游斯丁護教辭與對話 第 3-94 章

For tell me: was it not God who commanded through Moses that no image or likeness, whether of things in heaven above or of things on earth, should at all be made; yet He Himself, in the wilderness through Moses, caused a bronze serpent to be made, and set it up for a sign, by which sign those bitten by serpents were saved—and He is free of any wrongdoing?

For through this, as I said before, He proclaimed a mystery, by which He declared that He would break the power of the serpent that had also wrought the transgression committed by Adam, and that He would work salvation for those who believe on this One—who was about to be put to death by means of this sign, that is, the cross—from the bites of the serpent, which are evil deeds, idolatries, and other forms of wickedness.

For if this is not so understood, give me a reason why Moses set up the bronze serpent for a sign, and commanded those who were bitten to look upon it, and the bitten were healed—and this when he himself had commanded that no likeness of anything whatever should be made.

And the other of those who had come on the second day said: 'You have spoken truly; we have no reason to give. For I myself have often asked the teachers about this, and no one gave me an answer. So say what you have to say, for we are attending to you as you unveil a mystery, by which the teachings of the prophets are slandered.'

And I said: As, then, God commanded the sign to be made through the bronze serpent, and yet is free of blame, so also in the Law a curse lies against men who are crucified; but no curse lies against the Christ of God, through whom He saves all who have done things worthy of a curse.