Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
I think what has been stated is enough to convince any one that the
unbelief of the Jews with regard to Jesus was in keeping with what is
related of this people from the beginning. For I would say in reply to
this Jew of Celsus, when he asks, “What God that appeared among men is
received with incredulity, and that, too, when appearing to those who
expect him? or why, pray, is he not recognised by those who have been
long looking for him?” what answer, friends, would you have us return to
your[223] questions? Which class of miracles, in your judgment, do you
regard as the greater? Those which were wrought in Egypt and the
wilderness, or those which we declare that Jesus performed among you?
For if the former are in your opinion greater than the latter, does it
not appear from this very fact to be in conformity with the character of
those who disbelieved the greater to despise the less? And this is the
opinion entertained with respect to our accounts of the miracles of
Jesus. But if those related of Jesus are considered to be as great as
those recorded of Moses, what strange thing has come to pass among a
nation which has manifested incredulity with regard to the commencement
of both dispensations?[224] For the beginning of the legislation was in
the time of Moses, in whose work are recorded the sins of the
unbelievers and wicked among you, while the commencement of our
legislation and second covenant is admitted to have been in the time of
Jesus. And by your unbelief of Jesus ye show that ye are the sons of
those who in the desert discredited the divine appearances; and thus
what was spoken by our Saviour will be applicable also to you who
believed not on Him: “Therefore ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds
of your fathers.”[225] And there is fulfilled among you also the
prophecy which said: “Your life shall hang in doubt before your eyes,
and you will have no assurance of your life.”[226] For ye did not
believe in the life which came to visit the human race.
Footnote 223:
The text reads ἡμῶν, for which Bohereau and the Benedictine editor
propose either ὑμᾶς or ἡμᾶς, the former of which is preferred by
Lommatzsch.
Footnote 224:
κατ’ ἀμφοτέρας τὰς ἀρχὰς τῶν πραγμάτων ἀπιστοῦντι.
Footnote 225:
Cf. Luke xi. 48.
Footnote 226:
Cf. Deut. xxviii. 66.
Chapter LXXVI.
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