Saint Celsus

Celsus (Κέλσος, Kélsos) was a Hellenistic Greek philosopher active during the early 2nd century AD, known for his opposition to Christianity and Judaism. His most notable work, The True Word (Λόγος Ἀληθής), survives only through quotations in Origen's Contra Celsum, written around 248 AD as a refutation of Celsus' arguments. This work is considered the earliest known comprehensive criticism of Christianity and Judaism. While modern scholars generally agree that Celsus likely wrote between AD 170 to 180, his exact birth year remains unverifiable. The True Word presents a critical examination of Christian beliefs, making it an important historical document for understanding early Christian thought and its challenges from non-Christian perspectives.