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Dialogue with Trypho
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Chapter 123: Absurd Interpretations of the Jews. Christians are the True Israel.
SINCE ALL THESE LATER PROPHECIES REFER TO CHRIST AND THE NATIONS: you should believe that the earlier ones refer to Him and them in the same way. Proselytes have no need for a covenant, since the same law is given to all who are circumcised, and the Scripture says, "The stranger will also join them and be part of the house of Jacob." The proselyte, once circumcised to join the people, becomes like one of them.
However, we who have been deemed worthy to be called a people are still Gentiles, because we have not been circumcised.
It's absurd for you to think that proselytes’ eyes will be opened while yours remain closed, and that you are considered blind and deaf while they are enlightened. It is even more absurd if you claim the law has been given to the nations but you have not known it. You would have feared God's wrath and would not have been lawless, wayward children, fearing to hear God always say, "Children in whom is no faith. Who are blind but my servants? Who are deaf but those who rule over them? God's servants have become blind.
You see often, but do not observe; your ears have been opened, and you do not hear." Is God's commendation of you honorable? Is God's testimony fitting for His servants? You are not ashamed though you often hear these words. You do not tremble at God's threats, for you are a foolish and hard-hearted people. "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to remove this people," says the Lord, "and I will remove them, and destroy the wisdom of the wise, and hide the understanding of the prudent." Rightly so, for you are neither wise nor prudent, but crafty and unscrupulous; wise only in doing evil, but utterly incapable of knowing God's hidden counsel or the Lord's faithful covenant, or finding the everlasting paths. "Therefore," says the Lord, "I will raise up for Israel and Judah the seed of men and the seed of beasts." Through Isaiah, He speaks about another Israel: "In that day, there will be a third Israel among the Assyrians and the Egyptians, blessed in the land that the Lord of Hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed be my people in Egypt and Assyria, and Israel my inheritance.'" Since God blesses these people, calls them Israel, and declares them His inheritance, why do you not repent of the self-deception that makes you think you alone are Israel, and for cursing the people God has blessed? When He speaks to Jerusalem and its surroundings, He adds, "And I will bring forth men upon you, even my people Israel; they will inherit you, and you will be a possession for them; you will no longer be bereaved of them."
"What, then?" says Trypho, "Are you Israel? And does He say such things about you?"
"If," I replied to him, "we hadn't already had a lengthy discussion on these topics, I might have doubted whether you were asking this question sincerely. But since we have already come to a conclusion through demonstration and with your agreement, I don't believe you are unaware of what I've just said or that you merely seek to argue. Instead, I think you want me to show the same proof to these people." Seeing the agreement in his eyes, I continued, "Again in Isaiah, if you are willing to listen, God, speaking of Christ in parable, calls Him Jacob and Israel. He says, 'Jacob is my servant, I will uphold Him; Israel is my chosen, I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He will not struggle or shout, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets: a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; but He will bring forth judgment to truth: He will shine and will not be broken until He has established judgment on the earth. And in His name, the Gentiles will trust.' Therefore, just as all your nation has been called Jacob and Israel from the one man Jacob, who was also named Israel, we, from Christ, who made us children of God, like Jacob, Israel, Judah, Joseph, and David, are called and are the true sons of God, and we keep the commandments of Christ."