Trypho said: We have already heard you put this forward, and we paid attention to what you said, for, to say the truth, it deserves attention. And it does not seem good to me, as it does to most, merely to say that it seemed good to God (to act as He did), for this is ever the pretence of those who are unable to give an answer to the subject under discussion.
And I said: Since I draw my proofs and exhortations both from the Scriptures and from the facts themselves, do not put the matter off, or hesitate to believe me, who am uncircumcised. It is but a short time that is left you for coming over to us, if Christ come suddenly, you will repent in vain, you will lament in vain; for He will not hear you. Break up fallow ground for yourselves, Jeremiah has cried to the people, and do not sow over thorns. Circumcise to the Lord, and be ye circumcised in the uncircumcision of your heart.
Do not therefore sow into thorns and unploughed land, whence you have no fruit. Know Christ, and behold there is fair fallow, fair and rich in your heart. For behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will visit their uncircumcision upon all who are uncircumcised, upon Egypt and upon Judah and upon Edom and upon the sons of Moab, because all the nations are without circumcision and every house of Israel is without circumcision in their hearts.
Ye see that God does not wish for this circumcision which was given for a sign; for it does not advantage either the Egyptians, or the sons of Moab, or the sons of Edom. But though a man be even a Scythian or a Persian, yet has the knowledge of God and of His Christ, and keeps the eternal acts of righteousness, he is circumcised with the fair and profitable circumcision, and he is dear to God, and God rejoices over all his gifts and offerings.
But I will exhibit to you, my dear Friends, the words of God Himself, when He spake unto the people by Malachi, one of the Twelve Prophets. Now they are these: I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord, and your sacrifices I will not accept at your hands. Because from the rising of the sun to its setting My name has been glorified among the nations, and in every place sacrifice is offered to My name, and a pure sacrifice, because My name is honoured among the nations, said the Lord; but ye profane it. And by David He said: A people whom I knew not served Me; at the hearing of the ear it obeyed Me.