"of our race,[1] who admit that He is Christ, while holding Him to be man of men; with whom I do not agree, nor would I,[2] even though most of those who have [now] the same opinions as myself should say so; since we were enjoined by Christ Himself to put no faith in human doctrines, but in those proclaimed by the blessed prophets and taught by Himself."
Chap. xlix.—To those who object that Elijah has not yet come, he replies that he is the precursor of the first advent.
And Trypho said, "Those who affirm him to have been a man, and to have been anointed by election, and then to have become Christ, appear to me to speak more plausibly than you who hold those opinions which you express. For we all expect that Christ will be a man [born] of men, and that Elijah when he comes will anoint him. But if this man appear to be Christ, he must certainly be known as man [born] of men; but from the circumstance that Elijah has not yet come, I infer that this man is not he [the Christ]."
Then I inquired of him, "Does not Scripture, in the book of Zechariah,[3] say that Elijah shall come before the great and terrible day of the Lord?"
And he answered, "Certainly."
"If therefore Scripture compels you to admit that two advents of Christ were predicted to take place,—one in which He would appear suffering, and dishonoured, and without comeliness; but the other in which He would come glorious, and Judge of all, as has been made manifest in many of the fore-cited passages,—shall we not suppose that the word of God has proclaimed that Elijah shall be the pre-
- ↑ Some read, "of your race," referring to the Ebionites. Maranus believes the reference is to the Ebionites, and supports in a long note the reading "our," inasmuch as Justin would be more likely to associate these Ebionites with Christians than with Jews, even though they were heretics.
- ↑ Langus translates: "Nor would, indeed, many who are of the same opinion as myself say so."
- ↑ Mal. iv. 5.
