Note 216 — Chapter III

Footnote 216:

(return)

Justin was not the first to do so, for it had already been done by the so-called Barnabas (see especially c. 13) and others. On the proofs from prophecy see my Texte und Unters. Bd. I. 3. pp. 56-74. The passage in the Praed. Petri (Clem. Strom. VI. 15. 128) is very complete: 'Ημις αναπτιξαντες τας βιβλους τας ειχομεν των προφητων, 'α μεν δια παραβολων 'α δε δια αινιγματων, 'α δε αυθεντικως και αυτολεξει τον Χριστον Ιησουν ονομαζοντων, ευρομεν και την παρουσιαν αυτου και τον θανατον και τον σταυρον και τας λοιπας κολασεις πασας, 'οσας εποιησαν αυτω 'οι Ιουδαιοι, και την εγερσιν και την εις ουρανους αναληψιν προ του 'ιερσολυμα κριθηναι, καθως εγεγραπτο ταυτα παντα 'α εδει αυτον παθειν και μετ' αυτον 'α εσται; ταυτα ουν επιγνοντες επιστευσαμεν τω θεω δια των γεγραμμεννων εις αυτον. With the help of the Old Testament the teachers dated back the Christian religion to the beginning of the human race, and joined the preparations for the founding of the Christian community with the creation of the world. The Apologists were not the first to do so, for Barnabas and Hermas, and before these, Paul, the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and others had already done the same. This was undoubtedly to the cultured classes one of the most impressive articles in the missionary preaching. The Christian religion in this way got a hold which the others—with the exception of the Jewish—lacked. But for that very reason, we must guard against turning it into a formula, that the Gentile Christians had comprehended the Old Testament essentially through the scheme of prediction and fulfilment. The Old Testament is certainly the book of predictions, but for that very reason the complete revelation of God which needs no additions and excludes subsequent changes. The historical fulfilment only proves to the world the truth of those revelations. Even the scheme of shadow and reality is yet entirely out of sight. In such circumstances the question necessarily arises, as to what independent meaning and significance Christ's appearance could have, apart from that confirmation of the Old Testament. But, apart from the Gnostics, a surprisingly long time passed before this question was raised, that is to say, it was not raised till the time of Irenæus.