ＪＵＳＴＩＮ： ”Ｔｈｅ Ｗａｔｅｒ ｏｆ Ｌｉｆｅ”

Justin Martyr on How the New Heart Given in Baptism by Christ Is Superior to Jewish Purification Rites

Justin Martyr (ca. 100 – ca. 165 AD) was an early Christian apologist, philosopher, and martyr, who defended the Christian faith not only to the surrounding pagans, but also to unconverted Jewish people. His most well known interfaith dialogue was with a Jewish man named Trypho. In the following excerpt from Dialogue of Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, with Trypho, a Jew, Justin explains how the the new heart given by Christ in Christian baptism is superior to the profitless Jewish purification rituals. He writes:

By reason, therefore, of this laver of repentance and knowledge of God, which has been ordained on account of the transgression of God’s people, […] we have believed, and testify that that very baptism which he announced is alone able to purify those who have repented; and this is the water of life. But the cisterns which you [Jews] have dug for yourselves are broken and profitless to you. For what is the use of that baptism which cleanses the flesh and body alone? Baptize the soul from wrath and from covetousness, from envy, and from hatred; and, lo! the body is pure.

Dialogue of Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, with Trypho, a Jew, Chapter 14.