After saying this and many other things besides, which it is not now a fitting time to tell, he went away, bidding me follow his advice, and I saw him no more. But as for me, straightway a fire was kindled in my soul, and a passionate desire possessed me for the prophets, and for those great men who are the friends of Christ. And as I weighed his words within me I found that this alone was philosophy, and philosophy safe and serviceable.
In this way then and for these reasons am I a philosopher. And, further, I could wish that all should form a desire as strong as mine, not to stand aloof from the Saviour’s words. For these have in themselves a something of dreadful majesty, and are enough to put to shame those that turn out of the right way: while rest most delightful comes to those who carry them out in practice. If therefore you have any regard for yourself, and are in earnest after salvation, and are trusting on God, you may, forasmuch as you are no stranger to the subject, know the Christ of God and be initiated, and then live a prosperous and happy life.
When, dear Friend, I had said all this, Trypho’s companions laughed aloud, and even he smiled. Your other remarks, he says, I accept, and I admire your zeal for the Divine, but it were better for you to continue to hold the philosophy of Plato or of some other learned man, practising the while endurance and self-control and temperance, than to have been completely led away by false speeches, and to follow men of no account. For while you remained in that mode of philosophy and lived a blameless life, a hope was left you of a better fate, but when you have forsaken God, and placed your hope on a man what kind of salvation yet remains for you?
If therefore you are willing to listen also to me (for I already reckon you as a friend), first be circumcised, then (as is commanded in the Law) keep the Sabbath and the Feasts and God’s New Moons, and, in short, do all the things that are written in the Law, and then perchance you will find mercy from God. But Messiah, if indeed He has ever been and now exists anywhere, is unknown, and does not even know Himself at all nor has any power, until Elijah shall have come and anointed Him, and shall have made Him manifest to all. But you people, by receiving a worthless rumour, shape a kind of Messiah for yourselves, and for His sake are now blindly perishing.