Evolution Webinar / Justin (Christian) Dialogues with Trypho (Jew), AD 155-160 / Dogmatic and Confident?

Good morning from windy Lancashire! Today’s bulletin offers:

• Insight into the relationship between Judaism and Christianity around AD 160

• Two stimulating quotations. I like them both—esp. the second one (on dogmatism)

• Opportunities to give (Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean)

• And an invitation to invest 90 minutes of your Saturday to become better informed about faith and science—esp. in being able to speak intelligently on the issues surrounding creation / evolution.

Thanks for your time. I trust something in today’s issue will be a blessing to you!

AMAZING WEBINAR

Our next webinar is on this Saturday—October 26th. Prof. Denis Lamoureux (University of Alberta) will speak on "Beyond the Creation & Evolution Debate.” 

FREE FOR ALL WEBSITE MEMBERS

Our session includes time for questions and answers.

• Saturday 26 October 2024

• 10:00-11:30 am Eastern US Time

• Price: $10 (free for website members)

• The session will be recorded

• Great for educators

• Ideal for anyone with questions about Genesis, science, and evolution

REGISTER HERE

EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITINGS (13)

We continue our study of Justin Martyr (mid-2nd century AD), turning our focus to his dialogue with Trypho. In this discourse Justin argues that Christianity is the fulfillment and replacement of Judaism. Following are some of my observations.

Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho the Jew

• The Law of Moses has been abrogated. “[Jesus Christ] is the new law, and the new covenant, and the expectation of those who out of every people wait for the good things of God. For the true spiritual Israel, and descendants of Judah, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham (who in uncircumcision was approved of and blessed by God on account of his faith, and called the father of many nations), are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ…” (chap. xi).

• The synagogues are publicly cursing the Christians (chap. xvi; also xcvi). For more, click and scroll down to “Text.”

• Christians don’t practice circumcision or observe the Sabbath (xviii, xxiii, etc).

• An apparent reference to ritual immersions mikva’oth (chap. xix). These were immersion pools, and hundreds have been discovered by archaeologists. These immersions were (1) performed daily, (2) for ritual cleansing (not forgiveness of sins, as in Christian baptism), and (3) self-administered.

• Circumcision is not a work of righteousness (chap. xxiii). “What need, then, have I of circumcision, who have been witnessed to by God? What need have I of that other baptism, who have been baptized with the Holy Ghost?” (chap. xxix).

• Real Christians do not consume meat sacrificed to idols (chap. xxxv).

• [To the Jews, and referring to 1 Kings 19:14, 18): “Therefore, just as God did not inflict his anger on account of those 7000 men, even so he now has neither yet inflicted judgment, nor does inflict it, knowing that daily some [of you] are becoming disciples in the name of Christ, and quitting the path of error; who are also receiving gifts, each as he is worthy, illumined through the name of Christ. For one receives the spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching, and another of the fear of God” (chap. xxxix).

• Jesus has replaced the lamb: “God does not permit the lamb of the Passover to be sacrificed in any other place than where his name was named; knowing that the days will come, after the suffering of Christ, when even the place in Jerusalem shall be given over to your enemies, and all the offerings, in short, shall cease; and that lamb which was commanded to be wholly roasted was a symbol of the suffering of the cross which Christ would undergo. For the lamb, which is roasted, is roasted and dressed up in the form of a cross” (chap. xl). That is, the Passover was only for Judaism. Christians do not need to celebrate it.

• However, Christians may keep Torah if they so choose—as long as they don’t try to persuade others (chap. xlvii).

• “The souls of the righteous remain in a better place, while those of the unjust and wicked are in a worse, waiting for the time of judgment. Thus some which have appeared worthy of God never die; but others are punished so long as God wills them to exist and to be punished.” Humans are not naturally immortal (chap. v).

Next: Concluding observations on the Dialogue with Trypho, plus 5 further documents. Look for it on 6 November. That is, we’re skipping a week in this series of approximately 20 articles.

QUOTABLE

• A religion of the intellect alone makes us feel everything is disputable; of the feelings [alone], everything vague; of the conscience [alone], everything hard. Intellect gives form to feeling, feeling gives warmth to conscience, and conscience gives basis to both. — John Ker

• Our fallibility and the shortness of our knowledge should make us peaceable and gentle. Because I may be mistaken, I must not be dogmatical and confident, peremptory and imperious. I will not break the certain laws of charity for a doubtful doctrine or of uncertain truth. — Benjamin Whichcote (1753)

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