The oldest Christian, Greek and Lat. texts that are grouped together under this name originate from legal speeches (apologia or defensio), without representing a specific literary genre. They are aimed at educated pagans with the purpose of introducing the Christian religion. In particular, they refute the charges, often made against the Christians, of immorality, atheism, irrationalism and separatism. Some apologias are written in an aggressive style, in that they strongly criticize paganism and emphasize the superiority of Christianity.
The 2nd cent. was …