Chapter XLVI.—Trypho asks whether a man who keeps the law even now will be saved. Justin proves that it contributes nothing to righteousness. “But if some, even now, wish to live in the observance of the institutions given by Moses, and yet believe in this Jesus who was crucified, recognising Him to be the Christ of God, and that it is given to Him to be absolute Judge of all, and that His is the everlasting kingdom, can they also be saved?” he inquired of me. And I replied, “Let us consider that also together, whether one may now observe all the Mosaic institutions.” And he answered, “No. For we know that, as you said, it is not possible either anywhere to sacrifice the lamb of the passover, or to offer the goats ordered for the fast; or, in short, [to present] all the other offerings.” And I said, “Tell [me] then yourself, I pray, some things which can be observed; for you will be persuaded that, though a man does not keep or has not performed the eternal322 decrees, he may assuredly be saved.” Then he replied, “To keep the Sabbath, to be circumcised, to observe months, and to be washed if you touch anything prohibited by Moses, or after sexual intercourse.” And I said, “Do you think that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, and Job, and all the rest 218 before or after them equally righteous, also Sarah the wife of Abraham, Rebekah the wife of Isaac, Rachel the wife of Jacob, and Leah, and all the rest of them, until the mother of Moses the faithful servant, who observed none of these [statutes], will be saved?” And Trypho answered, “Were not Abraham and his descendants circumcised?” And I said, “I know that Abraham and his descendants were circumcised. The reason why circumcision was given to them I stated at length in what has gone before; and if what has been said does not convince you,323 let us again search into the matter. But you are aware that, up to Moses, no one in fact who was righteous observed any of these rites at all of which we are talking, or received one commandment to observe, except that of circum- cision, which began from Abraham.” And he replied, “We know it, and admit that they are saved.” Then I returned answer, “You perceive that God by Moses laid all such ordinances upon you on account of the hardness of your people’s hearts, in order that, by the large number of them, you might keep God continually, and in every action, before your eyes, and never begin to act unjustly or impiously. For He enjoined you to place around you [a fringe] of purple dye,324 in order that you might not forget God; and He commanded you to wear a phylactery,325 certain characters, which indeed we consider holy, being engraved on very 322 “Eternal,” i.e., as the Jew thinks. 323 Literally, “put you out of countenance.” 324 Num. xv. 38. 325 Deut. vi. 6. Chapter XLVI.—Trypho asks whether a man who keeps the law even now will be saved. Justin proves that it contributes nothing to righteousness. 582 Chapter XLVI.—Trypho asks whether a man who keeps the law even now will…