Chapter CXVIII.—He exhorts to repentance before Christ comes; in whom
Christians, since they believe, are far more religious than Jews.
“So that you ought rather to desist from the love of strife, and repent before the great
day of judgment come, wherein all those of your tribes who have pierced this Christ shall
mourn, as I have shown has been declared by the Scriptures. And I have explained that the
Lord swore, ‘after the order of Melchizedek,’629 and what this prediction means; and the
prophecy of Isaiah which says, ‘His burial is taken away from the midst,’630 I have already
said, referred to the future burying and rising again of Christ; and I have frequently remarked
that this very Christ is the Judge of all the living and the dead. And Nathan likewise, speaking
to David about Him, thus continued: ‘I will be His Father, and He shall be my Son; and my
mercy shall I not take away from Him, as I did from them that went before Him; and I will
establish Him in my house, and in His kingdom for ever.’631 And Ezekiel says, ‘There shall
be no other prince in the house but He.’632 For He is the chosen Priest and eternal King,
the Christ, inasmuch as He is the Son of God; and do not suppose that Isaiah or the other
prophets speak of sacrifices of blood or libations being presented at the altar on His second
advent, but of true and spiritual praises and giving of thanks. And we have not in vain be-
lieved in Him, and have not been led astray by those who taught us such doctrines; but this
has come to pass through the wonderful foreknowledge of God, in order that we, through
the calling of the new and eternal covenant, that is, of Christ, might be found more intelligent
and God-fearing than yourselves, who are considered to be lovers of God and men of under-
standing, but are not. Isaiah, filled with admiration of this, said: ‘And kings shall shut their
mouths: for those to whom no announcement has been made in regard to Him633 shall see;
and those who heard not shall understand. Lord, who hath believed our report? and to
whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?’634
“And in repeating this,635 Trypho,” I continued, “as far as is allowable, I endeavour to
do so for the sake of those who came with you to-day, yet briefly and concisely.”
Then he replied, “You do well; and though you repeat the same things at considerable
length, be assured that I and my companions listen with pleasure.”
629 Ps. cx. 4.
630 Isa. liii. 8.
631 2 Sam. vii. 14f.
632 Ezek. xliv. 3.
633 The mss. read “them.” Otto has changed it to “Him.”
634 Isa. lii. 15, Isa. liii. 1.
635 [Let this apology be noted.]
Chapter CXVIII.—He exhorts to repentance before Christ comes; in whom Christians, since they believe, are far more religious than Jews.
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Chapter CXVIII.—He exhorts to repentance before Christ comes; in whom Christians,…