The Martyrdom of Maximus

Name: The Martyrdom of Maximus
Author: Origen of Alexandria

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254 AD)

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Contents3 passages

1Decius orders sacrifice and Maximus confesses he is a Christian
2Beating and rack called anointing, then sentence to stoning
3Led out and stoned to death

Author

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254 AD) — Teacher at Alexandria and later Caesarea, and the first great Christian scholar of the Bible. He wrote commentaries, sermons and treatises on nearly every book of Scripture and compiled the Hexapla, a six-column Old Testament. He was tortured in the Decian persecution and died soon after.

All works by Origen of Alexandria

About this text

No occasion or purpose is stated in the text. It records Decius's decree, Maximus's voluntary appearance, interrogation, torture, sentence and stoning.

This account was written by an anonymous writer in Asia. It is not sent to any named person, and it states no occasion or purpose. It belongs to the time of Emperor Decius and the proconsul Optimus, and it records the decree, the voluntary appearance of Maximus, his interrogation, torture, sentence and stoning.

Decius ordered Christians throughout the world to leave the living and true God, offer sacrifice to demons, or face punishment. Maximus, a freeborn commoner who lives by his own business and calls himself a Christian and servant of Christ, presents himself voluntarily, rejects the order as unjust, refuses to offer sacrifice to any but God, and seeks eternal life in place of miserable temporal life. The reader meets Maximus, Decius behind the decree, and Optimus the proconsul in Asia who interrogates, tortures and condemns him for refusing to offer sacrifice to Diana, then has him led outside the walls and struck with stones until he dies. Most of the text is direct speech in which Maximus answers Optimus, and Maximus argues against the words of Optimus and the order of Decius, all framed by an anonymous narrator who closes with thanks and a doxology to Christ.

In this rendering, offer sacrifice means performing the ordered pagan offering, demons is the Christian word for the pagan gods named in the decree, and torture covers beating and the rack. Anointing is Maximus word for his sufferings, which he says soothe rather than hurt, and he says he is sustained by Christ's grace. The language about divine mercy belongs to the formal sentence spoken by Optimus, not to God, and the king of this age means Decius. No book of the Bible is named, quoted or numbered in the text.

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.

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Decius orders sacrifice and Maximus confesses he is a Christian§1

Emperor Decius has ordered all Christians to sacrifice and Maximus presents himself voluntarily to Optimus the proconsul in Asia for interrogation.

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1The emperor Decius wanted to crush and overcome the law of the Christians, so he established decrees throughout the whole world: every Christian who turned away from the living and true God was to offer sacrifice to demons, and whoever refused would face penalties. At that time Maximus, a servant of God and a holy man, came forward openly of his own accord. He was a commoner who lived by caring for his own business. After his arrest he was brought before Optimus the proconsul in Asia.

The proconsul said to him, "What is your name?" Maximus answered, "I am called Maximus." The proconsul said, "What is your standing?" Maximus said, "I was born free, but I am a servant of Christ." The proconsul said, "What trade do you follow?" Maximus answered, "I am a commoner, and I live by my own business." The proconsul said, "Are you a Christian?" Maximus answered, "Though a sinner, I am still a Christian."

The proconsul said, "Do you not know the decrees of the most unconquered rulers that recently arrived?" Maximus answered, "What are they?" The proconsul said, "Every Christian must abandon needless superstition, acknowledge the true ruler to whom all things are subject, and revere his gods." Maximus answered, "I have heard the unjust sentence put forward by the king of this age, and for that reason I came forward openly."

The proconsul said, "Then offer sacrifice to the gods." Maximus answered, "I offer sacrifice to God alone, and I rejoice that I have offered sacrifice to him since my earliest years." The proconsul said, "Offer sacrifice so you may be saved, but if you refuse, I will make you perish under every kind of torture." Maximus answered, "That is what I have always longed for. I showed myself for this very reason, to be rid at last of a wretched and temporal life and receive eternal life."

Greek · §1

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Beating and rack called anointing, then sentence to stoning§2

Maximus has confessed as a Christian before the proconsul Optimus and refused to offer sacrifice, and Optimus now has him beaten and racked.

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2Then the proconsul ordered him to be beaten with clubs. As he was being beaten, the proconsul said to him, "Offer sacrifice, Maximus, so you may be freed from this torture." Maximus answered, "What is inflicted for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is not torture, but anointing. If I abandon the commands of my Lord, in which I have been instructed from his gospel, true and everlasting torture will await me."

Then the proconsul ordered him to be hung on the rack. While he was being tortured, he said to him, "Come to your senses now, wretch, leave your folly behind and offer sacrifice, so you may gain your soul." Maximus answered, "I will gain my soul if I do not offer sacrifice, but if I offer sacrifice I lose it. Neither clubs nor hooks nor fire cause me any felt pain, for Christ's grace remains in me, and through the prayers of all the saints it will save me forever. Those saints contended in this same struggle, overcame your madness, and left us examples of virtue."

Then the proconsul passed sentence on him, saying, "The man who has refused to assent to the sacred laws by offering sacrifice to the great goddess Diana, divine mercy has ordered to be overwhelmed with stones, to frighten the remaining Christians."

Greek · §2

The Greek is on each section page: §2

Led out and stoned to death§3

After Optimus condemns him for refusing to offer sacrifice to Diana, the narrator reports how Maximus is seized, led out, and killed.

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3And so the champion for Christ was seized by the devil's agents, while giving thanks to God and Father through Jesus Christ, his Son, who judged him worthy to overcome the devil by contending. He was led outside the walls and struck with stones, and he gave up his spirit.

The servant of God Maximus suffered in the province of Asia on the second day before the Ides of May, under Emperor Decius and the proconsul Optimus, while our Lord Jesus Christ reigns, to whom is glory forever and ever, amen.

Greek · §3

The Greek is on each section page: §3

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