Chp.60 - The One Track Mind Of God

“I shall give you another testimony, my friends,” said I, “from the Scriptures, that God begat before all creatures a Beginning,4 [who was] a certain rational power [proceeding] from Himself, who is called by the Holy Spirit, now the Glory of the Lord, now the Son, again Wisdom, again an Angel, then God, and then Lord and Logos; and on another occasion He calls Himself Captain, when He appeared in human form to Joshua the son of Nave (Nun). For He can be called by all those names, since He ministers *to the Father’s will*, and since He was begotten of the Father by an act of *will*;5 just as we see6 happening among ourselves: for when we give out some word, we beget the word; yet not by abscission, so as to lessen the word7 [which remains] in us, when we give it out: and just as we see also happening in the case of a fire, which is not lessened when it has kindled [another], but remains the same; and that which has been kindled by it likewise appears to exist by itself, not diminishing that from which it was kindled. 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. 227). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

Justin wants Trypho to see the Wisdom of God in the Only begotten Son. He does this by pointing to a passage where he believes Solomon, controlled by the Holy Spirit, writes as a witness of creation. Justin quotes a portion of Proverbs chapter 8 where the Holy Spirit is witness to the begetting of this Word in the created order (Gen.1:2-3). But we should take careful notice how Justin aims to explain this to Trypho, whose mind is not made to accept this understanding. So in correlation to the burning bush passage, in which the bush was not consumed by the nature of the fire and glory of the Angel's appearance, we are to understand Justin's response to Trypho's resistance in the backdrop of this scene. In other words, creation is the bush that was engulfed in the flame of the Lord and yet was not consumed by the mercy of the nature the Lord's eternal existence--I AM WHO I AM (Rom.9:15). Justin explains further that the nature of this flame is self-existent, even as the nature of the Begetter. In other words, they have one and the same will. Though this Wisdom and Word is distinct in the role of the created order each witness (person) has one will. Each person acts in the begotten function in one perfect unity and will. God is not a Father for the Son and for the Holy Spirit, but for the created order in which the nature of the Holy Spirit shall rest, as in the witness of Solomon when he pens (according to Justin's Greek Septuagint): Proverbs 8:21–32 (Brenton LXX En) 21 that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember also to recount the things of old. 22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works. 23 He established me before time was in the beginning, before he made the earth: 24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth: 25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me. 26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited tracts, and the highest inhabited parts of the world. 27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds: 28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth: 29 and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth: 30 I was by him, suiting myself to him, I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually. 31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men. 32 Now then, my son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways; [vs.33 is missing from the Septuagint] 34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances. 35 For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favour from the Lord. 36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death. Before I speak more on Justin's intentions I want to note that verse 33, though missing from Justin's parchment/the Septuagint, doesn't bear reproach on the understanding of Solomon nor the Holy Spirit's intent. But let's look at Justin's intentions for quoting this eternal truth (and perspective). Justin begins with verse 21 to bring the mind Trypho back to the Genesis account. But the context out of which Justin quotes is how God "divided" the "substance" unto men. The ESV uses the word "inheritance" but the Hebrew is most likely signifying the Spirit who is the inheritance of those who love the LORD (Lk.11:13;Matt.7:11).

From the "beginning" this is how the infinite Holy Spirit was to be "given" unto the children of men. Divided isn't a good word to be used here, as the unlearned may assume that the Holy Spirit may be divided, because the Spirit cannot be divided in substance but in function; for God made them male and female, in the image of God He created (Him)(the distinction and functions of the Holy Spirit)(Gen.1:27). This shows, however, that when Yahweh made 'man' he was made in "Our" image and likeness, that is to say "in Christ/in Wisdom/in the Word/it is Written (Gen.1:26;Phil.4:3;Rev.3:5;13:8;17:8;20:12,15;21:27;22:19)." Therefore, this is a created order "begotten" of Yahweh. But we must understand that the nature and substance of Yahweh--I AM WHO I AM--has eternally existed before the created order was made (Jn.8:58). And therefore, Justin explains to Trypho that the substance of the fire was equal to that of the Almighty Father, though eternally distinct, as one person, unto us for the order of creation in the Son (Matt.22:2;Col.1:13). And therefore the Holy Spirit who is the eternal Witness "calls/names" Him--the Christ--"now" the Glory of the LORD, the Son, and again Wisdom, and Angel, God, LORD and Logos(Word), and even Captain. Christ is all these 'titled functions' but one person of the same substance of Yahweh, as Justin explains fire begets fire and changes not in substance; and so we are transformed/translated into this substance when we are not consumed of the LORD for His eternal glory, even as the bush of creation was not consumed.

And so Justin uses the eternal Witness of Solomon to open Trypho's eyes to behold the Triune Creator of the earth, as the Christ was eye witness, and actively creating with the Father, and all who hear the Spirit's voice bear witness to the inheritance of the saints (Prov.8:36).