2. Desiring to retain his attention, I answered in much

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Samaria in the parables. Now, even among you, none can deny that Damascus was, and is, a part of the land of Arabia, although it now belongs to Syro-Phoenicia. So it would be to your advantage, my friends, to learn what you do not understand from us Christians, who have received the grace of God, and not to exert every effort to defend your peculiar teachings and scorn those of God.

11. "Isaiah shows why this grace was given to us when he says, This people draws near me, with their lips they glorify me, but their heart is far from me. In vain they worship me, teaching the precepts and doctrines of men. Therefore, behold, I will proceed to remove this people, and I will transplant them. And I will take away the wisdom of their wise men, and will bring to naught the understanding of their prudent men."31 c h a p t e r 79 Then Trypho, becoming somewhat angry, yet retaining a great reverence for the Scriptures, as was clear from his countenance, said to me, "The words of God are indeed holy, but your interpretations are not only artiﬁcial, as is evident from those you have given, but evidently even blasphemous, for you afﬁrm that the angels have sinned and have apostatized from God."32

2. Desiring to retain his attention, I answered in much milder language, "Sir, I respect your piety, and I pray that you may feel the same way toward him whom the angels are said to serve, as Daniel says, One as the Son of Man is led to the Ancient of days, and all dominion is given to him forever and ever.33

"But, in order to show you, friend," said I, "that it was not presumption that induced us to formulate the interpretation which you blame, I would like to cite as evidence the words of Isaiah himself, who stated that the bad angels have dwelt and still dwell in the Egyptian city of Tanis. These are the words of Isaiah:

3. Woe to you, apostate children! Thus said the Lord: You have taken counsel, but not mine; and have made agreements, but not by my

31. Is 29.13–14. See Skarsaune, 57, 76, 98.

32. See Gn 6.2–4; 1 Apol. 5.2; 2 Apol. 5; Daniélou, 184.

33. Dn 7.13–14. See Skarsaune, 88–89, 204.

Justin, Martyr, Saint. Dialogue with Trypho (Selections from the Fathers of the Church, Volume 3), edited by Michael Slusser, Catholic University of America Press, 2003. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nottingham/de

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st. justin martyr spirit, that you might add sin upon sin; who walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, hoping for help in the strength of Pharaoh, and trusting in the shadow of Egypt. For the shadow of Pharaoh shall be a disgrace to you, and a reproach to those who trust in the Egyptians, for the rulers in Tanis are bad angels. In vain shall they toil with a people which will not help nor proﬁt them, but will be their shame and reproach.34

4. "Even Zechariah afﬁrms, as you yourself mentioned, that Satan stood at the right hand of Jesus [Joshua], the priest, to be his adversary. And the Lord said: The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you.35 Here is the testimony of Job (whom you also quoted): The angels came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.36

And in the beginning of the Book of Genesis, Moses writes that the serpent deceived Eve, and was thereupon cursed.37 Furthermore, we know that in Egypt there were magicians who tried to imitate the miraculous deeds performed by God through his faithful servant Moses.38 And as you well know, David said, The gods of the Gentiles are devils."39

34. Is 30.1–5.

35. Zec 3.1–2. See Skarsaune, 185, 310.

36. Jb 1.6; 2.1. See Skarsaune, 451.

37. See Gn 3.13–14.

38. See Ex 7.11–12.

39. Ps 95 (96).5. See Skarsaune, 213–14, 368–69; Daniélou, "Démons," Dictionnaire de spiritualité ascétique et mystique (Paris: Beauchesne, 1933– ) 3.152–89.

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