Chapter XLIV.—The Jews in vain promise themselves salvation, which cannot
be obtained except through Christ.
“For thus, so far as you are concerned, I shall be found in all respects innocent, if I strive
earnestly to persuade you by bringing forward demonstrations. But if you remain hard-
hearted, or weak in [forming] a resolution, on account of death, which is the lot of the
Christians, and are unwilling to assent to the truth, you shall appear as the authors of your
own [evils]. And you deceive yourselves while you fancy that, because you are the seed of
Abraham after the flesh, therefore you shall fully inherit the good things announced to be
bestowed by God through Christ. For no one, not even of them,313 has anything to look
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for, but only those who in mind are assimilated to the faith of Abraham, and who have re-
cognised all the mysteries: for I say,314 that some injunctions were laid on you in reference
to the worship of God and practice of righteousness; but some injunctions and acts were
likewise mentioned in reference to the mystery of Christ, on account of315 the hardness of
your people’s hearts. And that this is so, God makes known in Ezekiel, [when] He said
concerning it: ‘If Noah and Jacob316 and Daniel should beg either sons or daughters, the
request would not be granted them.’317 And in Isaiah, of the very same matter He spake
thus: ‘The Lord God said, they shall both go forth and look on the members [of the bodies]
of the men that have transgressed. For their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be
quenched, and they shall be a gazing-stock to all flesh.’318 So that it becomes you to eradicate
this hope from your souls, and hasten to know in what way forgiveness of sins, and a hope
of inheriting the promised good things, shall be yours. But there is no other [way] than this,
—to become acquainted with this Christ, to be washed in the fountain319 spoken of by
Isaiah for the remission of sins; and for the rest, to live sinless lives.”
313 i.e., of Abraham’s seed.
314 Justin distinguishes between such essential acts as related to God’s worship and the establishment of
righteousness, and such ceremonial observances as had a mere temporary significance. The recognition of this
distinction he alleges to be necessary to salvation: necessary in this sense, that justification must be placed not
on the latter, but on the former; and without such recognition, a Jew would, as Justin says, rest his hopes on his
noble descent from Abraham.
315 More probably, “or on account of,” etc.
316 In Bible, “Job;” Maranus prefers “Jacob,” and thinks the mention of his name very suitable to disprove
the arrogant claims of Jacob’s posterity.
317 Ezek. xiv. 20.
318 Isa. lxvi. 24.
319 Some refer this to Christ’s baptism. See Cyprian, Adv. Jud. i. 24.— Otto.
Chapter XLIV.—The Jews in vain promise themselves salvation, which cannot be obtained except through Christ.
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Chapter XLIV.—The Jews in vain promise themselves salvation, which cannot…