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| Chapter LXXIX.—He proves against Trypho that the wicked angels have revolted from God.
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Chapter LXXIX.—He proves against
Trypho that the wicked angels have revolted from God.
On this,
Trypho, who was somewhat angry, but respected the Scriptures, as was
manifest from his countenance, said to me, “The utterances of God
are holy, but your expositions are mere contrivances, as is plain from
what has been explained by you; nay, even blasphemies, for you assert
that angels sinned and revolted from God.”
And I, wishing to get him to listen to me, answered in
milder tones, thus: “I admire, sir, this piety of yours; and I pray
that you may entertain the same disposition towards Him to whom angels
are recorded to minister, as Daniel says; for [one] like the Son of man
is led to the Ancient of days, and every kingdom is given to Him for ever
and ever. But that you may know, sir,” continued I, “that it
is not our audacity which has induced us to adopt this exposition, which
you reprehend, I shall give you evidence from Isaiah himself; for he
affirms that evil angels have dwelt and do dwell in Tanis, in Egypt.
These are [his] words: ‘Woe to the rebellious children! Thus saith
the Lord, You have taken counsel, but not through Me; and [made]
agreements, but not through My Spirit, to add sins to sins; who have
sinned2250
| 2250 LXX. “who
walk,” πορευόμενοι for
πονηρευόμενοι.
| in going down to Egypt (but they have not inquired at Me), that
they may be assisted by Pharaoh, and be covered with the shadow of the
Egyptians. For the shadow of Pharaoh shall be a disgrace to you, and a
reproach to those who trust in the Egyptians; for the princes in
Tanis2251
are evil angels. In vain will they labour
for a people which will not profit them by assistance, but [will be] for
a disgrace and a reproach [to them].’2252
And, further, Zechariah tells, as you
yourself have related, that the devil stood on the right hand of Joshua
the priest, to resist him; and [the Lord] said, ‘The Lord, who has
taken2253
| 2253 ἐκδεξάμενος;
in chap. cxv. inf. it is ἐκλεξάμενος.
| Jerusalem, rebuke thee.’2254
And
again, it is written in Job,2255
as you said
yourself, how that the angels came to stand before the Lord, and the
devil came with them. And we have it recorded by Moses in the beginning
of Genesis, that the serpent beguiled Eve, and was cursed. And we know
that in Egypt there were magicians who emulated2256
| 2256 Maranus suggests the insertion of
ἐποίησαν or
ἐπείρασαν before
ἐξισοῦσθαι.
| the mighty power displayed by God through the faithful servant
Moses. And you are aware that David said, ‘The gods of the nations
are demons.’ ”2257
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