Commenting on the wordplay in First Apology 4, Thomas B. Falls notes that:
Justin here indulges in paronomasia to
play upon the words Christós, Christianoi (Christ, Christians) and chrestós,
chrestótatoi (excellent, most excellent). Cf. Theophilus of Antioch, Ad
Autolycum 1.1; Lactantius, Inst. div. 4.7. (Thomas B. Falls, in Justin
Martyr, The First Apology, The Second Apology, Dialogue with Trypho,
Exhortation to the Greeks, Discourse to the Greeks, The Monarchy or The Rule of
God [The Fathers of the Church 6; Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University
of America Press, 1948])
Falls
renders the relevant passage thusly:
Nothing good or evil is included in
the mere use of a name, apart from the actions which are associated with that
name. We, if you judge from the name we are accused of, are most excellent
persons. (Ibid, 36)
