Aristides is called by Jerome a "most eloquent" man: but what his philosophical opinions were, we are not informed; nor is it known how far he may have been chargeable with having taken the initiatory step in destroying the simplicity of the Christian doctrine, which disappeared amid the decided Platonism of Justin and his successors, especially the great teachers of the Alexandrian School. That the writings emanating from this school, along with those of Justin, who led the way, introduced darkness and error into the theology of the period- error which was transmitted to subsequent times, and from the overshadowing effects of which the Christian world has not yet fully recovered- admits, in our opinion, of no denial.
Aristides is called by Jerome a "most eloquent" man: but what his philosophical opinions were, we are not informed; nor is it known how far he may have been chargeable with having taken the initiatory step in destroying the simplicity of the Christian doctrine, which disappeared amid the decided Platonism of Justin and his successors, especially the great teachers of the Alexandrian School. That the writings emanating from this school, along with those of Justin, who led the way, introduced darkness and error into the theology of the period- error which was transmitted to subsequent times, and from the overshadowing effects of which the Christian world has not yet fully recovered- admits, in our opinion, of no denial.
- from page 22, Church of the First Three Centuries