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007 - Chapters 51-60 · Against Celsus Book 1

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  Speaker 1: Chapters fifty one through sixty of against Celsus. By origin
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  Speaker 1: this LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Now, the
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  Speaker 1: scripture speaks, respecting the place of the Saviour's birth, that
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  Speaker 1: the ruler was to come forth from Bethlehem in the
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  Speaker 1: following manner quote, and thou Bethlehem house of Ephrada, art
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  Speaker 1: not the least among the thousands of Judah. For out
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  Speaker 1: of thee shall he come forth unto me, who is
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  Speaker 1: to be ruler in Israel, and his goings forth have
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  Speaker 1: been of old from everlasting end. Quote. Now, this prophecy
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  Speaker 1: could not suit any one of those, who, as Celsus's
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  Speaker 1: Jews says, were fanatics and mob leaders, and who gave
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  Speaker 1: out that they had come from Heaven, unless it were
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  Speaker 1: clearly shown that he had been born in Bethlehem, or,
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  Speaker 1: as another might say, had come forth from Bethlehem to
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  Speaker 1: be the leader of the people. With respect to the
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  Speaker 1: birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, if any one desires, after
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  Speaker 1: the prophecy of Micah, and after the history recorded in
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  Speaker 1: the Gospels by the disciples of Jesus, to have additional
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  Speaker 1: evidence from other sources, let him know that in conformity
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  Speaker 1: with the narrative in the Gospel regarding his birth. There
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  Speaker 1: is shown at Bethlehem the cave where he was born,
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  Speaker 1: and the manger in the cave where he was wrapped
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  Speaker 1: in swaddling clothes. And this sight is greatly talked of
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  Speaker 1: in surrounding places, even among the enemies of the faith,
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  Speaker 1: it being said that in this cave was born that Jesus,
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  Speaker 1: who is worshiped and reverenced by the Christians. Moreover, I
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  Speaker 1: am of opinion that before the Advent of Christ, the
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  Speaker 1: chief priests and scribes of the people, on account of
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  Speaker 1: the distinctness and clearness of this prophecy, taught that in
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  Speaker 1: Bethlehem the Christ was to be born, And this opinion
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  Speaker 1: had prevailed also extensively among the Jews, for which reason
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  Speaker 1: it is related that herod On inquiring at the chief
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  Speaker 1: priests and scribes of the people, heard from them that
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  Speaker 1: the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea
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  Speaker 1: quote whence David was end quote. It is stated also
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  Speaker 1: in the Gospel, according to John, that the Jews declared
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  Speaker 1: that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem quote
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  Speaker 1: whence David was end quote. But after our Lord's coming,
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  Speaker 1: those who busied themselves with overthrowing the belief that the
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  Speaker 1: place of his birth had been the subject of prophecy
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  Speaker 1: from the beginning, withheld such teaching from the people, acting
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  Speaker 1: in a similar manner to those individuals who won over
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  Speaker 1: those soldiers of the guard stationed around the tomb, who
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  Speaker 1: had seen him arise from the dead, and who instructed
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  Speaker 1: these eye witnesses to report as follows. Quote say that
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  Speaker 1: his disciples, while we slept, came and stole him away.
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  Speaker 1: And if this come to the governor's ears, we shall
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  Speaker 1: persuade him and secure you end quote. Strife and prejudice
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  Speaker 1: are powerful instruments in leading men to disregard even those
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  Speaker 1: things which are abundantly clear, So that they who have
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  Speaker 1: somehow become familiar with certain opinions, which have deeply imbued
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  Speaker 1: their minds and stamped them with a certain character, will
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  Speaker 1: not give them up. For a man will abandon his
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  Speaker 1: habits in respect to other things, although it may be
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  Speaker 1: difficult for him to tear himself from them, more easily
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  Speaker 1: than he will surrender his opinions. Nay, even the former
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  Speaker 1: are not easily put aside by those who have become
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  Speaker 1: accustomed to them, And so neither houses, nor cities, nor villages,
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  Speaker 1: nor intimate acquaintances are willingly forsaken when we are prejudiced
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  Speaker 1: in their favor. This, therefore, was a reason why many
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  Speaker 1: of the Jews at that time disregarded the clear testimony
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  Speaker 1: of the prophecies and miracles which Jesus wrought and of
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  Speaker 1: the sufferings which he is related to have endured. And
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  Speaker 1: that human nature is thus affected will be manifest to
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  Speaker 1: those who observe them, Those who have once been prejudiced
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  Speaker 1: in favor of the most contemptible and paltry traditions of
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  Speaker 1: their ancestors and fellow citizens, with difficulty lay them aside.
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  Speaker 1: For example, no one could easily persuade an Egyptian to
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  Speaker 1: despise what he had learned from his fathers, so as
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  Speaker 1: no longer to consider this or that irrational animal as
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  Speaker 1: a god, or not to guard against eating, even under
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  Speaker 1: penalty of death of the flesh of such an animal. Now,
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  Speaker 1: if in carrying our examination of this subject to a
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  Speaker 1: considerable length, we have enumerated the points respecting Bethlehem and
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  Speaker 1: the prophecy regarding it, we consider that we were obliged
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  Speaker 1: to do this by way of defense against those who
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  Speaker 1: would assert that, if the prophecies current among the Jews
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  Speaker 1: regarding Jesus were so clear as we represent them, why
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  Speaker 1: did they not at his coming give in their adhesion
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  Speaker 1: to his doctrine and betake themselves to the better life
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  Speaker 1: pointed out by him. No, no one, however, brings such
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  Speaker 1: a reproach against believers, since he may see that reasons
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  Speaker 1: of no light weight are assigned by those who have
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  Speaker 1: learned to state them fur their faith than Jesus. And
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  Speaker 1: if we should ask for a second prophecy, which may
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  Speaker 1: appear to us to have a clear reference to Jesus,
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  Speaker 1: we would quote that which was written by Moses, very
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  Speaker 1: many years before the advent of Christ, when he makes Jacob,
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  Speaker 1: on his departure from this life, to have uttered predictions
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  Speaker 1: regarding each of his sons, and to have said of Judah,
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  Speaker 1: along with the others, quote the ruler will not fail
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  Speaker 1: from Judah and the governor from his loins until that
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  Speaker 1: which is reserved for him come end. Now, any one
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  Speaker 1: meeting with this prophecy, which is in reality much older
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  Speaker 1: than Moses, so that one who is not a believer
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  Speaker 1: might suspect that it was not written by him, would
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  Speaker 1: be surprised that Moses should be able to predict that
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  Speaker 1: the princes of the Jews, seeing there are among them
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  Speaker 1: twelve tribes, should be born of the tribe of Judah,
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  Speaker 1: and should be the rulers of the people, for which
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  Speaker 1: reason also the whole nation are called Jews, deriving their
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  Speaker 1: name from the ruling tribe. And in the second place,
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  Speaker 1: one who candidly considers the prophecy would be surprised how
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  Speaker 1: after declaring that the rulers and governors of the people
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  Speaker 1: were to proceed from the tribe of Judah, he should
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  Speaker 1: determine also the limit of their rule, saying that quote
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  Speaker 1: the ruler should not fail from Judah, nor the governor
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  Speaker 1: from his loins, until there should come that which was
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  Speaker 1: reserved for him, and that he is the expectation of
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  Speaker 1: the gentiles end quote, For he came for whom these
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  Speaker 1: things were reserved viz. The Christ of God, the ruler
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  Speaker 1: of the promises of God. And manifestly he is the
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  Speaker 1: only one among those who preceded, And I might make
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  Speaker 1: bold to say, among those also who followed him, who
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  Speaker 1: was the expectation of the gentiles. For converts from among
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  Speaker 1: all the gentile nations have believed on God through him,
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  Speaker 1: and that in conformity with the prediction of Isaiah that
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  Speaker 1: in his name the gentiles had hoped. Quote in thy
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  Speaker 1: name shall the gentiles hope end quote. And this man
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  Speaker 1: said also to those who are in prison, as every
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  Speaker 1: man is a captive to the chains of his sins, quote,
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  Speaker 1: come forth end quote. And to the ignorant quote, come
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  Speaker 1: into the light end quote. These things also having been
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  Speaker 1: thus foretold, quote, I have given thee for a covenant
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  Speaker 1: of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to
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  Speaker 1: inherit the desolate heritage, saying to the prisoners, go forth,
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  Speaker 1: and to them that are in darkness, show yourselves. End quote.
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  Speaker 1: And we may see at the appearing of this man
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  Speaker 1: by means of those who everywhere throughout the world have
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  Speaker 1: reposed as simple faith in him, the fulfillment of this
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  Speaker 1: prediction quote, they shall feed in the ways, and their
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  Speaker 1: pastures shall be in all the beaten tracts end quote.
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  Speaker 1: And since Celsus, although professing to know all about the Gospel,
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  Speaker 1: reproaches the Savior because of his sufferings, saying that he
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  Speaker 1: received no assistance from the Father or was unable to
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  Speaker 1: aid himself, we have to state that his sufferings were
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  Speaker 1: the subject of prophecy, along with the cause of them,
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  Speaker 1: because it was for the benefit of mankind that he
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  Speaker 1: should die on their account and should suffer stripes because
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  Speaker 1: of his condemnation. It was predicted moreover that some from
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  Speaker 1: among the gentiles would come to the knowledge of him,
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  Speaker 1: among whom the prophets are not included, and it had
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  Speaker 1: been declared that he would be seen in a form
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  Speaker 1: which is deemed dishonorable among men. The words of prophecy
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  Speaker 1: run thus quote, Lo, my servant shall have understanding, and
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  Speaker 1: shall be exalted and glorified, and raised exceedingly high in
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  Speaker 1: like manner. Many shall be astonished at thee. So thy
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  Speaker 1: form shall be in no reputation among men, and thy
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  Speaker 1: glory among the sons of men. Lo, many nations shall
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  Speaker 1: marvel because of him, and kings shall close their mouths,
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  Speaker 1: because they to whom no message about him was sent
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  Speaker 1: shall see him. And they who have not heard of
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  Speaker 1: him shall have knowledge of him. End. Quote Lord, who
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  Speaker 1: hath believed our report, and to whom was the arm
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  Speaker 1: of the Lord revealed we have reported as a child
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  Speaker 1: before him, as a root in a thirsty ground. He
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  Speaker 1: has no form nor glory, and we beheld him, and
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  Speaker 1: he had not any form nor beauty. But his appearance
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  Speaker 1: was without honor and deficient more than that of all men.
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  Speaker 1: He was a man under suffering, and who knew how
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  Speaker 1: to bear sickness. Because his countenance was averted, he was
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  Speaker 1: treated with disrespect and was made of no account. This
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  Speaker 1: man bears our sins and suffers pain on our behalf.
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  Speaker 1: And we regarded him as in trouble and in suffering,
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  Speaker 1: and as ill treated. But he was wounded for our
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  Speaker 1: sins and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our
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  Speaker 1: peace was upon him by his stripes. We were healed.
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  Speaker 1: We all, like sheep, wandered from the way. A man
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  Speaker 1: wandered in his way, and the Lord delivered him on
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  Speaker 1: account of our sins. And he, because of his evil treatment,
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  Speaker 1: opens not his mouth. As a sheep was he led
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  Speaker 1: to slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb,
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  Speaker 1: So he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation, his
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  Speaker 1: judgment was taken away. And who shall describe his generation?
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  Speaker 1: Because his life is taken away from the earth. Because
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  Speaker 1: of the iniquities of my people, was he led unto death?
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  Speaker 1: End now I remember that on one occasion, at a
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  Speaker 1: disputation held with certain Jews who were reckoned wise men,
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  Speaker 1: I quoted these prophecies, to which my Jewish opponent replied
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  Speaker 1: that these predictions bore reference to the whole people, regarded
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  Speaker 1: as one individual and as being in a state of
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  Speaker 1: dispersion and suffering, in order that many apostolytes might be
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  Speaker 1: gained on account of the dispersion of the Jews among
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  Speaker 1: numerous Heathen nations. And in this way he explained the
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  Speaker 1: words quote thy form shall be of no reputation among
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  Speaker 1: men end quote, and then quote they to whom no
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  Speaker 1: message was sent respecting him shall see end quote, and
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  Speaker 1: the expression quote a man under suffering end quote. Many
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  Speaker 1: arguments were employed on that occasion during the discussion to
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  Speaker 1: prove that these predictions regarding one particular person were not
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  Speaker 1: rightly applied by them to the whole nation. And I
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  Speaker 1: asked to what character the expression would be appropriate. Quote
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  Speaker 1: this man bears our sins and suffers pain on our
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  Speaker 1: behalf end quote, and this quote, but he was wounded
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  Speaker 1: for our sins and bruised for our iniquities end quote.
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  Speaker 1: And to whom the expression properly belonged. Quote by his stripes,
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  Speaker 1: we were healed. End quote. For it is manifest that
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  Speaker 1: it is they who had been sinners and had been
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  Speaker 1: healed by the Saviour's sufferings, whether belonging to the Jewish
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  Speaker 1: nation or converts from the Gentiles, who use such language
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  Speaker 1: in the writings of the prophet, who foresaw these events,
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  Speaker 1: and who under the influence of the Holy Spirit, applied
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  Speaker 1: these words to a person. But we seemed to press
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  Speaker 1: them hardest with the expression, quote, because of the iniquities
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  Speaker 1: of my people was he led away unto death? End quote.
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  Speaker 1: For if the people, according to them are the subject
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  Speaker 1: of the prophecy, how is the man said to be
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  Speaker 1: led away to death because of the iniquities of the
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  Speaker 1: people of God, unless he be a different person from
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  Speaker 1: the people of God? And who is this person save
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  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, by whose stripes they who believe on him
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  Speaker 1: are healed when quote he had spoiled the principalities and
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  Speaker 1: powers that were over us, and had made a show
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  Speaker 1: of them openly on his cross. At another time, we
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  Speaker 1: may explain that several parts of the prophecy, leaving none
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  Speaker 1: of them unexamined. But these matters have been treated at
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  Speaker 1: greater length, necessarily, as I think, on account of the
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  Speaker 1: language of the Jew, as quoted in the works of Celsus.
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  Speaker 1: Now it escaped the notice of Celsus and of the
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  Speaker 1: Jew whom he has introduced, and of all who are
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  Speaker 1: not believers in Jesus, that the prophecies speak of two
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  Speaker 1: advents of Christ, the former characterized by human suffering and humility,
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  Speaker 1: in order that Christ, being with men, might make known
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  Speaker 1: the way that leads to God, and might leave no
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  Speaker 1: man in this life. A ground of excuse in saying
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  Speaker 1: that he knew not of the judgment to come, and
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  Speaker 1: the latter distinguished only by the glory and divinity, having
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  Speaker 1: no element of human infirmity intermingled with its divine greatness.
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  Speaker 1: To quote the prophecies at length would be tedious, and
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  Speaker 1: I deem it sufficient for the present to quote a
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  Speaker 1: part of the forty fifth Psalm, which has this inscription,
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  Speaker 1: in addition to others. Quote a Psalm for the beloved
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  Speaker 1: end quote where God is evidently addressed in these words, Quote,
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  Speaker 1: grace is poured into thy lips. Therefore God will bless
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  Speaker 1: thee forever and ever gird thy sword on thy thigh.
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  Speaker 1: O Mighty One, and thy beauty and thy majesty, and
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  Speaker 1: stretch forth and ride prosperously, and reign because of thy
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  Speaker 1: truth and meekness and righteousness. And thy right hand shall
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  Speaker 1: lead THEE marvelously. Thine arrows are pointed, O Mighty One,
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  Speaker 1: the people will fall under THEE in the heart of
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  Speaker 1: the enemies of the king end quote. But attend carefully
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  Speaker 1: to what follows where he is called God. Quote for
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  Speaker 1: thy throne, O God is forever and ever. A scepter
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  Speaker 1: of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast
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  Speaker 1: loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Therefore, God, even thy God,
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  Speaker 1: hath anointed THEE with the oil of gladness above thy
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  Speaker 1: fellows end quote. And observe that the prophet, speaking familiarly
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  Speaker 1: to God whose quote throness forever and ever end quote,
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  Speaker 1: and quote a sceptor of righteousness the scepter of his
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  Speaker 1: kingdom end quote, says that this God has been anointed
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  Speaker 1: by a God who was his God, and anointed because
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  Speaker 1: more than his fellows, he had loved righteousness and hated iniquity.
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  Speaker 1: And I remember that I pressed the Jew, who is
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  Speaker 1: deemed a learned man, very hard with this passage, and he,
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  Speaker 1: being perplexed about it, gave such an answer as was
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  Speaker 1: in keeping with his judaistic views, saying that the words
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  Speaker 1: quote thy throne O God is forever and ever. A
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  Speaker 1: sceptor of righteousness is a scepter of Thy kingdom end
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  Speaker 1: quote are spoken of the God of all things, and
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  Speaker 1: these quote thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Therefore
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  Speaker 1: Thy God hath anointed thee end quote, et cetera, referred
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  Speaker 1: to the missile the jew. Moreover, in the treatise addresses
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  Speaker 1: the savior. Thus, quote, if you say that every man
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  Speaker 1: born according to the decree of divine providence is the
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  Speaker 1: son of God, in what respects should you differ from another?
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  Speaker 1: End quote in reply to whom we say that every man, who,
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  Speaker 1: as Paul expresses it, is no longer under fear as
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  Speaker 1: a schoolmaster, but who chooses good for its own sake,
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  Speaker 1: is quote a son of God end quote. But this
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  Speaker 1: man is distinguished far and wide above every man who
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  Speaker 1: is called on account of his virtues a son of God,
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  Speaker 1: seeing he is, as it were, a kind of source
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  Speaker 1: and beginning of all such The words of Paul are
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  Speaker 1: as follow quote for ye have not received the spirit
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  Speaker 1: of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the
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  Speaker 1: spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father end quote.
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  Speaker 1: But according to the jew of Celsus quote, countless individuals
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  Speaker 1: will convict Jesus of fallenhood, alleging that those predictions which
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  Speaker 1: were spoken of him were intended of them. We are
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  Speaker 1: not aware, indeed, whether Celsus knew of any who, after
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  Speaker 1: coming into this world, and having desired to act as
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  Speaker 1: Jesus did, declared themselves to be also the sons of
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  Speaker 1: God or the power of God. But since it is
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  Speaker 1: in the spirit of truth that we examine each passage,
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  Speaker 1: we shall mention that there was a certain Theudas among
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  Speaker 1: the Jews before the birth of Christ, who gave himself
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  Speaker 1: out as some great one, after whose death his deluded
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  Speaker 1: followers were completely dispersed. And after him, in the days
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  Speaker 1: of the Census, when Jesus appears to have been born,
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  Speaker 1: one Judas, a Galilean, gathered around him many of the
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  Speaker 1: Jewish people, saying he was a wise man and a
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  Speaker 1: teacher of certain new doctrines. And when he also had
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  Speaker 1: paid the penalty of his rebellion, his doctrine was overturned,
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  Speaker 1: having taken hold of very few, indeed, and these of
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  Speaker 1: the very humblest condition. And after the times of Jesus,
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  Speaker 1: Docytheus the Samaritan also wished to persuade the Samaritans that
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  Speaker 1: he was the Christ predicted by Moses, and he appears
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  Speaker 1: to have gained over some to his views. But it
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  Speaker 1: is not absurd in quoting the extremely wise observation of
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  Speaker 1: that Gamaliel named in the Book of Acts, to show
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  Speaker 1: how those persons above mentioned were strangers to the promise,
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  Speaker 1: being neither sons of God nor powers of God, whereas
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  Speaker 1: Christ Jesus was truly the son of God. Now, Gamaliel,
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  Speaker 1: in the passage referred to, said, quote, if this council
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  Speaker 1: or this work be of men, it will come to
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  Speaker 1: not end quote, as also did the designs of those
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  Speaker 1: men already mentioned after their death. Quote. But if it
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  Speaker 1: be of God, ye cannot overthrow this doctrine, lest haply
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  Speaker 1: ye be found even to fight against God. End quote.
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  Speaker 1: There is also Simon, the Samaritan magician, who wished to
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  Speaker 1: draw away certain by his magical arts, and on that
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  Speaker 1: occasion he was successful. But nowadays it is impossible to find.
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  Speaker 1: I suppose thirty of his followers in the entire world,
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  Speaker 1: and probably I have even overstated the number. They are
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  Speaker 1: exceedingly few in Palestine, while in the rest of the
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  Speaker 1: world through which he desired to spread the glory of
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  Speaker 1: his name, you find it nowhere mentioned, And where it
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  Speaker 1: is found, it is quoted from the acts of the Apostles,
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  Speaker 1: so that it is the Christians that he owes this
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  Speaker 1: mention of himself, the unmistakable result having proved that Simon
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  Speaker 1: was in no respect divine. After these matters, this jew
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  Speaker 1: of Celsus, instead of the magi mentioned in the Gospel,
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  Speaker 1: say that quote. Chaldeans are spoken of by Jesus as
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  Speaker 1: having been induced to come to him at his birth
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  Speaker 1: and to worship him while yet an infant as a god,
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  Speaker 1: and to have made this known to Herod the Tetrarch,
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  Speaker 1: and that the latter sent and slew all the infants
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  Speaker 1: that had been borne about the same time, thinking that
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: in this way he would ensure his death among the others,
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: and that he was led to do this through fear
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: that if Jesus lived to a sufficient age, he would
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: obtain the throne. See now in this instance the blunder
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: of one who cannot distinguish between Magi and Chaldeans, nor
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: perceive that what they profess is different, and so as
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: falsified the gospel narrative. I know not moreover why he
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: has passed by in silence the cause which led the
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: Magi to come, and why he has not stated, according
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: to the scriptural account, that it was a star seen
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: by them in the east. Let us see now what
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: answer we have to make to those statements. The star
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: that was seen in the east we considered to have
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: been a new star, unlike any of the other well
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: known planetary bodies, either those in the firmament above or
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: those among the lower orbs. But partaking of the nature
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: of those celestial bodies which appear at times, such as
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: comets or those meteors, which resemble beams of wood, or beards,
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: or wine jars, or any of those other names by
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: which the Greeks are accustomed to describe their varying appearances,
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: and we establish our position in the following manner. It
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: is being observed that on the occurrence of great events
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: and of mighty changes in terrestrial things, such stars are
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: wont to appear, indicating either the removal of dynasties or
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: the breaking out of wars, or the happening of such
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: circumstances as may cause commotions upon the earth. But we
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: have read in the Treatise on Comets by Karamon the Stoic,
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: that on some occasions, also when good was to happen,
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: comets made their appearance, and he gives an account of
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: such instances. If then, at the commencement of new dynasties,
• 21:58
  Speaker 1: or on the occasion of other imp court and events,
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: there arises a comet so called, or any similar celestial body,
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: why should it be matter of wonder that at the
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: birth of Him who was to introduce a new doctrine
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: to the human race, and to make known his teaching
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: not only to Jews, but also to Greeks and to
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: many of the barbarous nations. Besides, a star should have arisen. Now,
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: I would say that with respect to comets, there is
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: no prophecy in circulation to the effect that such and
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: such a comet was to arise in connection with a
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: particular kingdom or a particular time. But respect to the
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: appearance of a star at the birth of Jesus, there
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: is a prophecy of Ballum recorded by Moses to this effect.
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: Quote there shall arise a star out of Jacob, and
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: a man shall rise up out of Israel. End quote.
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: And now, if it shall be deemed necessary to examine
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: the narrative about the Magi and the appearance of the
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: star at the birth of Jesus, the following is what
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: we have to say, partly in answer to the Greek
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: Greeks and partly to the Jews. To the Greeks, then
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: I have to say that the Magi, being on familiar
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: terms with evil spirits, and invoking them for such purposes
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: as their knowledge and wishes extend to bring about such
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: results only as do not appear to exceed the superhuman
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: power and strength of the evil spirits and of the
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: spells which invoke them to accomplish. But should some greater
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: manifestation of Divinity be made, then the powers of the
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: evil spirits are overthrown, being unable to resist the light
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: of Divinity. It is probable therefore, that since at the
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: birth of Jesus quote, a multitude of the heavenly host
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: end quote as lucchords and as I believe quote praised God,
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: saying glory to God in the highest and on earth,
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: peace good will towards men. End quote. The evil spirits,
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: on that account, became feeble and lost their strength, the
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: falsity of their sorcery being manifested and their power being broken.
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: This overthrow being brought about not only by the angels
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: having visited the terrestrial regions on account of the birth
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: of Jesus, but also by the power of Jesus himself
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: and his innate divinity. The magi, accordingly, wishing to produce
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: the customary results which formerly they used to perform by
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: means of certain spells and sorceries, conjecturing the cause to
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: be a great one and beholding a divine sign in
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: the heaven, they desire to learn insignification. I am therefore
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: of opinion that, possessing as they did the prophecies of Ballum,
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: which Moses also records, inasmuch as Balam was celebrated for
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: such predictions, and finding among them the prophecy about the
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: star and the words quote, I shall show him to him,
• 24:46
  Speaker 1: but not now I deem him happy, although he will
• 24:50
  Speaker 1: not be near end quote, they conjectured that the man
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: whose appearance had been foretold along with that of the star,
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: had actually come into the world, and having predetermined that
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: he was superior in power to all demons and to
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: all common appearances and powers. They resolved to offer him homage.
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: They came accordingly to Judea, persuaded that some king had
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: been born, but not knowing over what kingdom he was
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: to reign, and being ignorant also of the place of
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: his birth, bringing gifts which they offered to him as
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: one whose nature partook. If I may so speak both
• 25:27
  Speaker 1: of God and of a mortal man, gold viz As
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: to a king, mur as to one who was mortal,
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: and incense as to a God. And they brought these
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: offerings after they had learned the place of his birth.
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: But since he was a God, the savior of the
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: human race, raised far above all those angels which ministered
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: to men. An angel rewarded the piety of the magi
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: for their worship of him by making known to them
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: that they were not to go back to Herod, but
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: to return to their own own homes by another way.
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  Speaker 1: End of chapters fifty one through sixty of Against Celsus
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: by Origin read by David Ronald