It took a lot of courage for an obscure Athenian philosopher to write a letter to his emperor, challenging him to change his ways! Why did he do it? Because of the extreme persecution his fellow Christians were experiencing under Emperor Marcus Aurelius, now considered to be one of the most enlightened Roman emperors.

Savage Treatment for Christians
Christians were being targeted again for arrest and unthinkable persecution. Earlier emperors Nero, Domitian, and Trajan had made a policy of persecuting believers, and Aurelius was following their example. In addition, persecutions were happening in small towns and local communities all over the Roman Empire.

For example, the city of Lyons, Gaul (modern-day France) unleashed a savage persecution on Christians. Many suffocated in dungeons, while others were tortured with fire in an arena or tossed and dragged by maddened beasts. The slave girl Blandina is a classic example. For three days prior to her execution she publicly endured every cruelty, but never stopped encouraging her fellow sufferers.
Athenagoras could not sit by idly while fellow Christians suffered such cruelty. So in AD 177, he penned his letter, Embassy for the Christians. The letter was addressed "To the Emperors Marcus Aurelius Anoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, conquerors of Armenia and Sarmatia, and more than all, philosophers." Athenagoras must have hoped that Emperor Aurelius, who was a fellow philosopher, would respond to his logical appeal.

What did Aurelius think when he received the letter? Did he even read it? Or was it tossed aside unread? We will never know. But Athenagoras' words are still studied by scholars today.

What Was the Complaint?
Athenagoras pleaded for equal rights for Christians. All kinds of religions were allowed to flourish in the empire, even the silliest and most wicked. Christianity alone was singled out for persecution. Furthermore, when Christians were brought to court, the normal rules of trial were violated. Many were condemned merely for bearing the name "Christian." They were punished for things they never dreamed of doing: atheism, cannibalism and incest.

Athenagoras answered the charges, showing first that Christians believe in one God, "the Maker of this universe, who is Himself uncreated (for that which is does not come to be, but that which is not) but has made all things by the Logos which is from Him..."

Even Some Pagans Say the Same
Even some of the Greek and Roman poets and philosophers had taught that there is just one God, said Athenagoras, so why should Christians be penalized for saying the same thing? In chapter six he quoted Plato as saying, "To find out the Maker and Father of this universe is difficult, and when found, it is impossible to declare Him to all."

We Are NOT Atheists
Christians in those days were accused of atheism because they refused to worship the Roman gods. Athenagoras stated, "...we are not atheists, therefore, seeing that we acknowledge one God, uncreated, eternal, invisible, impassible, incomprehensible, illimitable, who is apprehended by the understanding only and the reason, who is encompassed by light, and beauty, and spirit and power ineffable, by whom the universe has been created through His Logos, and set in order and is kept in being...for we acknowledge also a Son of God."

But among us you will find uneducated persons, and artisans, and old women, who by their deeds exhibit the benefit arising from their persuasion of its truth: they do not rehearse speeches but exhibit good works; when struck, they do not strike again; when robbed, they do not go to law; they give to those that ask of them, and they love their neighbors as themselves. --Athenagoras, Chapter eleven of the Embassy

He explained why Christians do not offer sacrifices to pagan gods or worship the universe. How could Christians worship gods who themselves had been created, according to the myths, and who lived immoral lives which even the pagan philosophers could not accept? In the same spirit, how could Christians worship the cosmos-- however impressive it is--when it is merely a creation?