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The First Apology

Justin Martyr

Chapter 37

About this work

Justin addresses Roman rulers on behalf of Christians, challenging accusations against them while explaining Christian ethics, worship, baptism, Eucharist, prophecy, and belief in Christ in his own day.

Author: Justin Martyr
Date: c. AD 150–155
Origin: Rome
Genre: Apology

Chapter XXXVII.—Utterances of the Father.

And that this too may be clear to you,

‹ Chapter 36 Chapter 38 ›

there

were

spoken

from

the

person

of

the

Father

through

Isaiah

the

prophet

,

the

following

words

:

“

The

ox

knoweth

his

owner

,

and

the

ass

his

master’s

crib

;

but

Israel

doth

not

know

,

and

My

people

hath

not

understood

.

Woe

,

sinful

nation

,

a

people

full

of

sins

,

a

wicked

seed

,

children

that

are

transgressors

,

ye

have

forsaken

the

Lord

.

”

And

again

elsewhere

,

when

the

same

prophet

speaks

in

like

manner

from

the

person

of

the

Father

,

“

What

is

the

house

that

ye

will

build

for

Me

?

saith

the

Lord

.

The

heaven

is

My

throne

,

and

the

earth

is

My

footstool

.

”

And

again

,

in

another

place

,

“

Your

new

moons

and

your

sabbaths

My

soul

hateth

;

and

the

great

day

of

the

fast

and

of

ceasing

from

labour

I

cannot

away

with

;

nor

,

if

ye

come

to

be

seen

of

Me

,

will

I

hear

you

:

your

hands

are

full

of

blood

;

and

if

ye

bring

fine

flour

,

incense

,

it

is

abomination

unto

Me

:

the

fat

of

lambs

and

the

blood

of

bulls

I

do

not

desire

.

For

who

hath

required

this

at

your

hands

?

But

loose

every

bond

of

wickedness

,

tear

asunder

the

tight

knots

of

violent

contracts

,

cover

the

houseless

and

naked

,

deal

thy

bread

to

the

hungry

.

”

What

kind

of

things

are

taught

through

the

prophets

from

[

the

person

of

]

God

,

you

can

now

perceive

.

Notes

74
Isa. i. 3. This quotation varies only in one word from that of the LXX.
75
Isa. lxvi. 1.
76
Isa. i. 14, Isa. lviii. 6.