Dialogue with Trypho

Observe also how the same promises are given to Isaac and Jacob. For this is what He says to Isaac: ‘And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.’ And to Jacob: ‘And in you and in your seed shall all families of the earth be blessed.’ He does not say this to Esau or to Reuben, or to any others; only to those from whom Christ would arise, according to the divine plan, through the Virgin Mary.

But if you consider the blessing of Judah, you will understand my point. The lineage is traced from Jacob and comes through Judah, Phares, Jesse, and David. This symbolized that some of your people would be true children of Abraham, found in Christ; but that others, though children of Abraham, would be like the sand on the seashore, numerous but barren, drinking the water of the sea without bearing fruit. A large number among your people are revealed to be of this kind, absorbing doctrines of bitterness and godlessness, yet rejecting the word of God.

Therefore, it is said in the prophecy concerning Judah: ‘A prince shall not fail from Judah, nor a ruler from his descendants, until what is reserved for him comes; and He shall be the hope of the nations.’ It is clear this was spoken not of Judah, but of Christ. For people from all nations look not to Judah, but to Jesus, who led your ancestors out of Egypt. The prophecy referred to the coming of Christ: ‘Until He comes for whom this is reserved, and He shall be the hope of nations.’ Jesus has come, as we have shown extensively, and is expected to appear again in the clouds; His name, which you defile and strive to have defiled across the earth.

It’s possible for me, gentlemen," I continued, "to argue with you about the translation you endorse, saying it is written, ‘Till the things reserved for Him come;’ although the Seventy did not explain it this way, but as, ‘Till He comes for whom this is reserved.’ But since what follows points to Christ (it says, ‘and He shall be the hope of nations’), I choose not to engage in a mere verbal dispute with you, as I have not tried to prove Christ using Scriptures you do not accept but from those you do, which, if your teachers had understood, they would have removed, like they did with writings about the death of Isaiah, whom you sawed in half with a wooden saw.

This was a mysterious symbol of Christ's future division of your nation, raising those worthy to the eternal kingdom with the holy patriarchs and prophets; but He will send others to the condemnation of unquenchable fire along with disobedient and unrepentant people from all nations. ‘For they shall come,’ He said, ‘from the west and the east, and will sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness.’ I have mentioned these things, considering nothing but the truth, refusing to be intimidated by anyone, even if I am torn to pieces by you.

I did not think of my people, the Samaritans, when I communicated with Cæsar, but stated that they were wrong to trust the magician Simon from their nation, who, they say, is God above all power and authority and might."