Justin Martyr spent part of his life in Ephesus Theater at Ephesus

A pagan who converted to Christianity as an adult, Justin worked as a teacher of the Christian faith in Ephesus and Rome. He was the first writer whose works have survived who attempted to present Christianity as a rational faith. To this end he helped originate the logos-theology which presented Christ in terms borrowed from Greek philosophical thought. His apologetic writings also describe and defend Christian practices, including Baptism and the Holy Communion that had offended pagan intellectuals and officials. During a period of persecution Justin and some of his students declined to sacrifice to pagan deities and were martyred.