Chapter XIII.--Christians, and not Jews, the heirs of the covenant.
But let us see if this people [1630] is the heir, or the former, and if the covenant belongs to us or to them. Hear ye now what the Scripture saith concerning the people. Isaac prayed for Rebecca his wife, because she was barren; and she conceived. [1631] Furthermore also, Rebecca went forth to inquire of the Lord; and the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples in thy belly; and the one people shall surpass the other, and the elder shall serve the younger." [1632] You ought to understand who was Isaac, who Rebecca, and concerning what persons He declared that this people should be greater than that. And in another prophecy Jacob speaks more clearly to his son Joseph, saying, "Behold, the Lord hath not deprived me of thy presence; bring thy sons to me, that I may bless them." [1633] And he brought Manasseh and Ephraim, desiring that Manasseh [1634] should be blessed, because he was the elder. With this view Joseph led him to the right hand of his father Jacob. But Jacob saw in spirit the type of the people to arise afterwards. And what says [the Scripture]? And Jacob changed the direction of his hands, and laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, the second and younger, and blessed him. And Joseph said to Jacob, "Transfer thy right hand to the head of Manasseh, [1635] for he is my first-born son." [1636] And Jacob said, "I know it, my son, I know it; but the elder shall serve the younger: yet he also shall be blessed." [1637] Ye see on whom he laid [1638] [his hands], that this people should be first, and heir of the covenant. If then, still further, the same thing was intimated through Abraham, we reach the perfection of our knowledge. What, then, says He to Abraham? "Because thou hast believed, [1639] it is imputed to thee for righteousness: behold, I have made thee the father of those nations who believe in the Lord while in [a state of] uncircumcision." [1640]
[1630] That is, "Christians."
[1631] Gen. xxv. 21.
[1632] Gen. xxv. 23.
[1633] Gen. xlviii. 11, 9.
[1634] Cod. Sin. reads each time "Ephraim," by a manifest mistake, instead of Manasseh.
[1635] Cod. Sin. reads each time "Ephraim," by a manifest mistake, instead of Manasseh.
[1636] Gen. xlviii. 18.
[1637] Gen. xlviii. 19.
[1638] Or, "of whom he willed."
[1639] Cod. Sin. has, "when alone believing," and is followed by Hilgenfeld to this effect: "What, then, says He to Abraham, when, alone believing, he was placed in righteousness? Behold," etc.
[1640] Gen. xv. 6, Gen. xvii. 5; comp. Rom. iv. 3.
Chapter XIV.--The Lord hath given us the testament which Moses received and broke.
Yes [it is even so]; but let us inquire if the Lord has really given that testament which He swore to the fathers that He would give [1641] to the people. He did give it; but they were not worthy to receive it, on account of their sins. For the prophet declares, "And Moses was fasting forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai, that he might receive the testament of the Lord for the people." [1642] And he received from the Lord [1643] two tables, written in the spirit by the finger of the hand of the Lord. And Moses having received them, carried them down to give to the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Moses, Moses, go down quickly; for thy people hath sinned, whom thou didst bring out of the land of Egypt." [1644] And Moses understood that they had again [1645] made molten images; and he threw the tables out of his hands, and the tables of the testament of the Lord were broken. Moses then received it, but they proved themselves unworthy. Learn now how we have received it. Moses, as a servant, [1646] received it; but the Lord himself, having suffered in our behalf, hath given it to us, that we should be the people of inheritance. But He was manifested, in order that they might be perfected in their iniquities, and that we, being constituted heirs through Him, [1647] might receive the testament of the Lord Jesus, who was prepared for this end, that by His personal manifestation, redeeming our hearts (which were already wasted by death, and given over to the iniquity of error) from darkness, He might by His word enter into a covenant with us. For it is written how the Father, about to redeem [1648] us from darkness, commanded Him to prepare [1649] a holy people for Himself. The prophet therefore declares, "I, the Lord Thy God, have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thy hand, and will strengthen Thee; and I have given Thee for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, and to bring forth from fetters them that are bound, and those that sit in darkness out of the prison-house." [1650] Ye perceive, [1651] then, whence we have been redeemed. And again, the prophet says, "Behold, I have appointed Thee as a light to the nations, that Thou mightest be for salvation even to the ends of the earth, saith the Lord God that redeemeth thee." [1652] And again, the prophet saith, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the humble: He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to announce the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompense; to comfort all that mourn." [1653]
[1641] Cod. Sin. absurdly repeats "to give."
[1642] Ex. xxiv. 18.
[1643] Ex. xxxi. 18.
[1644] Ex. xxxii. 7; Deut. ix. 12.
[1645] Cod. Sin. reads, "for themselves."
[1646] Comp. Heb. iii. 5.
[1647] Cod. Sin. and other mss. read, "through Him who inherited."
[1648] Cod. Sin. refers this to Christ.
[1649] Cod. Sin. reads, "be prepared." Hilgenfeld follows Cod. Sin. so far, and reads, "For it is written how the Father commanded Him who was to redeem us from darkness (auto--lutrosamenos) to prepare a holy people for Himself."
[1650] Isa. xlii. 6, 7.
[1651] Cod. Sin. has, "we know."
[1652] Isa. xlix. 6. The text of Cod. Sin., and of the other mss., is here in great confusion: we have followed that given by Hefele.
[1653] Isa. lxi. 1, 2.