CHAPTER CXXIII
Ridiculous Interpretation of the Jews. Christians are the True Israel.
"As, therefore, all these latter prophecies refer to Christ and the nations, you should believe that
the former refer to Him and them in like manner. For the proselytes have no need of a covenant,
if, since there is one and the same law imposed on all that are circumcised, the Scripture speaks
about them thus: 'And the stranger shall also be joined with them, and shall be joined to the house
of Jacob;'(2) and because the proselyte, who is circumcised that he may have access to the
people, becomes like one of themselves,(3) while we who have been deemed worthy to be called
a people are yet Gentiles, because we have not been circumcised. Besides, it is ridiculous for you
to imagine that the eyes of the proselytes are to be opened while your own are not, and that you
be understood as blind and deaf while they are enlightened. And it will be still more ridiculous for
you, if you say that the law has been given to the nations, but you have not known it. For you
would have stood in awe of God's wrath, and would not have been lawless, wandering sons;
being much afraid of hearing God always say, 'Children in whom is no faith. And who are blind,
but my servants? and deaf, but they that rule over them? And the servants of God have been
made blind. You see often, but have not observed; your ears have been opened, and you have
not heard.'(4) Is God's commendation of you honourable? and is God's testimony seemly for His
servants? You are not ashamed though you often hear these words. You do not tremble at God's
threats, for you are a people foolish and hard-hearted. 'Therefore, behold, I will proceed to
remove this people,' saith the Lord;' and I will remove them, and destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and hide the understanding of the prudent.'(5) Deservedly too: for you are neither wise nor
prudent, but crafty and unscrupulous; wise only to do evil, but utterly incompetent to know the
hidden counsel of God, or the faithful covenant of the Lord, or to find out the everlasting paths.
'Therefore, saith the Lord, I will raise up to Israel and to Judah the seed of men and the seed of
beasts.'(6) And by Isaiah He speaks thus concerning another Israel: 'In that day shall there be a
third Israel among the Assyrians and the Egyptians, blessed in the land which the Lord of Sabaoth
hath blessed, saying, blessed shall my people in Egypt and in Assyria be, and Israel mine
inheritance.'(7) Since then God blesses this people, and calls them Israel, and declares them to be
His inheritance, how is it that you repent not of the deception you practise on yourselves, as if you
alone were the Israel, and of execrating the people whom God has blessed? For when He speaks
to Jerusalem and its environs, He thus added: 'And I will beget men upon you, even my people
Israel; and they shall inherit you, and you shall be a possession for them; and you shall be no
longer bereaved of them.'"(8)
"What, then?" says Trypho; "are you Israel? and speaks He such things of you?"
"If, indeed," I replied to him, "we had not entered into a lengthy(9) discussion on these topics, I
might have doubted whether you ask this question in ignorance; but since we have brought the
matter to a conclusion by demonstration and with your assent, I do not believe that you are
ignorant of what I have just said, or desire again mere contention, but that you are urging me to
exhibit the same proof to these men." And in compliance with the assent expressed in his eyes, I
continued: "Again in Isaiah, if you have ears to hear it, God, speaking of Christ in parable, calls
Him Jacob and Israel. He speaks thus: 'Jacob is my servant, I will uphold Him; Israel is mine
elect, I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not
strive, nor cry, neither shall any one hear His voice in the street: a bruised reed He shall not break,
and smoking flax He shall not quench; but He shall bring forth judgment to truth: He shall
shine,(10) and shall not be broken till He have set judgment on the earth. And in His name shall
the Gentiles trust.'(11) As therefore from the one man Jacob, who was surnamed Israel, all your
nation has been called Jacob and Israel; so we from Christ, who begat us unto God, like Jacob,
and Israel, and Judah, and Joseph, and David, are called and are the true sons of God, and keep
the commandments of Christ."
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