Chp.76 - Christ Is The Wisdom And Power Of God

“For when Daniel speaks of ‘one like unto the Son of man’ who received the everlasting kingdom, does he not hint at this very thing? For he declares that, in saying ‘like unto the Son of man,’ He appeared, and was man, but not of human seed. And the same thing he proclaimed in mystery when he speaks of this stone which was cut out without hands. For the expression ‘it was cut out without hands’ signified that it is not a work of man, but [a work] of the will of the Father and God of all things, who brought Him forth." 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. 236). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin is continuing his arguments to make the case that Christ was to first come in the likeness of man, but to hold on to the fact that this man will not be shaped or led by the will of man. Therefore, the necessity of coming in the flesh, but not being conceived by the flesh, is essential to the identity of the promised Christ. So Justin uses the words of the prophet Daniel to sharpen the case for the necessity of the virgin birth. In other words, the phrase "like unto the Son of man" signifies the title of his deity and preeminence over man, but has come first through humiliation in the likeness/appearance of man, yet not born of human seed, for he comes again in a more glorious likeness. This man, though dying as a man of humiliation (Ps.82:7), will come again in the likeness of glory to signify his dominion, not only over heaven, but over what remains of the earth, and this dominion will continue even after the present heavens and earth pass away (Matt.5:18;24:35;Mk.13:31;Lk.16:17;31:33). We know Justin to understand it this way because of what he says next. "For the expression ‘it was cut out without hands’ signified that it is not a work of man, but [a work] of the will of the Father and God of all things, who brought Him forth." 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. 236). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin is basically saying that this man, Jesus of Nazareth, is he whom the Father cut out of the rock (the dead kingdom) of this world to demonstrate that works of the LORD are perfect (Deut.32:4), and whose works shall endure forever, in spite of the evil works of man which has corrupted the Father's creation, who is also like a rock but will be ground to powder (Ex.32:20;Matt.21:44;Lk.20:18). Daniel 2:31–36 (NKJV) 31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. Daniel 2:44–45 (NKJV) 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” The dominion of this man in the fullness of his glory will be ruled with 'a rod of iron' as the prophet Daniel promised; for as in verse 43 of Daniel 2 the iron will not mix with the clay feet of this earthly kingdom, but will utterly destroy the prince of this earthly darkness in the light of his perfect coming. Therefore, Justin was clearly a premillennialist and understood how the LORD shall take dominion of the dark kingdoms of this wayward domain called the 'kosmos' (Jn.3:16,19). Isaiah 11:4 (NKJV) 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NKJV) 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. "And when Isaiah says, ‘Who shall declare His generation?’ he meant that His descent could not be declared. Now no one who is a man of men has a descent that cannot be declared. And when Moses says that He will wash His garments in the blood of the grape, does not this signify what I have now often told you is an obscure prediction, namely, that He had blood, but not from men; just as not man, but God, has begotten the blood of the vine?" 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. 236). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin then directs Trypho's attention to Isaiah's statement concerning the sufferings of this man, who is 'crucified' king and God of the Jews, but whose human blood is poured out to declare the fellowship of the sufferings of this man's generation. Justin argues, however, that Isaiah means that his 'descent' could not be declared, but I would say that this is only a half truth, because Justin is only making the point, here, that this Christ is more than a man of blood, but on the greater emphasis of his deity, calling this man's blood "the blood of the grape," as it signifies the life giving power of its efficacy. Nevertheless, I want to add that this man's generation, as Isaiah also intended to mean, can be declared in the very power of the blood of Christ's efficacy. The fact that Justin stands justified through faith in this man's blood is a declaration of this man's generation; for all those who believe in his holy Name are generated by the power of his death and resurrection to a holy witness (a declaration if you will) of his holy generation of eternal life. Looking, then, at this declaration, through the eyes of Trypho, we are confronted with Justin's statement against the Jews, who believed that they are superior to the nations because of their 'descent' from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Justin makes the statement that only those who are 'cut out of the rock' of this man's flesh and washed with this man's blood are those who shall be well pleasing to the perfect eyes of the Father. In other words, the Jews who are trusting in the works of the men of their family heritage will not be found acceptable in the sight of God. Only those who are of this man's generation (born again) shall be observed justified in the Father's glory and everlasting kingdom. "And when Isaiah calls Him the Angel of mighty counsel,8 did he not foretell Him to be the Teacher of those truths which He did teach when He came [to earth]? For He alone taught openly those mighty counsels which the Father designed both for all those who have been and shall be well-pleasing to Him, and also for those who have rebelled against His will, whether men or angels, when He said: ‘They shall come from the east [and from the west9], and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness.’10 And, ‘Many shall say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not eaten, and drunk, and prophesied, and cast out demons in Thy name? And I will say to them, Depart from Me.’11 Again, in other words, by which He shall condemn those who are unworthy of salvation, He said, ‘Depart into outer darkness, which the Father has prepared for Satan and his, angels.’12 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. 236). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

Who shall be cast out this future kingdom which is promised, yes, even to the Jews? It shall be those who have corrupted the promises of the eternal Word! Why, therefore, in the spirit of Justin, will we, like the Judaizers of this period, remove "the Wood" from which the Christ reigns from the heart of Jerusalem? Why would we remove that efficacy which covers us from eternal destruction? Indeed, this man of Nazareth made an everlasting statement against these Judaizers! He promised to tear down every stone that these 'builders' placed to confine the glory of the LORD, but, nevertheless, the temple of LORD is made without hands (1Kgs.8:27)! Mark 14:58 (NKJV) 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” Mark 13:2 (NKJV) 2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Romans 10:14 (NKJV) 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And again, in other words, He said, ‘I give unto you power to tread on serpents, and on scorpions, and on scolopendras, and on all the might of the enemy.’13 And now we, who believe on our Lord Jesus, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, when we exorcise all demons and evil spirits, have them subjected to us. For if the prophets declared obscurely that Christ would suffer, and thereafter be Lord of all, yet that [declaration] could not be understood by any man until He Himself persuaded the apostles that such statements were expressly related in the Scriptures. 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. 236). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

In other words, Justin says, "Listen to our generation! We, that is those who are of the faith of Christ, are those whose feet are blessed to bring the good news to you; for this man has torn down the dividing wall by the opening up of his flesh and pouring out of the blood of the grape, crushing the tablets of stone that stand against the wickedness of man's heart. Enter in, dear Jew, but enter in by the blood of the Lamb!" (Isa.52:7;Nah.1:15;Eph.2:14;Lk.23:45;2Cor.3:16;Heb.6:19;9:3;10:20;Col.2:14;Deut.9:17) "For He exclaimed before His crucifixion: ‘The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the Scribes and Pharisees, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’1 And David predicted that He would be born from the womb before sun and moon,2 according to the Father’s will, and made Him known, being Christ, as God strong and to be worshipped.” 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. 236–237). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin is using a lot of paraphrasing, and so should not be treated as the direct revelation, as Christ was (Jn.5:37;14:9); but the Spirit of God is deep within his bones as he declares the generation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking again, then, to the necessity of the virgin birth, Justin uses the words of David that spoke of it. Psalm 109:2–3 (Brenton LXX En) 2 The Lord shall send out a rod of power for thee out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints: I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning. Psalm 110:2–3 (NKJV) 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! 3 Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. Proverbs 8:23 (NKJV) 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. Proverbs 8:26–27 (NKJV) 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

One commentator of Justin's dialogue with Trypho believes that Justin replaced the phrase 'sun and moon' with Lucifer. He also uses another commentator, named Maranus, to say that David intends in his prediction that the virgin birth "happened" before the sun and moon was made. This is self-contradictory and should be quickly discarded as nonsensical foolishness. He (this commentator) combines a proverb with David's Psalm to argue this point, but Justin's train of thought is far from this understanding. It sounds as though this Maranus was some kind of Mormon (or the makings of one) in his theology. No, but what Justin and David are intending to say is that though in the 'wisdom of God,' who is three persons in one divine essence, Christ would be "begotten" (under) the sun and moon in the space of time. But the proverb teaches that this "wisdom" was in the mind of God before the foundation of the earth, and before the sun and moon was made. The person of Christ is not begotten, but the 'wisdom' upon which the person of Christ shall come into the creation was begotten, in the space of 'time' of which the sun and moon were designed for mankind, who are the pinnacle of the LORD's creation. But Justin goes on to say, that, even above this 'genesis' of the LORD, this man Jesus of Nazareth is the strong and mighty deliverer, who alone is to be worshiped in the Creation, for this is the wisdom of our God. 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5 (NKJV) 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.