Chapter XXIX.—Christ is useless to
those who observe the law.
“Let us glorify God, all nations gathered
together; for He has also visited us. Let us glorify Him by the King of
glory, by the Lord of hosts. For He has been gracious towards the
Gentiles also; and our sacrifices He esteems more grateful than yours.
What need, then, have I of circumcision, who have been witnessed to by
God? What need have I of that other baptism, who
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have been
baptized with the Holy Ghost? I think that while I mention this, I would
persuade even those who are possessed of scanty intelligence. For these
words have neither been prepared by me, nor embellished by the art of
man; but David sung them, Isaiah preached them, Zechariah proclaimed
them, and Moses wrote them. Are you acquainted with them, Trypho? They
are contained in your Scriptures, or rather not yours, but ours.20242024 For we believe them;
but you, though you read them, do not catch the spirit that is in them.
Be not offended at, or reproach us with, the bodily uncircumcision with
which God has created us; and think it not strange that we drink hot
water on the Sabbaths, since God directs the government of the universe
on this day equally as on all others; and the priests, as on other days,
so on this, are ordered to offer sacrifices; and there are so many
righteous men who have performed none of these legal ceremonies, and yet
are witnessed to by God Himself.
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