Chp.68 - Justin Disappointed By The Bad Faith Of The Jews

And Trypho said, “You endeavour to prove an incredible and well-nigh impossible thing; [namely], that God endured to be born and become man.” “If I undertook,” said I, “to prove this by doctrines or arguments of man, you should not bear with me. But if I quote frequently Scriptures, and so many of them, referring to this point, and ask you to comprehend them, you are hard-hearted in the recognition of the mind and will of God. But if you wish to remain for ever so, I would not be injured at all; and for ever retaining the same [opinions] which I had before I met with you, I shall leave you.” 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. 232). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin is right to say that he would not be eternally injured by the unbelief of Trypho yet is wrong to leave him with the idea that he has no sorrow of heart and anguish of soul for the thought of the Jews perishing in unbelief and in their objection to the clear teaching of the Word. Justin should also express his hatred and disgust of the Jews misrepresentation and twisting of the Word of the LORD, whose name they were called to bear up. So, Justin is doing right by seeking peace and not plowing again to only be left for dead in his own ditch. Nevertheless, he should not compromise the teaching of the holiness of God without which no one will see the Lord (Heb.12:14). The Jews have been built up on the lies of their father the devil and wish carry out his will, having no regard for eternal life in the Name of God (Jn.8:44). Because of this they are under a greater judgment having been given the oracles of God (Rom.3:2;James 3:1).

And Trypho said, “Look, my friend, you made yourself master of these [truths] with much labour and toil.1 And we accordingly must diligently scrutinize all that we meet with, in order to give our assent to those things which the Scriptures compel us [to believe].” Then I said to this, “I do not ask you not to strive earnestly by all means, in making an investigation of the matters inquired into; but [I ask you], when you have nothing to say, not to contradict those things which you said you had admitted.” And Trypho said, “So we shall endeavour to do.” 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. 232). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Nevertheless, Trypho continues to flatter Justin on the premise of the authority and infallibility of the Scriptures, yet Trypho is not willing to concede that his personal understanding is enslaved to the inherited idolatry of his fathers. Until he is able to come to the Scriptures apart from the idols of his heart God will not hear his desire to learn of the Spirit's understanding. Ezekiel 14:1–11 (NKJV) 1 Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? 4 “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, 5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” ’ 6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him by Myself. 8 I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. 9 “And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the Lord have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired, 11 that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God,” says the Lord God.’ ” Romans 8:13–17 (NKJV) 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. If we are going to reason with God it must be through the atonement of Christ, and in full confidence that he is the embodiment of truth and grace to glorify us with nature of the Spirit of God, apart from which we cannot know God (Isa.1:18;Jn.6:44-45;14:6;15:26;16:25).

I continued again: “In addition to the questions I have just now put to you, I wish to put more: for by means of these questions I shall strive to bring the discourse to a speedy termination.” And Trypho said, “Ask the questions.” Then I said, “Do you think that any other one is said to be worthy of worship and called Lord and God in the Scriptures, except the Maker of all, and Christ, who by so many Scriptures was proved to you to have become man?” And Trypho replied, “How can we admit this, when we have instituted so great an inquiry as to whether there is any other than the Father alone?” Then I again said, “I must ask you this also, that I may know whether or not you are of a different opinion from that which you admitted some time ago.”2 He replied, “It is not, sir.” Then again I, “Since you certainly admit these things, and since Scripture says, ‘Who shall declare His generation?’ ought you not now to suppose that He is not the seed of a human race?” 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. 232). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

Justin is calling Trypho to remember his previous agreements that the Scriptures teach that God is one essence and substance in Spirit, but functions in three persons, and acts according to one Divine will and purpose on behalf of the creation, working together in each personal function to perfect those of the glorious race and body of heaven. But in order to perfect this body of elect the Christ cannot be merely the seed of the human race, as it was made in sin (Ps.51:5;Rom.5:12-21); or he would not be able to be the fulfillment of the law's demands which stand against the human race (Col.2:14;1Tim.1:9), as opposed to the contemporary Jewish tradition which taught that the Hebrew law made the Jews the highest race of men. And Trypho said, “How then does the Word say to David, that out of his loins God shall take to Himself a Son, and shall establish His kingdom, and shall set Him on the throne of His glory?” And I said, “Trypho, if the prophecy which Isaiah uttered, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive,’ is said not to the house of David, but to another house of the twelve tribes, perhaps the matter would have some difficulty; but since this prophecy refers to the house of David, Isaiah has explained how that which was spoken by God to David in mystery would take place. But perhaps you are not aware of this, my friends, that there were many sayings written obscurely, or parabolically, or mysteriously, and symbolical actions, which the prophets who lived after the persons who said or did them expounded.” “Assuredly,” said Trypho. “If therefore, I shall show that this prophecy of Isaiah refers to our Christ, and not to Hezekiah, as you say, shall I not in this matter, too, compel you not to believe your teachers, who venture to assert that the explanation which your seventy elders that were with Ptolemy the king of the Egyptians gave, is untrue in certain respects? For some statements in the Scriptures, which appear explicitly to convict them of a foolish and vain opinion, these they venture to assert have not been so written. 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, pp. 232–233). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin has labored hard to expound the Scriptures to Trypho and his friends, but Trypho is enslaved to the traditions that offer no revelation and salvation in the attributes of God. God cannot be known in them, as they teach men to be moral, but this, apart from the Spirit of the living God. All these traditions can do is create idolators and profane worshipers of the doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1–5 (NKJV) 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Traditions create a religious practice for an external form of the inward evil nature of man, void of the Spirit of God. These are not humans made in the image of God, but sinners made in the image of the serpent's lie and deception. Their minds are conceived through the doctrines of demons who prey on the fleshly nature of man in the jealousy of their prideful exaltation over the pleasures and joys of the human nature. These demons seek to destroy mankind through the corruption of flesh and blood, baptizing them into sin and destruction.

But other statements, which they fancy they can distort and harmonize with human actions,1 these, they say, refer not to this Jesus Christ of ours, but to him of whom they are pleased to explain them. Thus, for instance, they have taught you that this Scripture which we are now discussing refers to Hezekiah, . . . And since they are compelled, they agree that some Scriptures which we mention to them, and which expressly prove that Christ was to suffer, to be worshipped, and [to be called] God, and which I have already recited to you, do refer indeed to Christ, but they venture to assert that this man is not Christ. 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. 233). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. The error which leads the Jews into this death is a faith that man is exalted to a position in which he chooses who the Christ shall be, rather than seeking to understand the Word of God which has chosen and revealed already who the Christ is (Heb.11:6). Therefore, this is a matter of authority and whose authority shall be submitted to in order to establish the truth. Will the seeker of the key of knowledge, also known as the key of David, objectively use the mercy of human reason to build themselves upon the graceful superiority of the Spirit's reasoning and infallible authority (Lk.11:52;Isa.22:22;Rev.3:7;Jude 20-23)? Therefore, until Trypho confesses in his heart that the Scriptures supersede all human reasoning he cannot obtain peace with God, for these very Scriptures stand against him (Phil.4:7)! Will they stand against you, too? Romans 8:31 (NKJV) 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 1 John 3:18–24 (NKJV) 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and *in truth.* 19 And by this we know that we are *of the truth,* and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in *His sight.* 23 And *this is* His commandment: that we should *believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ* and *love one another,* as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And *by this we know* that He abides in us, *by the Spirit* whom He has given us.