Greek · Dialogus cum Tryphone
A long debate with a Jew named Trypho over the interpretation of the Jewish scriptures and whether Jesus is the Messiah. The opening chapters describe Justin's conversion from philosophy.
Dating
Refers back to the First Apology (120.6), so after c. 155; before Justin's death c. 165. The debate is set in Ephesus soon after the Bar Kokhba war (Eusebius), but the text was probably written in Rome.Books it uses
100.1 'in the Gospel it is written' introduces Matt 11:27 with the scripture formula 'it is written'; many other memoir citations.
106.3: 'his memoirs' (probably Peter's) record the Boanerges naming, found only in Mark 3:17.
103.8: the memoirs 'drawn up by His apostles and those who followed them' record the bloody sweat (Luke 22:44).
Logos Christology and e.g. 88.7 (John 1:20–23) suggest familiarity; no explicit citation.
81.4: 'a certain man with us, whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ, who prophesied, by a revelation...': the earliest attribution of Revelation to the apostle, and treated as prophecy.
Quotations
And further, there was a certain man with us, whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ, who prophesied, by a revelation that was made to him, that those who believed in our Christ would dwell a thousand years in Jerusalem; and that thereafter the general, and, in short, the eternal resurrection and judgment of all men would likewise take place.
Dial. 81.4Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Earliest attribution of Revelation to the apostle John, by name.
Revelation 20:4–6 BSB
4Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
but also in the Gospel it is written that He said: ‘All things are delivered unto me by My Father;’ and, ‘No man knoweth the Father but the Son; nor the Son but the Father, and they to whom the Son will reveal Him.
Dial. 100.1Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
'In the Gospel it is written': the singular 'Gospel' used for a written text.
Matthew 11:27 BSB
27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Luke 10:22 BSB
22All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
For in the memoirs which I say were drawn up by His apostles and those who followed them, [it is recorded] that His sweat fell down like drops of blood while He was praying, and saying, ‘If it be possible, let this cup pass:
Dial. 103.8Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Memoirs written by apostles 'and those who followed them' (i.e. Mark and Luke); cites the Lukan bloody sweat.
Luke 22:42–44 BSB
42“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
And when it is said that He changed the name of one of the apostles to Peter; and when it is written in the memoirs of Him that this so happened, as well as that He changed the names of other two brothers, the sons of Zebedee, to Boanerges, which means sons of thunder;
Dial. 106.3Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
'His memoirs' (probably Peter's, i.e. Mark) and the Boanerges detail found only in Mark 3:17.
Mark 3:16–17 BSB
16These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), 17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),