Chp.54 - What The Blood Of Grape Signifies

Justin labors in this chapter to demonstrate that this man who literally bled in bodily form did not sacrifice his soul for the peace of this world (Matt.16:26), but in every way remained in the holy, harmless, and undefiled form of the Spirit of God, in the inner "person" of his "uncreated" soul (Heb.7:26). This man, though veiled by flesh and blood, was Yahweh of very Yahweh in the eternal existence of his being. This man was not "only human" but lived in the power of the resurrection and life of his glorious nature (Jn.11:25), which was his with his Father before the world was fashioned by his own hands, written now to us in flesh and in blood (Jn.1:14). Justin wants Trypho to recall the purpose for which God instituted the nation of his people. The blood of Christ, which is the crushed grape of Israel's vine, is the power of God for her salvation and she must look upon him, literally, out of the murderous nature of her existence (Rev.1:7;Rom.1:16).

“And that expression which was committed to writing3 by Moses, and prophesied by the patriarch Jacob, namely, ‘He shall wash His garments with wine, and His vesture with the blood of the grape,’ signified that He would wash those that believe in Him with His own blood. For the Holy Spirit called those who receive remission of sins through Him, His garments; amongst whom He is always present in power, but will be manifestly present at His second coming. That the Scripture mentions the blood of the grape has been evidently designed, because Christ derives blood not from the seed of man, but from the power of God. For as God, and not man, has produced the blood of the vine, so also [the Scripture] has predicted that the blood of Christ would be not of the seed of man, but of the power of God. But this prophecy, sirs, which I repeated, proves that Christ is not man of men, begotten in the ordinary course of humanity.” Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 222). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin is laboring vigorously to show that Israel's rescue, individually, and nationally, doesn't come apart from a submission to the crucified King of the Jews. The new commandment is for this nation (the whole of them) to take up their cross and follow the Christ; and the sign of her repentance (as a whole) comes when the two prophets are risen and sent specifically to draw back the veil of Christ's flesh and blood (Rev.11:3). Then no longer will God speak metaphorically to Israel, but will speak to Israel face to face, as he comes in glory with the host of heaven.

Chp.55 - Trypho Confused About The Nature Of God

And Trypho answered, “We shall remember this your exposition, if you strengthen [your solution of] this difficulty by other arguments: but now resume the discourse, and show us that the Spirit of prophecy admits another God besides the Maker of all things, taking care not to speak of the sun and moon, which, it is written,4 God has given to the nations to worship as gods; and oftentimes the prophets, employing5 this manner of speech, say that ‘thy God is a God of gods, and a Lord of lords,’ adding frequently, ‘the great and strong and terrible [God].’ For such expressions are used, not as if they really were gods, but because the Scripture is teaching us that the true God, who made all things, is Lord alone of those who are reputed gods and lords. . . . Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 222). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

Trypho not having a good understanding of the Triune nature of God has left him in confusion as to what the Scriptures teach about those who are called gods through the decree of Yahweh. Believers are a new creation by the unification of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is not a creation, yet has regenerated man into one new man called the church filled with this one Spirit. Old Testament terms describes these believers as gods to whom the Word of God came (Jn.10:35). It was the Word of God that made these (mere men) gods, but because of the heathen nations the term is often confused because of the idolatry of the pagan's understanding, which "corrupted" the understanding of the sons of Israel in her captivities (1Cor.15:33) and led away to do the will of the pagan's demonic idols.

. . . And in order that the Holy Spirit may convince [us] of this, He said by the holy David, ‘The gods of the nations, reputed gods, are idols of demons, and not gods;’6 and He denounces a curse on those who worship them.” And I replied, “I would not bring forward these proofs, Trypho, by which I am aware those who worship these [idols] and such like are condemned, but such [proofs] as no one could find any objection to. They will appear strange to you, although you read them every day; so that even from this fact we7 understand that, because of your wickedness, God has withheld from you the ability to discern the wisdom of His Scriptures; yet [there are] some exceptions, to whom, according to the grace of His long-suffering, as Isaiah said, He has left a seed of8 salvation, lest your race be utterly destroyed, like Sodom and Gomorrah. Pay attention, therefore, to what I shall record out of the holy Scriptures, which9 do not need to be expounded, but only listened to. Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 222). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Therefore, we as Christians must worship "in God", which is to say in the Holy Spirit. We sing Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty. There is none besides Thee. This is to say with the understanding that God does not recognize the false gods of the nations. They are not in God or in His redemptive plan. The God of gods has a people (a race if you will) out of all nations, tribes, and tongues that are made after this one new man, as a new creation in the Holy Spirit who worship Yahweh in truth.