They teach blasphemies, some in one way and some in another, against the
creator of the universe and the crowned Messiah, whose coming was
prophesied by him, blasphemies against the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. With none of them have we fellowship, for we know that in their
impiousness and godlessness, in their sinfulness and slanderousness, they
confess Jesus in name only without really worshipping him. They style
themselves Christians as those pagans do who write God’s name on the work
of their hands and then indulge in wicked and godless rites…
As I said before, we know not only from these events [the appearance of
false teachers] that Jesus knew the future in advance, but we know it
also from many other happenings he predicted to those who believed and
confessed that he is the Christ. He even prophesied all that we would
suffer when we are put to death by our own relatives. Consequently, it is
obvious that nothing in his words and actions can be rejected.
We pray that you may believe in him and that you may be saved when he
comes again and appears in shining glory.
Justin, Dialogue with Trypho 35.5–8.
Bruderhof Communities wrote:
> Even to this day, spiritual gifts of prophecy are to be found among
> us. You [the Jews] should realize from this that these gifts that once
> were alive among your people have now been transferred to us. And just
> as there were false prophets among you alongside your holy prophets,
> so there are many false teachers in our midst now. Our Lord himself in
> his day warned us against such men.
>
> Therefore we will not let ourselves be taken by surprise in any way,
> for we are aware that he knew in advance all that would happen to us
> after his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven. He
> told us that we would be killed and hated for the sake of his name and
> that many false prophets and false Christs would come in his name and
> seduce many, and this has actually happened. Many in their craftiness
> have spread godless, blasphemous, and sinful teachings in his name.
> Whatever the Devil, that impure spirit, has put into their minds they
> have taught and continue to teach to this day. We do our utmost to
> change these people’s minds as well as yours and to dissuade them from
> error.
>
> Justin, Dialogue with Trypho 82.1–3.
>


|