For tell me, was it not God who gave commandment by Moses not to make any image at all or likeness, either of the things that are in heaven above, or of those that are on earth, yet He Himself in the wilderness caused that the brazen serpent should be made by Moses, and set it as a sign, by which sign they that were bitten by serpents were healed, and yet he is guilty of any iniquity?
For, as I have already said, by this He proclaimed a mystery, by which He proclaimed that He would destroy the power of the serpent, who caused the transgression to be made by Adam, but (bring) salvation to them that believe on Him who was by this sign, namely, the cross, to be put to death, from the bites of the serpent, namely, evil deeds, idolatries, and other iniquities.
For if this be not so understood, tell me a reason why Moses set up the brazen serpent on the ‘sign’, and commanded them that were being bitten to look upon it, and they that were bitten were healed, and that although he himself had given command to make no likeness of anything at all.
Then another of those who had come on the second day said: You are right. We have no reason to give. For I myself have often asked our teachers about this, and none gave me any reply. So say what you will, for we are paying heed to you as you reveal the mystery of things that cause even the precepts of the prophets to be attacked.
I said, Just as God commanded the sign to be given by the brazen serpent, and yet is guiltless, so even in the Law does a curse lie against men who are crucified. Yet a curse does not lie any longer against the Christ of God, for by Him He saves all them that have done deeds that deserve a curse.