Sermon Tone Analysis

YHWH said to Abraham

Chapter LIX.--God distinct from the Father conversed with Moses.

When I had spoken these words, I continued: "Permit me, further, to show you from the book of Exodus how this same One, who is both Angel, and God, and Lord, and man, and who appeared in human form to Abraham and Isaac,11 appeared in a flame of fire from the bush, and conversed with Moses."

And after they said they would listen cheerfully, patiently, and eagerly, I went on: "These words are in the book which bears the title of Exodus: 'And after many days the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel groaned by reason of the works;'12 and so on until,

'Go and gather the elders of Israel, and thou shalt say unto them, The Lord God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying, I am surely beholding you, and the things which have befallen you in Egypt.' "

13 In addition to these words, I went on: "Have you perceived, sirs, that this very God whom Moses speaks of as an Angel (Messenger) that talked to him in the flame of fire, declares to Moses that He is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob?"

3. Chapter LX.--Opinions of the Jews with regard to Him who appeared in the bush.

Then Trypho said, "We do not perceive this from the passage quoted by you, but [only this], that it was an angel who appeared in the flame of fire, but God who conversed with Moses; so that there were really two persons in company with each other, an angel (Messenger) and GOD, that appeared in that vision."

Trypho suggests that the one called angel is not the GOD that is also referred to in the verse.

I again replied, "Even if this were so, my friends, that an angel and GOD were together in the vision seen by Moses, yet, as has already been proved to you by the passages previously quoted, it will not be THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS that is the God that said to Moses that He was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, but it will be He who has been proved to you to have appeared to Abraham, ministering to the WILL OF THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS, and likewise carrying into execution HIS COUNSEL in the judgment of Sodom; so that, even though it be as you say, that there were two--an angel and God--he who has but the smallest intelligence will not venture to assert that the MAKER AND FATHER OF ALL THINGS, having left all supercelestial matters, was visible on a little portion of the earth."

Justin is proving the early church viewed Jesus and the Father GOD as separate beings that are not a unity.

We can learn a lot about the opinion of the church from the writers.

And the Catholic Church has lied about what the early church doctrines are, and instead said it was the trinity, what a lie.

And Trypho said, "Since it has been previously proved that He who is called God and Lord, and appeared to Abraham, received from THE LORD, WHO IS IN THE HEAVENS, that which He inflicted on the land of Sodom, even although an angel had accompanied the God who appeared to Moses, we shall perceive that the God who communed with Moses from the bush was not THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS, but He who has been shown to have manifested Himself to Abraham and to Isaac and to Jacob; who also is called and is perceived to be the Angel (Messenger) of GOD THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS, because He publishes to men THE COMMANDS OF THE FATHER AND MAKER OF ALL THINGS."

And I replied, "Now assuredly, Trypho, I shall show that, in the vision of Moses, this same One alone who is called an Angel (Messenger), and who is God, appeared to and communed with Moses.

For the Scripture says thus: 'The Angel (messenger) of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the bush; and he sees that the bush burns with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, I will turn aside and see this great sight, for the bush is not burnt.

And when the Lord saw that he is turning aside to behold, the Lord called to him out of the bush.'1

In the same manner, therefore, in which the Scripture calls Him who appeared to Jacob in the dream an Angel (messenger), then [says] that the same Angel (Messenger) who appeared in the dream spoke to him,2 saying, 'I am the God that appeared to thee when thou didst flee from the face of Esau thy brother;' and [again] says that, in the judgment which befell Sodom in the days of Abraham, the Lord had inflicted the punishment3 OF THE LORD WHO [DWELLS] IN THE HEAVENS;--even so here, the Scripture, in announcing that the Angel(messenger) of the LORD appeared to Moses, and in afterwards declaring him to be Lord and God, speaks of the same One, whom it declares by the many testimonies already quoted to be minister TO GOD, WHO IS ABOVE THE WORLD, ABOVE WHOM THERE IS NO OTHER [GOD].