| << | Contents | >> |
Justin Martyr
Show All Footnotes & Jump to 2172
Introductory Note to the Writings of Justin Martyr
Chapter LX.—Opinions of the Jews with regard to Him who appeared in the bush.
[2166] Literally, “judgment.”
Chapter LXI—Wisdom is begotten of the Father, as fire from fire.
[2167] Or, “in the beginning, before all creatures.” [Justin’s reference to Josh. i. 13-15 deserves special consideration; for he supposes that the true Joshua (Jesus) was the substance, and the true “captain of salvation,” of whom this one was but a shadow (Heb. iv. 8, margin), type, and pledge. See cap. lxii.]
[2168] The act of will or volition is on the part of the Father.
[2169] Or, “Do we not see,” etc.
[2170] The word, λόγος translated “word,” means both the thinking power or reason which produces ideas and the expression of these ideas. And Justin passes here from the one meaning to the other. When we utter a thought, the utterance of it does not diminish the power of thought in us, though in one sense the thought has gone away from us.
[2171] The mss. of Justin read “sleeping,” but this is regarded as the mistake of some careless transcriber.
[2172] Prov. viii. 21 ff.
Chapter LXII.—The words “Let Us make man” agree with the testimony of Proverbs.
[2173] Justin, since he is of opinion that the Word is the beginning of the universe, thinks that by these words, “in the beginning,” Moses indicated the Word, like many other writers. Hence also he says in Ap. i. 23, that Moses declares the Word “to be begotten first by God.” If this explanation does not satisfy, read, “with regard to Him whom I have pointed out” (Maranus).
[2176] Heresy or sect.
[2177] Or, “among us.” Maranus pronounces against this latter reading for the following reasons: (1.) The Jews had their own heresies which supplied many things to the Christian heresies, especially to Menander and Saturninus. (2.) The sect which Justin here refutes was of opinion that God spoke to angels. But those angels, as Menander and Saturninus invented, “exhorted themselves, saying, Let us make,” etc. (3.) The expression διδάσκαλοι suits the rabbins well. So Justin frequently calls them. (4.) Those teachers seem for no other cause to have put the words in the angels’ mouths than to eradicate the testimony by which they proved divine persons.
[2178] Josh. v. 13 ad fin., and Josh.vi. 1, 2.
Chapter LXIII.—It is proved that this God was incarnate.
[2180] Note this beautiful rendering, Ps. 110:3.
[2182] Or, “to us.”
Search Comments
This page has been visited 0147 times.
| << | Contents | >> |
10 per page