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St. Justin Martyr
Dialogue with Trypho

ChristologyScripture

Dialogue with Trypho

St. Justin Martyr · c. 160 AD

8h 4m read

Ante-Nicene

The longest surviving early Christian apology, presenting a dialogue between Justin and a Jewish rabbi about the Messiahship of Jesus and the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.

Table of Contents

1Introduction 2Justin describes his studies in philosophy 3Justin narrates the manner of his conversion 4The soul of itself cannot see God 5The soul is not in its own nature immortal 6These things were unknown to Plato and other philosophers 7The knowledge of truth to be sought from the prophets alone 8Justin by his colloquy is kindled with love to Christ 9The Christians have not believed groundless stories 10Trypho blames the Christians for this alone—the non-observance of the law 11The law abrogated; the New Testament promised and given by God 12The Jews violate the eternal law, and interpret ill that of Moses 13Isaiah teaches that sins are forgiven through Christ’s blood 14Righteousness is not placed in Jewish rites, but in the conversion of the heart given in baptism by Christ 15In what the true fasting consists 16Circumcision given as a sign, that the Jews might be driven away for their evil deeds done to Christ and the Christians 17The Jews sent persons through the whole earth to spread calumnies on Christians 18Christians would observe the law, if they did not know why it was instituted 19Circumcision unknown before Abraham. The law was given by Moses on account of the hardness of their hearts 20Why choice of meats was prescribed 21Sabbaths were instituted on account of the people’s sins, and not for a work of righteousness 22So also were sacrifices and oblations 23The opinion of the Jews regarding the law does an injury to God 24The Christians’ circumcision far more excellent 25The Jews boast in vain that they are sons of Abraham 26No salvation to the Jews except through Christ 27Why God taught the same things by the prophets as by Moses 28True righteousness is obtained by Christ 29Christ is useless to those who observe the law 30Christians possess the true righteousness 31If Christ’s power be now so great, how much greater at the second advent!32Trypho objecting that Christ is described as glorious by Daniel, Justin distinguishes two advents 33Ps. cx. is not spoken of Hezekiah. He proves that Christ was first humble, then shall be glorious 34Nor does Ps. lxxii. apply to Solomon, whose faults Christians shudder at 35Heretics confirm the Catholics in the faith 36He proves that Christ is called Lord of Hosts 37The same is proved from other Psalms 38It is an annoyance to the Jew that Christ is said to be adored. Justin confirms it, however, from Ps. xlv 39The Jews hate the Christians who believe this. How great the distinction is between both!40He returns to the Mosaic laws, and proves that they were figures of the things which pertain to Christ 41The oblation of fine flour was a figure of the Eucharist 42The bells on the priest’s robe were a figure of the apostles 43He concludes that the law had an end in Christ, who was born of the Virgin 44The Jews in vain promise themselves salvation, which cannot be obtained except through Christ 45Those who were righteous before and under the law shall be saved by Christ 46Trypho asks whether a man who keeps the law even now will be saved. Justin proves that it contributes nothing to righteousness 47Justin communicates with Christians who observe the law. Not a few Catholics do otherwise 48Before the divinity of Christ is proved, he [Trypho] demands that it be settled that He is Christ 49To those who object that Elijah has not yet come, he replies that he is the precursor of the first advent 50It is proved from Isaiah that John is the precursor of Christ 51It is proved that this prophecy has been fulfilled 52Jacob predicted two advents of Christ 53Jacob predicted that Christ would ride on an ass, and Zechariah confirms it 54What the blood of the grape signifies 55Trypho asks that Christ be proved God, but without metaphor. Justin promises to do so 56God who appeared to Moses is distinguished from God the Father 57The Jew objects, why is He said to have eaten, if He be God? Answer of Justin 58The same is proved from the visions which appeared to Jacob 59God distinct from the Father conversed with Moses 60Opinions of the Jews with regard to Him who appeared in the bush 61Wisdom is begotten of the Father, as fire from fire 62The words “Let Us make man” agree with the testimony of Proverbs 63It is proved that this God was incarnate 64Justin adduces other proofs to the Jew, who denies that he needs this Christ 65The Jew objects that God does not give His glory to another. Justin explains the passage 66He proves from Isaiah that God was born from a virgin 67Trypho compares Jesus with Perseus; and would prefer [to say] that He was elected [to be Christ] on account of observance of the law. Justin speaks of the law as formerly 68He complains of the obstinacy of Trypho; he answers his objection; he convicts the Jews of bad faith 69The devil, since he emulates the truth, has invented fables about Bacchus, Hercules, and Æsculapius 70So also the mysteries of Mithras are distorted from the prophecies of Daniel and Isaiah 71The Jews reject the interpretation of the LXX., from which, moreover, they have taken away some passages 72Passages have been removed by the Jews from Esdras and Jeremiah 73[The words] “From the wood” have been cut out of Ps. xcvi 74The beginning of Ps. xcvi. is attributed to the Father [by Trypho]. But [it refers] to Christ by these words: “Tell ye among the nations that the Lord,” etc 75It is proved that Jesus was the name of God in the book of Exodus 76From other passages the same majesty and government of Christ are proved 77He returns to explain the prophecy of Isaiah 78He proves that this prophecy harmonizes with Christ alone, from what is afterwards written 79He proves against Trypho that the wicked angels have revolted from God 80The opinion of Justin with regard to the reign of a thousand years. Several Catholics reject it 81He endeavours to prove this opinion from Isaiah and the Apocalypse 82The prophetical gifts of the Jews were transferred to the Christians 83It is proved that the Psalm, “The Lord said to My Lord,” etc., does not suit Hezekiah 84That prophecy, “Behold, a virgin,” etc., suits Christ alone 85He proves that Christ is the Lord of Hosts from Ps. xxiv., and from his authority over demons 86There are various figures in the Old Testament of the wood of the cross by which Christ reigned 87Trypho maintains in objection these words: “And shall rest on Him,” etc. They are explained by Justin 88Christ has not received the Holy Spirit on account of poverty 89The cross alone is offensive to Trypho on account of the curse, yet it proves that Jesus is Christ 90The stretched-out hands of Moses signified beforehand the cross 91The cross was foretold in the blessings of Joseph, and in the serpent that was lifted up 92Unless the scriptures be understood through God’s great grace, God will not appear to have taught always the same righteousness 93The same kind of righteousness is bestowed on all. Christ comprehends it in two precepts 94In what sense he who hangs on a tree is cursed 95Christ took upon Himself the curse due to us 96That curse was a prediction of the things which the Jews would do 97Other predictions of the cross of Christ 98Predictions of Christ in Ps. xxii 99In the commencement of the Psalm are Christ’s dying words 100In what sense Christ is [called] Jacob, and Israel, and Son of Man 101Christ refers all things to the Father 102The prediction of the events which happened to Christ when He was born. Why God permitted it 103The Pharisees are the bulls: the roaring lion is Herod or the devil 104Circumstances of Christ’s death are predicted in this Psalm 105The Psalm also predicts the crucifixion and the subject of the last prayers of Christ on Earth 106Christ’s resurrection is foretold in the conclusion of the Psalm 107The same is taught from the history of Jonah 108The resurrection of Christ did not convert the Jews. But through the whole world they have sent men to accuse Christ 109The conversion of the Gentiles has been predicted by Micah 110A portion of the prophecy already fulfilled in the Christians: the rest shall be fulfilled at the second advent 111The two advents were signified by the two goats. Other figures of the first advent, in which the Gentiles are freed by the blood of Christ 112The Jews expound these signs jejunely and feebly, and take up their attention only with insignificant matters 113Joshua was a figure of Christ 114Some rules for discerning what is said about Christ. The circumcision of the Jews is very different from that which Christians receive 115Prediction about the Christians in Zechariah. The malignant way which the Jews have in disputations 116It is shown how this prophecy suits the Christians 117Malachi’s prophecy concerning the sacrifices of the Christians. It cannot be taken as referring to the prayers of Jews of the dispersion 118He exhorts to repentance before Christ comes; in whom Christians, since they believe, are far more religious than Jews 119Christians are the holy people promised to Abraham. They have been called like Abraham 120Christians were promised to Isaac, Jacob, and Judah 121From the fact that the Gentiles believe in Jesus, it is evident that He is Christ 122The Jews understand this of the proselytes without reason 123Ridiculous interpretations of the Jews. Christians are the true Israel 124Christians are the sons of God 125He explains what force the word Israel has, and how it suits Christ 126The various names of Christ according to both natures. It is shown that He is God, and appeared to the patriarchs 127These passages of Scripture do not apply to the Father, but to the Word 128The Word is sent not as an inanimate power, but as a person begotten of the Father’s substance 129That is confirmed from other passages of Scripture 130He returns to the conversion of the Gentiles, and shows that it was foretold 131How much more faithful to God the Gentiles are who are converted to Christ than the Jews 132How great the power was of the name of Jesus in the Old Testament 133The hard-heartedness of the Jews, for whom the Christians pray 134The marriages of Jacob are a figure of the Church 135Christ is king of Israel, and Christians are the Israelitic race 136The Jews, in rejecting Christ, rejected God who sent him 137He exhorts the Jews to be converted 138Noah is a figure of Christ, who has regenerated us by water, and faith, and wood: [i.e., the Cross.]139The blessings, and also the curse, pronounced by Noah were prophecies of the future 140In Christ all are free. The Jews hope for salvation in vain because they are sons of Abraham 141Free-will in men and angels 142The Jews return thanks, and leave Justin