Chp.57 - A Question With No Definitive Answer

"Then Trypho said when I was silent, “That Scripture compels us to admit this, is manifest; but there is a matter about which we are deservedly at a loss—namely, about what was said to the effect that [the Lord] ate what was prepared and placed before him by Abraham; and you would admit this.” I answered, “It is written that they ate; and if we believe2 that it is said the three ate, and not the two alone—who were really angels, and are nourished in the heavens, as is evident to us, even though they are not nourished by food similar to that which mortals use—(for, concerning the sustenance of manna which supported your fathers in the desert, Scripture speaks thus, that they ate angels’ food): [if we believe that three ate], then I would say that the Scripture which affirms they ate bears the same meaning as when we would say about fire that it has devoured all things; yet it is not certainly understood that they ate, masticating with teeth and jaws. So that not even here should we be at a loss about anything, if we are acquainted even slightly with figurative modes of expression, and able to rise above them.”" 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. 225). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin answers this by changing the subject to what matters most and to redirect Trypho's question toward asking it aright. As long as Trypho continues asking the questions that bring into question the divinity of Jesus as the Lord and Christ of God, there will be no satisfaction of the spirit of his unregenerate mind. Even Justin understands that he (himself) must grow into Biblical theology by which his own mind increases in the knowledge of God.

Therefore, Justin knows that the Scriptures have come to us progressively in the course of the Lord's Providence. So then in the same way the human mind must take in the eternal and immutable truths of God, progressively. So Justin answering, " . . . if we believe that three ate . . .," he is humbly answering Trypho that he doesn't possess all the answers. Nevertheless, also, in humble fashion, attempts to answer Trypho anyway based on what he has attained thus far of what he knows is true. It's like saying, "I'm not a sufficient source, but this is what I do know."

So what he knows is that the food of the Lord is to serve, like the angels who were sent into Sodom to investigate the righteousness of the public square. But more specifically, the quoting of Psalm 78, as Asaph recollects how the children of Israel ate the manna of heaven in the wilderness, Justin is attempting to show the point of eating with them is not to know the how but the purpose for eating with Abraham. The how is what leads to their judgment, but the why leads to their satisfaction. Psalm 78:23–35 (NKJV) 23 Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven, 24 Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. 25 Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full. 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind. 27 He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; 28 And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. 29 So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire. 30 They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths, 31 The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel. 32 In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works. 33 Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear. 34 When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. 35 Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. In other words, the answer to the how is in the why. Without first understanding the purpose of the Lord eating with Abraham, the how of eating cannot be answered honestly. Abraham was having true face to face communion with the Lord, and in "literally" eating bread cakes, a tender calf with milk and butter, the Lord is expressing his purpose in coming to Abraham (Heb.11:6). It was to reveal more of the character and nature of his eternal existence. While Abraham was "literally" having face to face communion with only faithful and true mediator between God and man--the Lord Jesus Christ--Sodom and Gomorrah was wasting the Lord's graces on personal pleasure, having no desire to know the heart and glory of God their Creator. They were literally living for themselves, taking in his mercies from heaven, and denying his righteous judgment over them. So the Lord finishes them off to express his own glory upon his chosen vessel of mercy--Abraham (Rom.9:21-24). The how is then answered in the why of which these people of the twin cities were destroyed. They were destroyed because of how they swallowed the Lord's mercies and ate from the scraps of His Table.

And Justin quoting to Trypho the 78th Psalm expresses the how of which the children of Israel partook of the bread of heaven and were destroyed (Ps.78:1-4), but now through the Lord Jesus Christ extends mercy (to the present) generations of Israel if they step out of the shadow the cross and into the marvelous light of the mediation of Yahweh's chosen bread of heaven (Jn.3:19-21); for his food was to do the will of his Father, in perfection, to save His people from their sins (Matt.1:21). In the "light" of the cross is where the shadow's mystery is revealed. No longer can the sayings of old be observed as metaphors or merely parables but as literal history that points forward to, from our perspective, the historical foundation of all truth in the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, Justin answers with figurative language because Trypho isn't ready to take in the literal and full justice of God (1Cor.2:7;11:26-29;Rom.11:25).

"And Trypho said, “It is possible that [the question] about the mode of eating may be thus explained: [the mode, that is to say,] in which it is written, they took and ate what had been prepared by Abraham: so that you may now proceed to explain to us how this God who appeared to Abraham, and is minister to God the Maker of all things, being born of the Virgin, became man, of like passions with all, as you said previously.” Then I replied, “Permit me first, Trypho, to collect some other proofs on this head, so that you, by the large number of them, may be persuaded of [the truth of] it, and thereafter I shall explain what you ask.” And he said, “Do as seems good to you; for I shall be thoroughly pleased.”" 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. 225). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin's answer has its proper cause and effect. It leads Trypho to move on to the more important question and grants Justin the grace to have extended communion in the Lord's mercies to Trypho, not leading to his imminent judgment of God; for the Spirit's intercession has taken control of Justin's love of God compelling him to walk another mile with Trypho's ignorance of God's Word (2Cor.5:14). For had Trypho known the Scriptures he would have known that the angels' food was to destroy those who question the Lord's sovereign right as the Potter over the clay. Thus, metaphorically (in the present), but literally eating to his own future and eternal destruction (Mk.6:11;2Pet.2:6).