Dialogue with Trypho
Chapter 122: The Jews Misinterpret This as Referring to the Proselytes Without Justification
You believe these words refer to the stranger and the proselytes, but they actually refer to us who have been enlightened by Jesus. For Christ would have testified even to them; but now you have become twice as much children of hell, as He Himself said. Therefore, what was written by the prophets was not about those people, but about us, as the Scripture says: ‘I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; and they shall walk in paths they have not known. And I am witness, says the Lord God, and my servant whom I have chosen.’ So, to whom does Christ testify? Clearly to those who have believed. But the proselytes not only do not believe, but blaspheme His name even more than you do, and wish to torture and kill us who believe in Him; because in all ways they try to be like you. And again, in other words, He declares: ‘I the Lord have called You in righteousness, will hold Your hand, will strengthen You, and will give You as a covenant for the people, a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from their bonds.’ These words indeed, sirs, also refer to Christ, and concern the enlightened nations; or will you claim again that He speaks to them of the law and the proselytes?
Then some of those who came on the second day shouted as if they were in a theater, "But what? Does He not refer to the law and to those illuminated by it? Now those are proselytes."
"No," I said, looking towards Trypho, "since, if the law could enlighten the nations and those who possess it, what need would there be for a new covenant? But because God announced beforehand that He would send a new covenant, and an everlasting law and commandment, we should not interpret this as referring to the old law and its followers, but to Christ and His followers, namely us Gentiles, whom He has illuminated, as He says somewhere: ‘Thus says the Lord, In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in a day of salvation I have helped You, and I have given You for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, and to inherit the deserted.’ What then is Christ’s inheritance? Is it not the nations? What is the covenant of God? Is it not Christ? As He says in another place: ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I shall give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession.’"