Chapter XXXII.—Trypho objecting that Christ is described as glorious by Daniel,
Justin distinguishes two advents.
And when I had ceased, Trypho said, “These and such like Scriptures, sir, compel us to
wait for Him who, as Son of man, receives from the Ancient of days the everlasting kingdom.
But this so-called Christ of yours was dishonourable and inglorious, so much so that the
last curse contained in the law of God fell on him, for he was crucified.”
Then I replied to him, “If, sirs, it were not said by the Scriptures which I have already
quoted, that His form was inglorious, and His generation not declared, and that for His
death the rich would suffer death, and with His stripes we should be healed, and that He
would be led away like a sheep; and if I had not explained that there would be two advents
of His,—one in which He was pierced by you; a second, when you shall know Him whom
you have pierced, and your tribes shall mourn, each tribe by itself, the women apart, and
the men apart,—then I must have been speaking dubious and obscure things. But now, by
means of the contents of those Scriptures esteemed holy and prophetic amongst you, I attempt
to prove all [that I have adduced], in the hope that some one of you may be found to be of
that remnant which has been left by the grace of the Lord of Sabaoth for the eternal salvation.
In order, therefore, that the matter inquired into may be plainer to you, I will mention to
you other words also spoken by the blessed David, from which you will perceive that the
Lord is called the Christ by the Holy Spirit of prophecy; and that the Lord, the Father of all,
has brought Him again from the earth, setting Him at His own right hand, until He makes
His enemies His footstool; which indeed happens from the time that our Lord Jesus Christ
ascended to heaven, after He rose again from the dead, the times now running on to their
consummation; and he whom Daniel foretells would have dominion for a time, and times,
and an half, is even already at the door, about to speak blasphemous and daring things
against the Most High. But you, being ignorant of how long he will have dominion, hold
another opinion. For you interpret the ‘time’ as being a hundred years. But if this is so, the
man of sin must, at the shortest, reign three hundred and fifty years, in order that we may
compute that which is said by the holy Daniel— ‘and times’—to be two times only. All this
I have said to you in digression, in order that you at length may be persuaded of what has
been declared against you by God, that you are foolish sons; and of this, ‘Therefore, behold,
I will proceed to take away this people, and shall take them away; and I will strip the wise
of their wisdom, and will hide the understanding of their prudent men;’265 and may cease
to deceive yourselves and those who hear you, and may learn of us, who have been taught
wisdom by the grace of Christ. The words, then, which were spoken by David, are these:266
‘The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy
265 Isa. xxix. 14.
266 Ps. cx.
Chapter XXXII.—Trypho objecting that Christ is described as glorious by Daniel, Justin distinguishes two advents.
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Chapter XXXII.—Trypho objecting that Christ is described as glorious by…