Chapter CXXIII.—Ridiculous interpretations 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;’659 and because the proselyte, who is circumcised that
he may have access to the people, becomes like one of themselves,660 while we who have
been deemed worthy to be called a people are yet Gentiles, because we have not been circum-
cised. 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.’661 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.’662 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.’663 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.’664 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
659 Isa. xiv. 1.
660 Literally, “a native of the land.”
661 Deut. xxxii. 20; Isa. xlii. 19 f.
662 Isa. xxix. 14.
663 Jer. xxxi. 27.
664 Isa. xix. 24 f.
Chapter CXXIII.—Ridiculous interpretations of the Jews. Christians are the true Israel.
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Chapter CXXIII.—Ridiculous interpretations of the Jews. Christians are the…