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Dialogue with Trypho
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Chapter 1: Introduction
ONE MORNING: as I was walking in the Xystus, a certain man and his companions approached me and said, "Greetings, O philosopher!" Immediately after saying this, he turned and began walking with me, and his friends followed. I then addressed him and asked, "What is important?"
AND HE REPLIED: "I was instructed," he says, "by Corinthus the Socratic in Argos, that I should not despise or treat with indifference those who dress in this manner, but to show them kindness and associate with them, as some advantage might come from the interaction either for them or for myself. It is good for both if either benefits. For this reason, whenever I see anyone wearing such attire, I gladly approach them, and now, for the same reason, I have willingly spoken to you; and these others are with me, hoping to hear something beneficial from you."
"But who are you, most excellent man?" I replied to him jokingly.
THEN HE TOLD ME FRANKLY BOTH HIS NAME AND HIS FAMILY: "I am called Trypho," he said, "and I am a Hebrew of the circumcision. Having escaped from the war recently carried on there, I am spending my days in Greece, primarily in Corinth."
"And how," I asked, "would philosophy benefit you more than your own lawgiver and the prophets?"
"Why not?" he replied. "Don't the philosophers turn every discussion to God? And don't questions constantly arise for them about His unity and providence? Isn't it truly the duty of philosophy to investigate the Deity?"
"Indeed," I said, "we too have believed this. But most people have not considered whether there is one god or more, and whether they care for each of us individually, as though this knowledge doesn't contribute to our happiness. They even try to convince us that God takes care of the universe with its kinds and species, but not of me, you, and each person individually, suggesting that if this were true, we wouldn't need to pray to Him night and day. It's not hard to see the result of this belief; fearlessness and recklessness in speech come to those who hold these views, allowing them to say and do whatever they choose, without fearing punishment or hoping for any benefit from God. How could they? They claim that everything will always happen the same way; plus, that you and I will live again in the same manner, becoming neither better nor worse people. But there are others who, believing the soul to be immortal and immaterial, think that even if they commit evil, they won't suffer punishment (since the immaterial is insensible), and that the soul, in its immortality, needs nothing from God."
AND HE: smiling gently, said, "Tell us your opinion on these matters, what idea you have about God, and what your philosophy is."