Dialogue with Trypho
Chapter 82: The Prophetic Abilities of the Jews were Passed on to the Christians
The prophetic gifts are still with us, even today.
Therefore, you should understand that the gifts that were once among your people have been transferred to us. Just as there were false prophets during the time of your holy prophets, there are now many false teachers among us, whom our Lord warned us to be cautious of.
Thus, we lack nothing, as we know He foresaw all that would happen to us after His resurrection from the dead and ascension to heaven.
He said we would be put to death and hated for His name’s sake, and that many false prophets and false Christs would appear in His name and deceive many—and this has happened. Many have taught godless, blasphemous, and unholy doctrines, claiming them in His name, and have taught, and are still teaching, those things that come from the unclean spirit of the devil, which were put into their hearts.
Therefore, we are very anxious that you are not misled by such people, since we know that everyone who can speak the truth but does not will be judged by God, as God testified through Ezekiel, when He said, ‘I have made you a watchman to the house of Judah.
If the sinner sins and you do not warn him, he will die in his sin, but his blood I will require at your hand.
But if you warn him, you shall be innocent.’ For this reason, we are, out of fear, very intent on speaking with people according to the Scriptures, not out of love for money, glory, or pleasure. No one can accuse us of any of these vices. Nor do we wish to live like the rulers of your people, whom God reproaches when He says, ‘Your rulers are companions of thieves, lovers of bribes, followers of rewards.’ Now, if you know certain among us to be like this, do not, because of them, blaspheme the Scriptures and Christ, and do not strive to give false interpretations.