Book Reviews

Dialogue with Trypho. By Justin Mar- theology with Greek philosophy, tion, not simply with a word study tyr, trans. Thomas B. Falls, rev. by sometimes in unhelpful ways. This of the Hebrew, but with a thoroughly Thomas P. Halton, ed. by Michael volume demonstrates, however, how theological investigation of the Slusser. Washington, DC: Catholic anchored to the text of Scripture Jus- nature of the prophecy in redemptive University of America Press, 2003, tin could be. Justin appeals to Trypho history. Other objections by Trypho 229 pp., $24.95 paper. on the basis of the Old Testament read like those of contemporary Jung- Scriptures, noting that the Christ ian scholars such as Joseph Campbell. Given the controversies of recent event is the fulfi llment of the new Trypho, for instance, points out com- years, it is tempting for some to covenant promises of the fathers and mon features between the Christian believe that Jewish evangelism is the prophets. Noteworthy is Justin’s story and pagan mythologies—such an innovative concept, pioneered hermeneutic, which is typological as virginal conceptions. Centuries by Southern Baptists. and Christocentric. Thus, Justin before C. S. Lewis, Justin claims was no Southern Baptist. He was does not simply point Trypho to a these archetypal counterfeits actu- a first-generation Christian in the few isolated messianic prophecies. ally confi rm, rather than unravel, the second-century Roman Empire who Instead, he shows him how Jesus of Christian truth claims. sought to engage paganism, Hellenic Nazareth makes sense of all of the At other times, Trypho seems to philosophy, and Judaism with the Old Testament. In so doing, he treats argue like a classical dispensation- truth claims of Christian theology. the Bible as an organic unity, and alist evangelical—arguing for the This new revision of his Dialogues takes seriously the implications of restoration of a political Israelite serves to remind Christians of the divine authorship and the historical theocracy as the touchstone of the ancient Great Commission mandate unfolding of the mystery of the gos- messianic kingdom. Centuries before of a robust, clear, and Christocentric pel. It is all too easy for contemporary George Eldon Ladd, Justin employs defense of the gospel before all peo- evangelicals to dismiss fathers such an “already/not yet” schema of ple—including the Jewish people. as Justin for being “allegorical” and kingdom fulfi llment. Indeed, Justin In the Dialogue, Justin seeks to per- “fanciful.” A reading of Justin him- points to the Old Testament prophe- suade a prominent Jewish thinker of self, however, will show that Justin’s cies as themselves teaching a ten- the reality of Christian truth claims. hermeneutic may be quite different sion between the inauguration and Reading the Dialogue is much like from that of Walter Kaiser, but it is consummation of Davidic promise listening to a one-sided telephone remarkably similar to that of the at the end of the age. Justin carefully conversation. All that we have are apostles Peter and Paul. explores the meaning of “Israel”—a Justin’s arguments. But he so thor- Some of Trypho’s objections read meaning that is found in union with oughly deconstructs Trypho’s objec- like those of twentieth-century Prot- the Jewish Messiah, not in genetic tions that it is not diffi cult at all to see estant liberals. Justin responds, for bloodlines. This does not mean, both sides of the debate shaping up instance, to Trypho’s assertion that however, that Justin “spiritualizes” throughout the work. What contem- the prophet Isaiah does not foresee a the Old Testament promises. Indeed, porary evangelicals may be surprised “virgin birth” but a “young woman” he argues cogently and forcefully to see is how little the debates over giving birth as a sign. Clearly, this for the cosmic, material, and politi- Christian theology have changed in discussion did not originate with the cal a