Greco-Roman Writers
on Christianity

Paul to the Colossians 2:8

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, 
according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, 
and not according to Christ."

Celsus:    Second Century CE

Celsus's View of Christians and Christianity

Origen's Contra Celsum (complete)

Porphyry:    Third Century CE

Links to Porphyry's Extant Works

About Porphyry's Against the Christians

Summary of Porphyry's Against the Christians

Porphyry's 15-Volume Against the Christians was burned in 448.
All that is known about the contents of this book is from the writings of Christian fathers
who unsuccessfully attempted to refute it. Chief among these was Augustine:

Augustine's City of God on Porphyry and Greek Philosophy in General

Book VIII, 1-9, Overview of Greek Philosophy - Platonism Closest to Christianity
                    10, The Christian Religion is Above All the Science of Philosophers,
                           Refers Paul's Sermon to the Athenians - Quotes Philosophers
                    11, How Plato Has Been Able to Approach So Nearly to Christian
                           Knowledge? He may have been familiar with the Hebrew Bible!
                            Refers the Dialogue between Moses and the Burning Bush
                    12, Introduces Porphyry as one of the "most illustrious recent philosophers"

Book X,    9-11, Porphyry's Religious Practice is the Worship of Demons!
                    21, Power is Occasionally given to Demons for the Benefit of the Church
                    23, Augustine Tries to Justify Similarity of Platonist to Christian Trinity
                    24, Porphyry Misunderstood the Trinity because of Demonic Influence
                    26-32, The Impious Porphyry was Blinded by his Worship of Demons and
                            was Prevented from Recognizing "the True Wisdom, which is Christ"

Book XII    20, 26 Augustine Criticizes Platonist's and Porphyry's Views on the
Book XIII    19      Transmigration of Souls

Book XIX    22-23, Augustine Calls Porphyry "the Most Learned of the Philosophers"
                            and Records Porphyry's Report of an Oracle of Apollo about Christ

Book XX    24, Porphyry Criticizes the Christian Belief that the World will End

Book XXII  12, 26-28 Porphyry Refutes the Bodily Resurrection from the Dead