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| Chapter CXXIII.—Ridiculous interpretations of the Jews. Christians are the true Israel.
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Chapter CXXIII.—Ridiculous
interpretations of the Jews. Christians are the true Israel.
“As, therefore, all these latter
prophecies refer to Christ and the nations, you should believe that the
former refer to Him and them in like manner. For the proselytes have no
need of a covenant, if, since there is one and the same law imposed on
all that are circumcised, the Scripture speaks about them thus:
‘And the stranger shall also be joined with them, and shall be
joined to the house of Jacob;’2423
and
because the proselyte, who is circumcised that he may have access to the
people, becomes like one of themselves,2424
| 2424 Literally, “a native of the land.”
| while we who have been deemed worthy to be called a people are
yet Gentiles, because we have not been circumcised. Besides, it is
ridiculous for you to imagine that the eyes of the proselytes are to be
opened while your own are not, and that you be understood as blind and
deaf while they are enlightened. And it will be still more ridiculous for
you, if you say that the law has been given to the nations, but you have
not known it. For you would have stood in awe of God’s wrath, and
would not have been lawless, wandering sons; being much afraid of hearing
God always say, ‘Children in whom is no faith. And who are blind,
but my servants? and deaf, but they that rule over them? And the servants
of God have been made blind. You see often, but have not observed; your
ears have been opened, and you have not heard.’2425
Is God’s
commendation of you honourable? and is God’s testimony seemly for
His servants? You are not ashamed though you often hear these words. You
do not tremble at God’s threats, for you are a people foolish and
hard-hearted. ‘Therefore, behold, I will proceed to remove this
people,’ saith the Lord; ‘and I will remove them, and destroy
the wisdom of the wise, and hide the understanding of the
prudent.’2426
Deservedly too: for you
are neither wise nor prudent, but crafty and unscrupulous; wise only to
do evil, but utterly incompetent to know the hidden counsel of God, or
the faithful covenant of the Lord, or to find out the everlasting paths.
‘Therefore, saith the Lord, I will raise up to Israel and to Judah
the seed of men and the seed of beasts.’2427
And by Isaiah He speaks thus concerning another Israel: ‘In
that day shall there be a third Israel among the Assyrians and the
Egyptians, blessed in the land which the Lord of Sabaoth hath blessed,
saying, blessed shall my people in Egypt and in Assyria be, and Israel
mine inheritance.’2428
Since then God blesses
this people, and calls them Israel, and declares them to be His
inheritance, how is it that you repent not of the deception you practise
on yourselves, as if you alone were the Israel, and of execrating the
people whom God has blessed? For when He speaks to Jerusalem and its
environs, He thus added: ‘And I will beget men upon you, even my
people Israel; and they shall inherit you, and you shall be a possession
for them; and you shall be no longer bereaved of them.’
”2429
“What, then?” says Trypho; “are you
Israel? and speaks He such things of you?”
“If, indeed,” I replied to him, “we
had not entered into a lengthy2430
| 2430 [I cannot forbear to note this “Americanism”
in the text.] | discussion on these topics, I might have
doubted whether you ask this question in ignorance; but since we have
brought the matter to a conclusion by demonstration and with your assent,
I do not believe that you are ignorant of what I have just said, or
desire again mere contention, but that you are urging me to exhibit the
same proof to these men.” And in compliance with the assent
expressed in his eyes, I continued: “Again in Isaiah, if you have
ears to hear it, God, speaking of Christ in parable, calls Him Jacob and
Israel. He speaks thus: ‘Jacob is my servant, I will uphold Him;
Israel is mine elect, I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He shall bring
forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry, neither
shall any one hear His voice in the street: a bruised reed He shall not
break, and smoking flax He shall not quench; but He shall bring forth
judgment to truth: He shall shine,2431
| 2431 LXX. ἀναλάμψει,
as above. The reading of the text is ἀναληψει.
| and shall not be broken till He have set judgment on the earth.
And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.’2432
As therefore from the one man Jacob,
who was surnamed Israel, all your nation has been called Jacob and
Israel; so we from Christ, who begat us unto God, like Jacob, and Israel,
and Judah, and Joseph, and David, are called and are the true sons of
God, and keep the commandments of Christ.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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