4. Then, as if in an auditorium, some of those who had ar-

The Gentiles as God's new people

c h a p t e r 122 "In your view the passage just quoted refers to the stranger29 and the proselyte, but in reality it refers to us Christians, who have been enlightened by Jesus. Certainly, Christ could have mentioned them too, but, as he himself afﬁrmed, You now become double sons of hell.30 Therefore, the prophet also does not speak of them, but of us, of whom the Holy Scripture testiﬁes, I will lead the blind into the way which they know not. And in the paths which they were ignorant of I will make them walk.31 And I am witness, said the Lord God, and my servant whom I have chosen.32

2. "To whom, then, does Christ give this testimony? Obviously, to those who have believed. But, the proselytes not only do not believe, but they blaspheme his name twice as much as you do and they, too, strive to torture and kill us who believe in him, for they endeavor to follow your example in everything.

3. "And in another place he exclaims, I the Lord have called you in justice, and will take you by the hand, and strengthen you, and I will give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, and to lead forth the prisoner out of prison.33

These words, also, gentlemen, have been spoken of Christ and concern the enlightened Gentiles. Or do you again assert that he speaks these things of the Law and the proselytes?"

4. Then, as if in an auditorium, some of those who had arrived on the second day started to heckle, "Why not? Does he not mean the Law and those who were enlightened by it? These surely are the proselytes."

5. "No," I replied, looking straight at Trypho, "for, if the Law had the power to enlighten the Gentiles and all those who possess it, what need would there be for a new covenant? But, since

God foretold that he would send a new testament, and an eternal law and commandment, we should not apply the above29. Ghovran. Justin seems to use this word as synonymous with proshvluto"

(proselyte), which in this context refers to a Gentile who becomes a Jew.

30. Mt 23.15.

31. Is 42.16, 7.

32. Is 43.10.

33. Is 42.6–7. See Skarsaune, 62, 348–49: "a Christianized version of a Jewish proselyte tradition."

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 quoted passage to the Old Law and its proselytes, but to Christ and his proselytes, that is, us Gentiles whom he has enlightened, as he says somewhere, Thus said the Lord: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you; and I gave you to be a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, and to inherit the deserted.34

6. "Who, then, is the inheritance of Christ? Is it not the Gentiles? Who is the covenant of God? Is it not Christ? So he states elsewhere in Scripture, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.

Ask of me, and I will give you the Gentiles for your inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for your possession.35 c h a p t e r 123 "Now, since all these passages refer to Christ and the Gentiles, you should concede that those others do also. For your proselytes have no need of a new covenant, since, as one and the same Law binds all who are circumcised, Scripture speaks of them as follows: And the stranger also shall be joined to them, and shall adhere to the house of Jacob.36 Second, a proselyte is circumcised in order to be incorporated into the body of your people like a native-born,37 but we who are deemed worthy of being called a people are likewise Gentiles because we are uncircumcised.

2. "Besides, it is even ridiculous for you to believe that the eyes of your proselytes are opened, but that your own eyes are not; and that you should be called blind and deaf, but they, enlightened. And it will be still more ridiculous if you assert that the Law was given to the Gentiles, but that you yourselves do not know that Law.

3 "For, you would have feared the wrath of God, and would not have been lawless and wandering children,38 but frightened to hear him say repeatedly, Faithless children,39 and, Who is blind,

34. Is 49.8; 2 Cor 6.2. See Skarsaune, 99, 349.

35. Ps 2.7–8. Skarsaune, 103.

36. Is 14.1 (non-LXX). See Skarsaune, 349 n 255: "Justin and Trypho are competing missionaries, Jewish proselytism is a main antagonist for Justin."

37. But on the inequality of converts, see M. Bikkurim 1.4–5 and Shaye J. D.

Cohen, 308–40.

38. See Is 57.3–4.

39. Dt 32.20.

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The Gentiles as God's new people

but my servants? And deaf, but they who rule over them? And the servants of God are blind. You have seen often, but have not observed; your ears were opened, and you have not heard.40

4. "Is God's praise of you good? And is God's testimony ﬁtting for his servants? Even though you hear the same words often, you are not ashamed, nor do you tremble when God threatens, for you are a foolish and hard-hearted people.41

Therefore, behold, said the Lord, I will proceed to remove this people, and I will remove them, and I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will hide the understanding of the prudent.42 And rightly so. For you are neither wise nor understanding, but sly and treacherous; wise only for evil actions, but utterly unﬁtted to know the hidden will of God, or the trustworthy covenant of the Lord, or to ﬁnd the everlasting paths.43

5. "For this reason he says, I will raise up to Israel and Judah a seed of men and a seed of beasts.44 And through Isaiah he speaks thus of another Israel: On that day shall Israel be third among the Assyrians and the Egyptians, blessed in the land which the Lord of Hosts blessed, saying: Blessed shall my people be who are in Egypt, and who are among the Assyrians, and my inheritance, Israel.45

6. "Since God blesses and calls this people Israel, and announces aloud that it is his inheritance, why do you not feel compunction both for fooling yourselves by imagining that you alone are the people of Israel, and for cursing the people whom

God has blessed? Indeed, when he spoke to Jerusalem and its surrounding communities, he said, And I will beget men upon you, my people Israel, and they shall inherit you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no more be bereaved by them of children."46

7. "Do you mean to say," asked Trypho, "that you are Israel, and that God says all this about you?"

"If," I answered, "we had not already discussed this question from every angle, I might think that your question was prompted by your ignorance, but since, to prove this point, I offered arguments to which you agreed, I cannot believe that your

40. Is 42.19–20.

41. See Jer 4.22; Ezek 3.7.

42. See Is 29.14.

43. See Jer 4.22; 6.16; Is 55.3.

44. Jer 38 (31).27.

45. Is 19.24–25.

46. Ezek 36.12.

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