St. Justin Martyr
Dialogue with Trypho the Jew
The longest surviving second-century dialogue between a Christian and a Jew
Contents142 sections
- 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
- 61The words “Let Us make man” agree with the testimony of Proverbs
- 62It is proved that this God was incarnate
- 63Justin adduces other proofs to the Jew, who denies that he needs this Christ
- 64The Jew objects that God does not give His glory to another. Justin explains the passage
- 65He proves from Isaiah that God was born from a virgin
- 66Trypho 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
- 67He complains of the obstinacy of Trypho; he answers his objection; he convicts the Jews of bad faith
- 68The devil, since he emulates the truth, has invented fables about Bacchus, Hercules, and Æsculapius
- 69So also the mysteries of Mithras are distorted from the prophecies of Daniel and Isaiah
- 70The Jews reject the interpretation of the LXX., from which, moreover, they have taken away some passages
- 71Passages have been removed by the Jews from Esdras and Jeremiah
- 72[The words] “From the wood” have been cut out of Ps. xcvi
- 73The 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
- 74It is proved that Jesus was the name of God in the book of Exodus
- 75From other passages the same majesty and government of Christ are proved
- 76He returns to explain the prophecy of Isaiah
- 77He proves that this prophecy harmonizes with Christ alone, from what is afterwards written
- 78He proves against Trypho that the wicked angels have revolted from God
- 79The opinion of Justin with regard to the reign of a thousand years. Several Catholics reject it
- 80He endeavours to prove this opinion from Isaiah and the Apocalypse
- 81The prophetical gifts of the Jews were transferred to the Christians
- 82It is proved that the Psalm, “The Lord said to My Lord,” etc., does not suit Hezekiah
- 83That prophecy, “Behold, a virgin,” etc., suits Christ alone
- 84He proves that Christ is the Lord of Hosts from Ps. xxiv., and from his authority over demons
- 85There are various figures in the Old Testament of the wood of the cross by which Christ reigned
- 86Trypho maintains in objection these words: “And shall rest on Him,” etc. They are explained by Justin
- 87Christ has not received the Holy Spirit on account of poverty
- 88The cross alone is offensive to Trypho on account of the curse, yet it proves that Jesus is Christ
- 89The stretched-out hands of Moses signified beforehand the cross
- 90The cross was foretold in the blessings of Joseph, and in the serpent that was lifted up
- 91Unless the scriptures be understood through God’s great grace, God will not appear to have taught always the same righteousness
- 92The same kind of righteousness is bestowed on all. Christ comprehends it in two precepts
- 93In what sense he who hangs on a tree is cursed
- 94Christ took upon Himself the curse due to us
- 95That curse was a prediction of the things which the Jews would do
- 96Other predictions of the cross of Christ
- 97Predictions of Christ in Ps. xxii
- 98In the commencement of the Psalm are Christ’s dying words
- 99In what sense Christ is [called] Jacob, and Israel, and Son of Man
- 100Christ refers all things to the Father
- 101The prediction of the events which happened to Christ when He was born. Why God permitted it
- 102The Pharisees are the bulls: the roaring lion is Herod or the devil
- 103Circumstances of Christ’s death are predicted in this Psalm
- 104The Psalm also predicts the crucifixion and the subject of the last prayers of Christ on Earth
- 105Christ’s resurrection is foretold in the conclusion of the Psalm
- 106The same is taught from the history of Jonah
- 107The resurrection of Christ did not convert the Jews. But through the whole world they have sent men to accuse Christ
- 108The conversion of the Gentiles has been predicted by Micah
- 109A portion of the prophecy already fulfilled in the Christians: the rest shall be fulfilled at the second advent
- 110The 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
- 111The Jews expound these signs jejunely and feebly, and take up their attention only with insignificant matters
- 112Joshua was a figure of Christ
- 113Some rules for discerning what is said about Christ. The circumcision of the Jews is very different from that which Christians receive
- 114Prediction about the Christians in Zechariah. The malignant way which the Jews have in disputations
- 115It is shown how this prophecy suits the Christians
- 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