Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
After this the Jew remarks, manifestly in accordance with the Jewish
belief: “We certainly hope that there will be a bodily resurrection, and
that we shall enjoy an eternal life; and the example and archetype of
this will be He who is sent to us, and who will show that nothing is
impossible with God.” We do not know, indeed, whether the Jew would say
of the expected Christ, that He exhibits in Himself an example of the
resurrection; but let it be supposed that he both thinks and says so. We
shall give this answer, then, to him who has told us that he drew his
information from our own writings: “Did you read those writings, friend,
in which you think you discover matter of accusation against us, and not
find there the resurrection of Jesus, and the declaration that He was
the first-born from the dead? Or because you will not allow such things
to have been recorded, were they not actually recorded?” But as the Jew
still admits the resurrection of the body, I do not consider the present
a suitable time to discuss the subject with one who both believes and
says that there is a bodily resurrection, whether he has an
articulate[240] understanding of such a topic, and is able to plead well
on its behalf,[241] or not, but has only given his assent to it as being
of a legendary character.[242] Let the above, then, be our reply to this
Jew of Celsus. And when he adds, “Where, then, is he, that we may see
him and believe upon him?” we answer: Where is He now who spoke in the
prophecies, and who wrought miracles, that we may see and believe that
He is part of God? Are _you_ to be allowed to meet the objection, that
God does not perpetually show Himself to the Hebrew nation, while _we_
are not to be permitted the same defence with regard to Jesus, who has
both once risen Himself, and led His disciples to believe in His
resurrection, and so thoroughly persuaded them of its truth, that they
show to all men by their sufferings how they are able to laugh at all
the troubles of life, beholding the life eternal and the resurrection
clearly demonstrated to them both in word and deed?
Footnote 240:
εἶτε διαρθροῦντα τὸ τοιοῦτον παρ’ ἑαυτῷ.
Footnote 241:
καὶ δυνάμενον πρεσβεῦσαι περὶ τοῦ λόγου καλῶς.
Footnote 242:
ἀττὰ μυθικώτερον συγκατατιθέμενον τῷ λόγῳ.
Chapter LXXVIII.
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