Dialogue with Trypho
Chapter 7: The Only Source of Truth is the Prophets
"‘Should anyone, then, employ a teacher?’ I ask, ‘or where may anyone find help if there is not even truth in them?’"
"Long ago, before our time, there were certain men more ancient than all those known as philosophers, both righteous and loved by God, who spoke by the Divine Spirit and foretold events that would happen and are now happening. They are called prophets. They alone saw and announced the truth to people, neither revering nor fearing anyone, not driven by a desire for glory, but speaking only what they saw and heard, being filled with the Holy Spirit. Their writings are still available, and anyone who reads them gains much knowledge about the beginning and end of things, and matters that a philosopher should know, provided they believe them.
They did not use demonstrations in their writings because they were witnesses to the truth beyond all demonstration and worthy of belief; and the events that have happened, and those happening now, compel you to accept their words, even though they were worthy of belief because of the miracles they performed, since they glorified the Creator, the God and Father of all, and proclaimed His Son, the Christ sent by Him. The false prophets, filled with the lying unclean spirit, neither have done nor do this, but they attempt to perform certain wonders to amaze people and glorify the spirits and demons of error.
But pray that, above all, the gates of light may be opened to you; for these things cannot be perceived or understood by everyone, but only by those to whom God and His Christ have given wisdom."