Opening the library…

Search the Bible

Dialogue with Trypho

Justin Martyr

Chapter 95

About this work

A literary dialogue in which Justin recounts his conversion to Christianity and debates Scripture, covenant, messianic prophecy, law, and the identity of God’s people with a Jewish interlocutor.

Author: Justin Martyr
Date: Mid-2nd century
Origin: Rome
Genre: Dialogue

Chapter XCV.—Christ took upon Himself the curse due to us.

“For the whole human race will be found

‹ Chapter 94 Chapter 96 ›

to

be

under

a

curse

.

For

it

is

written

in

the

law

of

Moses

,

‘

Cursed

is

every

one

that

continueth

not

in

all

things

that

are

written

in

the

book

of

the

law

to

do

them

.

’

And

no

one

has

accurately

done

all

,

nor

will

you

venture

to

deny

this

;

but

some

more

and

some

less

than

others

have

observed

the

ordinances

enjoined

.

But

if

those

who

are

under

this

law

appear

to

be

under

a

curse

for

not

having

observed

all

the

requirements

,

how

much

more

shall

all

the

nations

appear

to

be

under

a

curse

who

practise

idolatry

,

who

seduce

youths

,

and

commit

other

crimes

?

If

,

then

,

the

Father

of

all

wished

His

Christ

for

the

whole

human

family

to

take

upon

Him

the

curses

of

all

,

knowing

that

,

after

He

had

been

crucified

and

was

dead

,

He

would

raise

Him

up

,

why

do

you

argue

about

Him

,

who

submitted

to

suffer

these

things

according

to

the

Father’s

will

,

as

if

He

were

accursed

,

and

do

not

rather

bewail

yourselves

?

For

although

His

Father

caused

Him

to

suffer

these

things

in

behalf

of

the

human

family

,

yet

you

did

not

commit

the

deed

as

in

obedience

to

the

will

of

God

.

For

you

did

not

practise

piety

when

you

slew

the

prophets

.

And

let

none

of

you

say

:

If

His

Father

wished

Him

to

suffer

this

,

in

order

that

by

His

stripes

the

human

race

might

be

healed

,

we

have

done

no

wrong

.

If

,

indeed

,

you

repent

of

your

sins

,

and

recognise

Him

to

be

Christ

,

and

observe

His

commandments

,

then

you

may

assert

this

;

for

,

as

I

have

said

before

,

remission

of

sins

shall

be

yours

.

But

if

you

curse

Him

and

them

that

believe

on

Him

,

and

,

when

you

have

the

power

,

put

them

to

death

,

how

is

it

possible

that

requisition

shall

not

be

made

of

you

,

as

of

unrighteous

and

sinful

men

,

altogether

hard

-

hearted

and

without

understanding

,

because

you

laid

your

hands

on

Him

?

Notes

368
Deut. xxvii. 26.