrecorded)Valentinian teacher · Author of the Letter to Flora · Rome (?)
• Soter of Romed. c. 174Bishop of Rome · Rome
• Monoimus the Arabfl. later 2nd century (death unrecorded)Gnostic speculator of the Monad · Arabia / Syria
• Valentinusc. 100 – c. 175Gnostic theologian · Once a candidate for the see of Rome · Founder of the Valentinian school · Alexandria → Rome
• Alcibiades of Lyond. AD 177 (confessor of the Lyon company)Ascetic confessor of Lyon · Lyon, Gaul
• Alexander of Lyond. 177Phrygian physician · Martyr of Lyon · Phrygia → Lugdunum
• Attalus of Pergamumd. 177Roman citizen · Martyr of Lyon · Pergamum → Lugdunum
• Biblis of Lyond. 177Confessor who recovered her faith · Martyr · Lugdunum, Gaul
• Blandina of Lyonc. 162 – 177Slave · Martyr of the church of Lyon · Lugdunum, Gaul
• Maturus of Lyond. 177Recent convert · Martyr · Lugdunum, Gaul
• Ponticus of Lyonc. 162 – 177Boy martyr of Lyon · Lugdunum, Gaul
• Pothinus of Lyonc. 87 – 177First bishop of Lyon · Martyr at ninety · Asia → Lugdunum, Gaul
• Sanctus of Vienned. 177Deacon of Vienne · Martyr · Vienne, Gaul
• Vettius Epagathusd. 177Advocate of the accused · Martyr of Lyon · Lugdunum, Gaul
• Agrippinus of Alexandriad. c. 178Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria
• Celsusfl. c. 175 – 180 (True Word composed c. 178)Platonist philosopher · First systematic critic of Christianity · Unknown (Greek East / Rome)
• Modestusfl. c. AD 170 (death unrecorded)Anti-Marcionite writer · unknown
• Maximillad. c. 179Prophetess of the New Prophecy · Phrygia