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Question 6

Justin Martyr and Irenaeus both appeal to Isaiah’s “swords into plowshares” prophecy as something already being fulfilled in the church; what assumptions are they making about prophecy, the church, and the present availability of obedience, and how does that differ from common modern readings that postpone this to a future era?

Another way to ask: When Justin and Irenaeus say “swords into plowshares” is already happening in the church, what are they assuming about prophecy and obeying God right now? How is that different from people today who say it won’t happen until the future?

Direct Answer The transcript suggests Justin and Irenaeus assume Isaiah’s prophecy is being fulfilled now in the church through real moral change—Christ’s kingdom has arrived and enables obedience in the present. This differs from readings that delay “no more war” to a distant future, because they speak as if Christians already “changed” weapons and no longer learn to fight.

Support from Transcript:

Dean says early Christians believed “their King had come and done this very thing” from Isaiah.
Justin Martyr (AD 150): “now all of us… have… changed our warlike weapons… swords into plowshares.”
Justin adds present obedience: “We who formerly murdered one another now refrain from making war even upon our enemies.”
Irenaeus describes Christians as the “people” fulfilling Isaiah: they “form their swords and war lances into plowshares… now they are unaccustomed to fighting.”
Irenaeus ties it to Jesus’ commands: “When they are struck, they offer also the other cheek.”

Discussion Follow-ups What would have to be true about Christ’s kingdom for these statements to be realistic? Do you treat enemy-love as possible now, or as something only achievable in an ideal future?

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