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| Chapter CXXII.—The Jews understand this of the proselytes without reason.
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Chapter CXXII.—The Jews understand
this of the proselytes without reason.
“You think that these words refer to the
stranger2417
and the proselytes, but in fact they refer to
us who have been illumined by Jesus. For Christ would have borne witness
even to them; but now you are become twofold more the children of hell,
as He said Himself.2418
Therefore what was
written by the prophets was spoken not of those persons, but of us,
concerning whom the Scripture speaks: ‘I will lead the blind by a
way which they knew not; and they shall walk in paths which they have not
known. And I am witness, saith the Lord God, and my servant whom I have
chosen.’2419
To whom, then, does Christ bear witness?
Manifestly to those who have believed. But the proselytes not only do not
believe, but twofold more than yourselves blaspheme His name, and wish to
torture and put to death us who believe in Him; for in all points they
strive to be like you. And again in other words He cries: ‘I the
Lord have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and
will strengthen Thee, and will give Thee for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out
the prisoners from their bonds.’2420
These
words, indeed, sirs, refer also to Christ, and concern the enlightened
nations; or will you say again, He speaks to them of the law and the
proselytes?”
Then some of those who had come on the second day cried
out as if they had been in a theatre, “But what? does He not refer
to the law, and to those illumined by it? Now these are
proselytes.”
“No,” I said, looking towards Trypho,
“since, if the law were able to enlighten the nations and those who
possess it, what need is there of a new covenant? But since God announced
beforehand that He would send a new covenant, and an everlasting law and
commandment, we will not understand this of the old law and its
proselytes, but of Christ and His proselytes, namely us Gentiles, whom He
has illumined, as He says somewhere: ‘Thus saith the Lord, In an
acceptable time have I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation have I
helped Thee, and I have given Thee for a covenant of the people, to
establish the earth, and to inherit the deserted.’2421
What, then, is Christ’s inheritance? Is it not the nations?
What is the covenant of God? Is it not
Christ? As He says in
another place: ‘Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask
of Me, and I shall give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and the
uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.’2422
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