And Trypho said: Yet I learn that many of those who say they acknowledge Jesus and are called Christians eat the things offered to idols, and say they receive no harm by doing so.
I answered: Even from the fact that there are such men, acknowledging that they are Christians, and that they acknowledge Jesus who was crucified to be both Lord and Christ, and yet do not teach His precepts, but rather those that issue from the spirits of error, we, the disciples of the true and pure teaching of Jesus Christ, become more faithful and stronger in the hope that was announced by Him. For the things which He anticipated and said would take place in His name, these things we see accomplished in sight and action.
For He said: Many shall come in My name, clothed without in sheep skins, but within they are ravaging wolves. And: There shall be divisions and heresies. And: Beware of the false prophets, who shall come unto you, clothed without in sheep skins, but within they are ravaging wolves.Matthew 7:15 And: Many false Christs shall rise up and false apostles and shall lead many of the faithful astray.
There are therefore, and have been, dear Friends, many who have taught others to say and to do things godless and blasphemous, coming up to us in the name of Jesus; and are called by us from the surname of the men from whom each doctrine and opinion started.
For some in one way and some in another teach men to blaspheme the Maker of the universe and the Christ that was prophesied by Him as about to come, and the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. With none of whom do we hold communion, who know that they are godless and impious and unrighteous and lawless, and instead of worshipping Jesus acknowledge Him only in name.
And they say that they are Christians, just as they who are among the nations inscribe the name of God upon their idols made by hands, and take part in lawless and godless rites. And some of them are called Marcianites, and some Valentinians, and some Basilidians, and some Satornilians, and others by other names, each being named from the originator of the opinion, just as also each of those who think they are philosophers, as I said already in the beginning (of my discourse), thinks it right to bear the name of the father of that system.
So that not only from these things, as I said, are we aware that Jesus knew beforehand what was to take place after Him, but also from many other things which He said would take place for those who believe and confess Him as Christ. For even all that we suffer, when we are slain by those of our own household, He told us beforehand would take place, so that in no respect can His word or action be considered blameworthy.
Therefore we pray, both for you and for all others who are at enmity with us, that you may repent with us, and not blaspheme Christ Jesus, who by His works and the miracles that even now take place by His name, and by the words of His teaching, and by the prophecies that were prophesied of Him, is shown to be without blame and without reproach in all respects, and by believing on Him you may be saved in that His second advent which is to take place in glory, and may not be condemned by Him to the fire.