96. Further, the text in the law Cursed is everyone who
than others and some less.
But if those who are under the law appear to be liable to this curse because they have not observed everything, will not the Gentiles appear to be far more liable to the curse, for they commit idolatry and homosexuality and indulge in other evil practices?
So if the Father of the universe willed that his own Christ should take on himself the curses of all on behalf of men from every race, knowing that when he had been crucified and had died he would raise him up, why do you argue as if he who submitted to such suffering according to the Father's will was accursed, and not rather lament for yourselves?
For even if his Father and he himself brought about his suffering of these things for the human race, it was not in obedience to the counsel of God that you did this; for when you murdered the prophets you were not practising true religion.
Let none of you say, If the Father willed him to suffer in this way, so that healing by his stripe! should come to the human race, we have done nothing wrong.
If indeed you produce 'this argument after repenting for your sinful acts and recognizing that this is the Christ and observing his commandments, I have already said that forgiveness of your sins will be available for you.
But if you anathematize him and those who believe in him and murder them when you have the power to do so, how can punishment for having laid hands on him fail to be exacted from you as people who are in the wrong and sinners and altogether hard-hearted and devoid of understanding?
96.
Further, the text in the law Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree? nerves us to a hope which hangs upon the crucified Christ, for we do not believe that God cursed this crucified man, but rather that God foretold what you and people like you would do, for you did not understand that this man has existed before all things and is destined to be
Misa. 53:5.
*Deut. 21:23.