Justin Martyr on Worship

Justin the Martyr was executed for his faith around A.D. 165. His writings and leadership helped shape and influence countless believers. He has given the oldest non-biblical description of Christian worship we have. He wrote, “On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. Then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these goods things.” The “writings of the prophets” is a reference to the Old Testament, and the “memoirs of the apostles” refers to the New Testament. True worship will invariably lead us “to the imitation of these good things” we have heard from God’s Word.