Chapter XCIV.—In what sense he who
hangs on a tree is cursed.
“For
tell me, was it not God who commanded by Moses that no image or likeness
of anything which was in heaven above or which was on the earth should be
made, and yet who caused the brazen serpent to be made by Moses in the
wilderness, and set it up for a sign by which those bitten by serpents
were saved? Yet is He free from unrighteousness. For by this, as I
previously remarked, He proclaimed the mystery, by which He declared that
He would break the power of the serpent which occasioned the
transgression of Adam, and [would bring] to them that believe on Him [who
was foreshadowed] by this sign, i.e., Him who was to be crucified,
salvation from the fangs of the serpent, which are wicked deeds,
idolatries, and other unrighteous acts. Unless the matter be so
understood, give me a reason why Moses set up the brazen serpent for a
sign, and bade those that were bitten gaze at it, and the wounded were
healed; and this, too, when he had himself commanded that no likeness of
anything whatsoever should be made.”
On this, another of those who came on the second day
said, “You have spoken truly: we cannot give a reason. For I have
frequently interrogated the teachers about this matter, and none of them
gave me a reason: therefore continue what you are speaking; for we are
paying attention while you unfold the mystery, on account of which the
doctrines of the prophets are falsely slandered.”
Then I replied, “Just as God
commanded the sign to be made by the brazen serpent, and yet He is
blameless; even so, though a curse lies in the law against persons who
are crucified, yet no curse lies on the Christ of God, by whom all that
have committed things worthy of a curse are saved.2314
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