Saint Augustine (354-430)

Against Faustus

Translated by Richard Stothert

Book XII

Chapter 43

What can our deluded adversaries say to such plain examples, which leave no room for perverse denial, or even for sceptical uncertainty? I call on the Manichæans to begin to inquire into these subjects, and to admit the force of these evidences, on which I have no time to dwell; nor do I wish to make a selection, in case the ignorant reader should think there are no others, while the Christian student might blame me for the omission of many points more striking than those which occur to me at the moment. You will find many passages which require no such explanation as has been given here of Jacob’s prophecy. For instance, every reader can understand the words, “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,” and the whole of that plain prophecy, “With His stripes we are healed”—“He bore our sins.” We have a poetical gospel in the words: “They pierced my hands and feet. They have told all my bones. They look and stare upon me. They divided my garments among them, and cast lots on my vesture.” The blind even may now see the fulfillment of the words: “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord, and all kingdoms of the nations shall worship before Him.” The words in the Gospel, “My soul is sorrowful, even unto death,” “My soul is troubled,” are a repetition of the words in the Psalm, “I slept in trouble.” And who made Him sleep? Whose voices cried, Crucify him, crucify him? The Psalm tells us: “The sons of men, their teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.” But they could not prevent His resurrection, or His ascension above the heavens, or His filling the earth with the glory of His name; for the Psalm says: “Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Thy glory be above all the earth.” Every one must apply these words to Christ: “The Lord said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.” And what Jeremiah says of wisdom plainly applies to Christ: “Jacob delivered it to his son, and Israel to his chosen one. Afterwards He appeared on earth, and conversed with men.”

Book XII Chapter 42

Book XII Chapter 44