A SUMMARY OF JUSTIN MARTYR’S DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO

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A SUMMARY OF JUSTIN MARTYR’S DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO
The dialogue begins with the meeting of Justin martyr and Trypho with his friends at the colonnade. Trypho greets Justin and turned to walk alongside with him. Justin then asked him what he could do for him. He responded by acknowledging Justin to be a philosopher and requested to carry on a conversation with him which will be beneficial to them. In jest, Justin inquired who he was though acknowledging his braveness. He introduced himself as Trypho, a Hebrew of the circumcision, fleeing the on-going war.
Justin matter then asked him how he could benefit from philosophy as a Jew. Trypho responded that it would be of benefit to him since philosophers devote their whole discussion on God. Hence, Justin answered, that some philosophers do not care if there is one God or many gods, and whether they (gods) provide for each person or not, thinking that knowledge of this sort does not lead to happiness and  posit that God pays attention to the universe as a whole and to genera and species, but not to individuals. Since, to think that if God pays attention to individuals we would not pray to him night and day. He further says that this leads to impunity and license to those who hold these things and they fear neither punishment nor hope for anything from God. Again, other people supposing the soul is immortal and incorporeal think they will not pay any penalty if they do something evil, for what is incorporeal cannot suffer and since the soul is immortal, they do not depend on God for anything. At this point, Trypho requested Justin to enlighten them his own views about God.
Justin started by appraising philosophy to be the greatest and most valued of all possession and those who embrace it holy. He however frowned at the very fact that there exist many schools of thought in philosophy with their diverse doctrines. He told Trypho that his search to learn about God led him to encounter a certain Stoic who told him that such knowledge was irrelevant. Then, he met a Peripatetic who demanded a fee; afterwards, a Pythagorean who requested him to study music, geometry first and so on, and finally the Platonists whom he settled for.
Justin advanced very fast in Plato’s philosophy and wanted to have a vision of God immediately since Plato’s philosophy was aimed at that. Thus, he decided to take a rest at a spot not far from the sea. And there, he met an ancient old man who made him see faults with Plato’s doctrine and thought him about God.
The man asked Justin if philosophy produces happiness and he replied in the affirmative. Thus, defining philosophy as the science of being and discovery of truth while happiness is its price; he further defined being as God. The man then told him that God cannot be grasped by philosophers since they do not possess a science of him as opposed by Plato’s idea that He could be seen with the mind. As the discussion progressed, they dwelt on the relationship of the soul with God, if the soul can see God. Hence, the man refuted the doctrine of transmigration of soul, ungeneration and immortality of the soul held by the Platonist.
Consequently, the man told Justin that the soul participates in the life of God since God wills it to live. He further referred Justin to study the works of the prophets in other to attain the knowledge of these divine things. Again, he told him to beg God to open his mind to understand these things which are not comprehensible to anyone.


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