Chapter XXVI.—No salvation to the Jews except through Christ.
And I replied, “I do not say so; but those who have persecuted and do persecute Christ,
if they do not repent, shall not inherit anything on the holy mountain. But the Gentiles, who
have believed on Him, and have repented of the sins which they have committed, they shall
receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs and the prophets, and the just men who
are descended from Jacob, even although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised,
nor observe the feasts. Assuredly they shall receive the holy inheritance of God. For God
speaks by Isaiah thus: ‘I, the Lord God, have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold
Thine hand, and will strengthen Thee; and I have given Thee for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out them that are bound
from the chains, and those who sit in darkness from the prison-house.’249 And again: ‘Lift
up a standard250 for the people; for, lo, the Lord has made it heard unto the end of the earth.
Say ye to the daughters of Zion, Behold, thy Saviour has come; having His reward, and His
work before His face: and He shall call it a holy nation, redeemed by the Lord. And thou
shalt be called a city sought out, and not forsaken. Who is this that cometh from Edom? in
red garments from Bosor? This that is beautiful in apparel, going up with great strength? I
speak righteousness, and the judgment of salvation. Why are Thy garments red, and Thine
apparel as from the trodden wine-press? Thou art full of the trodden grape. I have trodden
the wine-press all alone, and of the people there is no man with Me; and I have trampled
them in fury, and crushed them to the ground, and spilled their blood on the earth. For the
day of retribution has come upon them, and the year of redemption is present. And I looked,
and there was none to help; and I considered, and none assisted: and My arm delivered; and
My fury came on them, and I trampled them in My fury, and spilled their blood on the
earth.’ ”251
249 Isa. xlii. 6, 7.
250 συσσεισμόν, “a shaking,” is the original reading; but LXX has σύσσημον, a standard or signal, and this
most edd. adopt.
251 Isa. lxii. 10 to end, Isa. lxiii. 1–6.
Chapter XXVI.—No salvation to the Jews except through Christ.
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Chapter XXVI.—No salvation to the Jews except through Christ.