Dialogus Athanasii et Zacchaei

Discourse of Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, to Zacchaeus, a teacher of the law of the Jews. 1 Zacchaeus said: You Christians are deceived, first, because you think that there are other gods besides the one and only God, since the Scripture says everywhere that there is one God: "Hear, it says, O Israel: the Lord your God is one"; and again: "I am God, the first, and I am after these things; and besides me there is no God"; and again: "Hear, my people, and I will speak to you, Israel, and I will testify to you: Israel, if you hear me, there is no recent god in you, nor shall you worship a foreign god. For I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." And there are countless other such passages. And second, because you call Christ God, and say he is passible and born of a woman, and you are not ashamed when you hear this. 2 Athanasius said: Do you wish, then, that I first show you that Christ also is written as God in the Scripture, and that there are not two Gods? And likewise, that Christ is also passible, and born of a woman, and that this is no shame for those who call upon him? Zacchaeus said: Show that Christ is also God, and that there are not two Gods. Athanasius said: First learn that Christ is God, and then you will learn that there are not two Gods. Zacchaeus: Tell me. 3 Athanasius said: I wish to guide you from the first book, and thus in order to lead you on to the others. Zacchaeus said: You cannot show it. Athanasius said: Even if Moses says that God said, "Let us make man according to our image and likeness"—to whom do you say that God said this? Zacchaeus said: For was Christ then present, he who was born in the time of Caesar Augustus?

Athanasius said: He was always God, being the Word; but he was called Christ when he was united with the flesh. Zacchaeus said: From where is it clear that he was? Athanasius said: For now let us understand to whom he was speaking; and thus it is found whether the one who was made flesh is the same, or not. Zacchaeus said: I say that the Christ is not the one to whom he was speaking. Athanasius said: Did God speak to someone at all when he said, "Let us make man in our image and likeness"? Zacchaeus said: He was speaking to himself. Athanasius said: But he did not say, "I will make man," but "Let us make." 6 Zacchaeus said: He was speaking to the angels. Athanasius said: And do you call the angels coworkers of God? Zacchaeus said: And what is absurd about that? Athanasius said: Then did he not make all things in wisdom? Zacchaeus said: And he made all things in wisdom. Athanasius said: It is clear, then, that he was speaking to himself: "Let us make man in our image and likeness." Zacchaeus said: What then, is the wisdom of God the Christ? Athanasius said: Do not be hasty; but with gentleness and fear, having a good conscience, let us inquire. Zacchaeus said: How can you show that the wisdom is the Christ? Athanasius said: Do you agree at all that God made all things in wisdom? Zacchaeus said: So it is written. 8 Athanasius said: And his wisdom and his Word are spoken of, as the prophet says: "By the word of the Lord the heavens were established." Zacchaeus said: Yes; but did he say "the Christ"? Athanasius said: For now confess that the wisdom is the Word to whom he said, "Let us make man in our image and likeness.

as being an image of the archetype. Zacchaeus said: Yes. Athanasius said: But by saying "our," he also showed the hypostasis of the one who hears; for he did not say "according to my image and likeness," but "according to our image and likeness." Zacchaeus said: Do you mean to say that the wisdom of God is another God? Athanasius said: There is no other God besides God, just as the effulgence of the light is not another light; but the light is light, and the effulgence is light, yet not one light and another light; so also the wisdom of God is God, but not one God and another God. For it is written: I am God, and there is no other; and again: O Lord our God, besides you we know no other. Zacchaeus said: Then is Christ a goddess? Athanasius said: Say "God," and do not think like a Jew that, in the case of incorporeal beings, feminine and masculine names are used in the same way as in the case of bodies; since even your soul is called by the feminine name "soul," and there is not a female soul and a male soul. Zacchaeus said: Show me that the wisdom of God is also called God in its own person. Athanasius said: It has already been shown that there is a certain power according to the Scripture where God says, "Let us make man according to our image and likeness," and that the prophet said this power is the wisdom of God, saying, "In wisdom you have made all things"; and he named this same wisdom "Word," saying, "By the word of the Lord the heavens were established, and by the breath of his mouth all their power.

Athanasius said: But that it is neither a word sent forth through vocal organs, nor a spirit through the respiratory parts, is clear from the fact that God is incorporeal. Zacchaeus said: Let there be some power and wisdom to which he says, "Let us make man according to our image and likeness." Is not the power also God? Athanasius said: It is by this very power that God says, "Behold, Adam has become as one of us." Zacchaeus said: For if he said, "Behold, Adam has become as one of us," is he God? Athanasius said: You concede for now that there is some power with which God customarily converses; and it is this very power that says through Solomon: "When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him, and I was beside him, fitting things together"; and, "I was that in which he delighted." Zacchaeus said: Did he not say, "I was God"? Athanasius said: Let the word advance in age and spiritual wisdom. Zacchaeus said: Show that there is another who is God. Athanasius said: If one has not learned the letters, he cannot read syllables; it is necessary, then, that you be instructed in the elements, and thus understand what is said and signified through the elements. Zacchaeus said: Behold, I have learned that there is some power in which God delighted; have you not shown that it is also God? Athanasius said: If the Scripture says, "And the Lord God appeared to Abraham," and he said, "I will surely not hide from Abraham my servant what I am doing. And Abraham shall become a great and numerous nation. And in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed"; for he knew that he would command his sons and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord God, to do mercy and judgment.

so that the Lord God might bring upon Abraham what he had spoken to him. And the Lord God said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah has been multiplied before me, and their sins are exceedingly great. Having gone down, therefore, I will see whether they are accomplishing according to their cry that comes to me; but if not, that I may know. And the men, turning away from there, came to Sodom. But Abraham was still standing before the Lord. And Abraham, having blessed, said: Do not destroy the righteous together with the ungodly, and the righteous shall be as the ungodly. If there are fifty righteous in the city, will you destroy them? Will you not spare all that place for the sake of the fifty righteous, if they are in it? By no means shall you do this thing, to kill the righteous with the ungodly, and the righteous shall be as the ungodly. By no means, O judge of all the earth, shall you not execute judgment? And the Lord God said: If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare all the place for their sake. And thus having subtracted five, and again five, he came down to ten. Whom, then, do you say spoke these things to Abraham—God himself, or his power? Zacchaeus said: God himself. Athanasius said: When the Scripture says: And the Lord God rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, and overthrew these cities and all the surrounding region—from what Lord did the Lord God rain upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire? Zacchaeus said: It does not say the Lord God rained, but the Lord rained. Athanasius: And especially the majority of the copies have Lord God. Let us grant

but that God is not present? Is it not clear that the one who rained, the one who said to Lot, "Behold, I have shown favor to your face, and in this word, that I should not destroy the city about which you spoke"? Zacchaeus said: No; but "the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord, fire and brimstone." That is, an angel rained from the Lord God. Athanasius: And you call the angel of the Lord "Lord," but his power you do not call "Lord"? Zacchaeus said: I said that he called the angel "Lord," who rained from the Lord God. For did he not call the power "Lord"? Athanasius said: We said at the beginning of the discourse that it is written: "In wisdom he made all things"; evidently, if all things, then this also; for this very raining of fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah is one of all things. Zacchaeus said: Then did God the Lord rain from the Lord of wisdom? Athanasius said: No; but Wisdom herself, being Lord and God, rained from the Lord God fire and brimstone. Zacchaeus said: But he did not say "from the Lord God," but "from the Lord"; therefore then, Wisdom is called "the Lord God," but God is called only "Lord"? Athanasius said: Since it is agreed by all that the cause and begetter of Wisdom is Lord and God, for this reason he said only "Lord" of him; but of Wisdom he added also "God." For he knew those who disobey him. Zacchaeus said: Then two Gods? Athanasius said: May it not be said! Zacchaeus said: If God is God and begetter, and Wisdom is God, then two Gods. Athanasius said: There are not two Gods, since the nature is the same, and the will is one, and the harmony is one.

And just as a king is spoken of, and the image of the king, and they are not two kings; so God, and the image of God and Wisdom; and they are not two gods. And in the case of man, the image is by imitation, but in the case of God, by nature. Zacchaeus said: If God is God, and the image is God, there are two gods. Athanasius said: There are two gods whenever the archetype has one will and the image another; but whenever there is the same will, the same knowledge, the same mind, the same nature, there is one God, because of the unvaryingness of the essence. Indeed, Moses himself, showing the unvaryingness of the mind and will and essence of the man and the woman, said they are one flesh, saying: For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and the two shall become one flesh. And in the song he says: Horse and rider he has thrown into the sea, because of the sameness of nature. But if he spoke of the horses and the riders in the singular, although they are bodies, he would not have called the incorporeal God, and his Word who is God, in the plural. Zacchaeus said: Grant that Wisdom is God; is not the Christ also from a woman? Athanasius said: This very Wisdom, who alone and truly is God from God, when men were perishing, willed to be seen upon the earth and to live among men, so that by himself, by the will of the Father, he might save the human race. And having sanctified the virgin Mary, he took from her a body, so that, living bodily among men as a man, through what is like, he might save the human race. Zacchaeus said: You are blaspheming, man.

saying that the wisdom of God entered into a woman's womb. Athanasius said: Do not be troubled; I will convince you even from the Scriptures, that the divine nature did not form a temple for itself in the womb of Mary alone, but in every womb of a woman, Wisdom forms and sanctifies human beings. Indeed, he said to Jeremiah: Before I formed you from the womb, I know you; and before you came forth from the womb, I sanctified you. Zacchaeus said: Yes, it forms and creates; but does it also enter into a womb? Athanasius said: First, do you not say that he himself formed the womb of the woman, and every member of the body? Zacchaeus said: Yes. Athanasius said: If, then, he deigned to take clay from the earth and with his own hands form a womb, and every other member he forms—why do you abhor it when you hear that he deigned to form a temple for himself from a womb, and from the beginning to accomplish these things through himself? And if he forms, being within, he forms; for the divine nature, being everywhere, has the within and the without alike. Then this sun, which gives light by day, when it comes into dead bodies and is extended over impurities, is not wronged, is not defiled, but rather benefits the dead and foul-smelling things, drying them up and destroying the stench. And do you think the divine nature is defiled? Do you not rather believe that it sanctifies the womb, opens the gates of the belly, and that the craftsman orders, preserves, and perfects all things? Zacchaeus said: And the wisdom of God—was it seen on earth? Athanasius said: And what is strange in that? You hear Jeremiah saying: This is our God; no other shall be reckoned beside him.

He found every path of knowledge. After this he appeared on the earth, and he conversed with men. Zacchaeus said: Is it not written in Jeremiah? Athanasius said: Read the letters of Baruch, so that you may know and be convinced that it is written. Zacchaeus said: I know that it is written in that same letter, but not in Jeremiah. Athanasius: Jeremiah, together with Baruch, and the Lamentations, and the Letter, are written as one book; and Jeremiah is named as one, these four books. Zacchaeus said: You have not yet shown that the wisdom is also Christ. Athanasius: I wish to guide you by reading, that God promised to converse with men; and that thus, being guided from the Scripture, you may come to understanding. Zacchaeus said: Did God appear on the earth, and converse with men, when he spoke in the holy temple to the prophets and the patriarchs? Athanasius said: It is said, After this he appeared on the earth, and he conversed with men; evidently after the law. And again it is said similarly by the prophet Isaiah: My people, those who call you blessed lead you astray, and disturb the paths of your ways; but now the Lord will stand for judgment. And he will set the people for judgment; the Lord himself will come for judgment, with the elders of the people, and with his rulers. But you, why have you set my vineyard on fire? Zacchaeus said: Show that he was born of a woman. Athanasius: Do you believe the prophet Isaiah? Zacchaeus said: Yes. Athanasius: Hear him saying: And they will wish if they were born burnt with fire.

For a child was born to us, a son, and he was given to us, whose rule is upon his shoulder, and his name is called Angel of Great Counsel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace, Father of the age to come. Zacchaeus said: According to what you say, then, has the wisdom of God died? Athanasius said: If I do not read to you that he died willingly, then condemn me as unlearned; but if you read it, fear to mock, lest you be found on the day of judgment and say, "This is the one we had for a laughingstock." Zacchaeus said: Show me from the Scriptures, and I am persuaded. Athanasius said: First confess that God was born on the earth, and that this is the Emmanuel of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel," which, translated, is "God with us"—so that, once you have advanced to this point, I may persuade you that he died willingly for us all. Zacchaeus said: For every righteous man is not God. Athanasius said: But no one is Emmanuel, no one is from a virgin. Zacchaeus said: Can you persuade me that Mary, being a virgin, gave birth? Athanasius said: The prophet said: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel," which, translated, is "God with us." Zacchaeus said: Behold, "young woman" is spoken, and not "virgin." Athanasius said: And what sort of sign is it for a young woman who is not a virgin, having conceived from a man, to give birth, when God says, "Ask for a sign, in the depth or in the height," and the prophet has said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord," and for this reason added:

Do you not provide a small contest for men? And how do you provide a contest for the Lord? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive in the womb and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel. This was the great sign which the Lord himself provided in place of all things: that a younger woman, having conceived [not] from a man, should bear a son—one of men according to custom? Zacchaeus said: This was the sign: that before the child knew to call father or mother, he received the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria. Athanasius: What child, before knowing to call father or mother, disobeyed evil, to choose the good, and received the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria—unless Christ alone? For while he lay in the manger, the Magi came, sent from Herod, to seek out and report to him. And this they did not do, which Herod sought; but having worshiped him, they gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh, that what was spoken might be fulfilled: Before the child knows to call father or mother, he shall receive the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria. Zacchaeus said: Were the Magi then Damascenes? Athanasius: In Scripture, those who think such things are called Egyptians with the Egyptians, and those who think such things are called Canaanites with the Canaanites, and those who think such things are called Amorites with the Amorites. Indeed the prophet cries out against your nation: Your father was an Amorite; your land is Hittite.

Thus also in the case of the magi, who held the same opinions as the Damascenes and Samaritans, he called them Damascenes and Samaritans. Zacchaeus said: Why, if the Christ whom you speak of was going to come among them, did the prophets not say openly that these things would be, but you bring me testimonies scattered here and there, sometimes from this prophet, sometimes from another, and sometimes from yet another? Was not one of them able to say openly that the wisdom of God was going to be made flesh, and to suffer these things and to do these things? Athanasius: Why, when so many have spoken, were you not persuaded? And how would you have been persuaded by one speaking? Zacchaeus said: And why did they all not say it openly, so that no one might be scandalized? Athanasius: And how would what was proclaimed still be a mystery, if it were proclaimed openly? Besides, God also knew that you are a wicked nation and a people full of sins; for this reason he said these things in parables, so that when you heard that a Christ was going to be born and that the nations were going to become God's inheritance, you would not burn the books, so that the nations might not read and be saved. For indeed it was for this reason that you crucified him, because he said, The vineyard will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruits. How would you not also have burned the books, you who both crucified the master and stoned the proclaimers? For that, even if they had proclaimed openly, you would have done the same, is not doubtful.

For if after the visible signs in Egypt, and the wondrous things at the Red Sea, and the marvels after these, you turned to idolatry, saying to Aaron, "Make us gods," how is it not acknowledged that, being of such a disposition, you did the same things? Zacchaeus said: Are you not ashamed to speak of a cross of the Master and God, and of Power and Wisdom? Athanasius: The prophets were not ashamed to say it; how should I be ashamed? Zacchaeus said: And can you show that the prophets said he would be crucified? Athanasius: First Moses says: And you shall see your life hanging before your eyes, and you shall not believe your life. In the morning you shall say, How might evening come? and in the evening you shall say, How might morning come? For from the sixth hour darkness came over all the earth until the ninth hour. And from the ninth hour the light appeared again, so that those who saw said: How did evening come, that is, darkness? And again, how did morning come, that is, light? Zacchaeus said: Convince me from the old covenant that he must be crucified. Athanasius: "You shall see your life hanging before your eyes, and you shall not believe your life" is from the old covenant; and "In the morning you shall say, How did evening come? and in the evening, How did morning come?" is likewise from the old covenant. Zacchaeus said: But this is not a cross nor a death. Athanasius: If Isaiah says: Lord, who has believed

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? We announced before him like a child, like a root in a thirsty land; he has no form nor glory. And we saw him, and he had no form nor beauty; but his form was dishonored, failing more than all men. And if David also says, "They dug my hands and my feet. They divided my garments among themselves, and upon my clothing they cast a lot," how do you not understand the cross? Zacchaeus said: Not even so did you mention death. Athanasius: A man in affliction and knowing how to bear weakness, because he turned away his face; he was dishonored and not reckoned. He himself bears our sins, and for our sins he is in pain; and we reckoned him to be in toil and in affliction and in affliction; but he was wounded for our sins; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, by his bruise we were healed. All we like sheep went astray; a man went astray in his own way; and the Lord delivered him up to our sins; and he, because he was afflicted, does not open his mouth; as a sheep led to the slaughter. And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and who will declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth, from the lawless deeds of the people he was led to death; and I will give the wicked for his burial, and the rich for his death. Because he committed no lawlessness, nor was deceit found in his mouth; and the Lord wills to cleanse him from the affliction.

If you give for sin, your soul will see long-lived seed; and the Lord desires to take away from the pain of his soul, to show him light, and to form him with understanding, to justify the righteous one who serves many well; and he himself will bear their sins. Therefore he himself will inherit many and divide the spoils of the strong; because his soul was delivered to death, and he was reckoned among the lawless; and he himself bore the sins of many. And because of their sins he was delivered. Zacchaeus said: All that you have said, you have said the prophet spoke concerning a man. Athanasius: Hearing "the arm of the Lord" that came to be, he understands the power of God; for the divine is not composed of members. Zacchaeus said: I heard him saying: A man in honor, and knowing how to bear infirmity. Athanasius: You appear to me not to be paying attention to what was said. Did you hear him saying: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? We announced before him like a child. Zacchaeus said: The arm of the Lord, which you say is power, was turned and became a child? Athanasius: It was not turned—may it not be!—but taking flesh, and being in the flesh as in a temple, the power became a man: a man according to the flesh, but God according to the spirit. And as a man he was led to slaughter; but as God he was taking away the sin of the world. For this reason he himself will also inherit many; and he divided the spoils of the strong demons, taking them captive—those who had long since despoiled men. Because his soul was delivered to death, and he was reckoned among the lawless, the law saying:

Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. 42 Zacchaeus said: See, then, he is cursed. Athanasius: For this reason the wicked will be given in exchange for his death, and the rich in exchange for his burial, because he was reckoned among the lawless. 43 Zacchaeus said: As the prophet says, who will declare his generation? But I say the generation of Jesus: for he was the son of Joseph, and his brothers were James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and his mother Mary. 44 Athanasius: For this reason the prophet said, who will declare his generation? Unless one is wise, he cannot know that he was begotten of the Holy Spirit and Mary the virgin. 45 Zacchaeus said: Did the Holy Spirit have intercourse with Mary in place of a man? Athanasius: Do you see that a wise man is sought, one able to understand that the Holy Spirit has no bodily intercourse? Zacchaeus said: You said that he was begotten of the Holy Spirit and Mary the virgin. Athanasius: But not by intercourse, but by creation. For as the first man was from God and from the earth, not by intercourse but by creation, so hear also that the Christ was from the Holy Spirit and Mary the virgin. 46 Zacchaeus said: Why then do you call him Christ, who neither reigned nor was anointed by any of the prophets? Athanasius: You were taught from the prophets that he is called power, and word, and wisdom, and arm, and child, and man; and it is possible to learn that he is also ruler, and king, and Christ, and priest, and prophet; for he became all things to all.

so that he might save all while remaining God, not changing his nature. Zacchaeus said: How can you show me this? Athanasius: For now, because he is ruler and leader, hear Moses writing the blessings of Jacob and saying: A ruler shall not fail from Judah, and a leader from his thighs, until he comes to whom it is reserved; and he is the expectation of the nations. And see what kind of prophecy it was: that Jacob himself, when dying, called his sons and said: Assemble, that I may announce to you what will befall you in the last days; assemble, that I may announce to you. Sons of Jacob, hear Israel your father. And when they had assembled, he blesses Judah with the aforementioned blessing. And he makes Joseph, though a king, a servant of Judah, saying to him: And the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Because a ruler shall not fail from Judah, and a leader from his thighs, until he comes to whom it is reserved. And he is the expectation of the nations. 48 Zacchaeus: He spoke concerning David, that he was going to be born from Judah after generations. Athanasius: And yet the rulers increased from David. But the prophecy says that the rulers of the nation of the Jews were to exist until then, until he comes to whom it is reserved, and he is the expectation of the nations. For your David became the expectation of the Jews, and not of us the nations. 49 Zacchaeus said: For you also say that the nations are called to life, which God forbade? Athanasius: You have heard in the second psalm David prophesying and saying: The Lord said to me: You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance.

and your possession, the ends of the earth. Zacchaeus said: David was speaking about him: The Lord said to me, You are my son; today I have begotten you. For was he not speaking about the Christ? Athanasius: And when did David inherit the nations? Zacchaeus said: He calls the nations the twelve tribes of Israel. Athanasius: And when did David take possession of the ends of the earth? Zacchaeus said: For the Christ took possession of the ends of the earth? Athanasius: Learn that in all Egypt, and in Palestine, and in Phoenicia, in Syria, in Cilicia, in Cappadocia, in Pontus, in Armenia, in Scythia, and in a word in the whole inhabited world, we inscribe ourselves to Christ and call upon him as king. Zacchaeus said: And in Egypt you call Christ king, among those disowned by God? And how can the Christ be from God, and, as you say, the Son of God, of him who condemns our fathers, because they were journeying on the road to Egypt? Or have you not heard the prophet saying: What have you to do with the road to Egypt, to drink water of the lands? Athanasius: He does not wish us to imitate the Egyptians, but he wishes them to be saved and to come to piety; since indeed every nation—indeed, hear the prophet saying: And it shall be that as many as are left from all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up year by year to worship the Lord Almighty and to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that as many as do not go up from all the tribes of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, even those very ones shall be added.

But if the tribe of Egypt does not go up or come, then upon these too will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations, as many as do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Zacchaeus said: This will be the sin of Egypt, and the sin of all the nations, as many as do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Athanasius: He wishes even the Egyptians themselves to be saved and to go up to Jerusalem; not, however, to journey about in Egypt. Athanasius said: You cannot show me that he wishes all to assemble in the perceptible Jerusalem every year. For how could this be possible—that those from the ocean should come to Jerusalem every year? But so that this too may be granted to you—that it is possible—let people attend to nothing else but be occupied with this alone. Athanasius: Hear Isaiah the prophet, prophesying that God is worshiped in Egypt itself, and plainly declaring: And the Lord will be known to the Egyptians; and the Egyptians will fear the Lord in that day; and they will offer sacrifices; and they will make vows to the Lord and will pay them. Zacchaeus said: He did not say "in Egypt," but "the Egyptians will fear the Lord; and they will offer sacrifices and make vows to the Lord and pay them"—not in Egypt but in Jerusalem. Athanasius: Nor can you show this—that he says "in Jerusalem." But so that I may not make you contentious, hear the prophet himself saying plainly: In that day there will be five cities in Egypt, speaking the Canaanite language and swearing by the name of the Lord. A city, Asedek, one city will be called.

In that day there will be an altar in it to the Lord. And there will be a sign forever to the Lord in the land of Egypt. For they will cry out to the Lord because of those who afflict them, and the Lord will send them a man who will save them. And the Lord will be known to the Egyptians; and the Egyptians will fear the Lord. And the Egyptians will know the holy God in that day, and they will offer sacrifices, and they will pray to the Lord and pay their vows. And the Lord will strike the Egyptians with a great plague, shaking their handmade things. And he will heal them with healing; and they will turn back to the Lord, and he will hear them and heal them. Zacchaeus said: Against these things I have nothing to say. Athanasius: May it be granted to you to leave the same voice also in the greater matters, so that you too may be called by the new name, which is given upon the earth. Zacchaeus said: For is there a greater name that we have, being called Israelites? Athanasius: Hear God through the prophet Isaiah saying again: But to those who serve me, a new name will be called, which will be blessed upon the earth. Zacchaeus said: And what is the name? Athanasius: If you are deemed worthy to be called a Christian, you will know the new name. Zacchaeus said: You promised to show that he is also Christ, and King, and Priest. Athanasius: If he is anointed Christ, not with earthly oil, but with the Spirit of God, according to the prophet David who says:

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. Zacchaeus said: The oil of gladness is the anointing prepared by Moses. Athanasius: Therefore it is said "beyond your companions." And it is not as their companions; for his companions were anointed with earthly oil, but he was anointed with the Holy Spirit, as it is written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; for this reason he has anointed me, he has sent me to proclaim good news to the poor. Zacchaeus said: Isaiah is the one who says these things; is he not your Christ? Athanasius: Is not the one anointed in the Holy Spirit called Christ? Zacchaeus said: Yes. Athanasius: Go then to Jerusalem, and learn there by asking where the Holy Spirit descended and upon whom; and then you will hear that it was in the Jordan upon the one born of Mary, in the time of Caesar Augustus. Zacchaeus said: And may I believe your gospels? Athanasius: For this reason both the place and the time have been told to you, so that when you go to the place, you may receive the proof of the matters; and you may know that the prophecy has been fulfilled for all who believe in him, seeing eternal gladness upon

of their head, and saying: The light of your face, Lord, has been marked upon us; you gave gladness into my heart. Zacchaeus: But this was not said about you Christians, but about us Israelites. Athanasius: Hear what follows in the prophecy, so that you may know that it was said about us. Zacchaeus said: Tell me. Athanasius: It says thus: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them; and their seed shall be known among the nations. Zacchaeus said: The seed of the Jews shall be known among the nations. Athanasius: You speak truly; for the holy apostles, being the seed of Abraham, became known to us the nations, and their offspring in the midst of the peoples, holy martyrs; for everyone who sees them will recognize them, that these are a seed blessed by God; and they shall be gladdened with gladness in the Lord. Zacchaeus said: We were gladdened in the Lord. Athanasius: And again I say: what is your eternal gladness, when your land has been laid waste, and your cities have been burned with fire, and you must always suffer because of this? Yes or no? Tell me. Zacchaeus said: But I said that these things were going to happen and that the city would be rebuilt. Athanasius said: Let us see from what follows whether it did not happen; it says thus: Let my soul rejoice in the Lord; for he has clothed me with a garment of salvation, and he has wrapped me in a robe of gladness. But if you knew that as many of us as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, and we received the robe of gladness, the grace of the Spirit, and as bridegrooms we have the sign of the cross as a headband, and as a bride we have been adorned with the world through our deeds.

And like the earth bringing forth its flower, the church blossoms yearly with those being enlightened; and like a garden its seeds bring forth the catechumens, so the Lord brings forth righteousness; for it is a day of salvation and exultation; I mean the resurrection before all the nations. Zacchaeus: You understand for yourself as you wish; and, as the saying goes, you are proclaiming new moons. Athanasius: Since you are still disobedient, hear what follows; and being afraid, speak the truth: For Zion's sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as light, and my salvation burns as a torch; and the nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory; and he shall call you by a new name, which the Lord shall name. And you shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a diadem of kingship in the hand of your God. Zacchaeus: About whom do you say these things are said? Athanasius: About Jerusalem; for it is no longer a city of the Jews, but a city of the Christians, called by the new name. Go there and you will see that this city is Christ's, and a dwelling-place of monks; and you will see the resurrection of Christ, and all the kings bearing their glory, and the nations together with all the peoples declaring her righteousness by which she was made righteous. Zacchaeus said: Is it no longer then burned with fire and without glory? Athanasius said: It was destroyed and dishonored by the Jews; but it was built up and glorified by the Christians. Zacchaeus said: The prophecy says: And strangers shall come, shepherding your sheep, and foreigners shall be plowmen and vinedressers.

But you shall be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God; you shall eat the strength of the nations, and you shall be admired in their wealth. Do you see that it is to us Jews that he makes the promise? 71 Athanasius: You speak truly; for thus also the promises of God are fulfilled, which he promised when he swore to Abraham by himself: Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your seed, as the stars of heaven, and as the sand by the shore of the sea. And he also swore to David in truth and did not set him aside, but his seed shall sit upon his throne forever. For it is evident that from Judah has sprung the same, our Lord Jesus the Christ; and in him all the promises are fulfilled. And the strangers shepherd his rational sheep; and foreigners are plowmen, cultivating his church; but he himself with his disciples holds the priesthood, eating the strength of the nations; for, he says in the Gospels, I have food to eat which you do not know, and he is admired in the wealth of the nations. For you see the wise, the orators, and the poets offering to him the wealth of their words, and renouncing idolatry, and being brought to the word of grace. And you, seeing the dead raised, did not believe, but were made dead; but the nations rose together with the dead. 72 Zacchaeus said: And what is great about raising the dead? For did not the magi raise the dead, and perform signs so as even to withstand Moses?

Athanasius: Do you then say that because the magicians worked signs and withstood Moses, Moses did nothing great? Zacchaeus said: Moses did work great signs; but God is not believed in because of the signs, but because of the truth. Athanasius: And what is greater than the truth of Christ? For what magician was able to work signs and wonders before he was born? Zacchaeus said: For what sign did Christ work before he was born? Athanasius: He made the prophets speak concerning him: Behold, the virgin shall conceive in the womb; and countless other such things; and while he was in the womb itself he made John leap in exultation. Zacchaeus said: I do not believe your gospels. Athanasius said: Then you do not believe even that he was the son of Mary? Zacchaeus: He was born in Jerusalem itself; and I know that he is the son of Mary. Athanasius: And in Jerusalem itself Elizabeth was carrying John in the womb, when Christ made him leap in exultation; and immediately after he was born, he drew magicians from the east to worship him; but no magician who was born made a star appear in heaven, and other magicians come to worship him. Zacchaeus said: Can you then persuade me that magicians came when he was born and worshiped him? Athanasius: Be persuaded by the facts themselves; for ask why Herod killed the children in Bethlehem; and when you learn the reason you will know that it was because of Christ: when the magicians came and said, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and we came to worship him.

And the tombs of the children are visible to this day. Zacchaeus said: We do not believe that it happened thus. For was your Christ somehow unable to help the children, so that they might not die? Athanasius: If then you are mocking, set against them the children slain by Pharaoh, at the time when Moses was born; and say: Was God unable to rescue the children of the Hebrews? But if being able he did not rescue them, your Christ also, being able, did not rescue them; for he is long-suffering both then and now. Zacchaeus said: But in the case of Moses God avenged the death of the children, through the plagues which the Lord brought upon the Egyptians. Athanasius: If the Jews were not insensible, they would have suffered more than the Egyptians in the destruction of Jerusalem; and the Egyptians indeed suffered for one or two years, but the Jews are punished from the time of Christ until now; and they will be punished also in the times after these, unless they repent. Zacchaeus said: Even if I believe in Christ, do I believe in him as a priest, not as God? For you said that he has the priesthood with his disciples. Athanasius: But I said that he is both priest and Lord and God and shepherd. Zacchaeus: God is admittedly called a shepherd, since he is the shepherd of the people; as the prophet says: O shepherd of Israel, give heed, you who lead Joseph like sheep. Athanasius: The same prophet also called him Lord and God and priest. Zacchaeus said: Read to me where it is written. Athanasius: In the 119th psalm it is spoken thus:

The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The Lord will send forth the rod of your power from Zion; and rule in the midst of your enemies. With you is the principate in the day of your power, in the splendors of your holy ones. From the womb, before the morning star, I begot you. The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Zacchaeus said: And when did he become a priest? It was said concerning Solomon, according to the order of Melchizedek; and these things forever; for thus it is said: The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Athanasius: Solomon was neither a priest, nor did he please God in his whole life; but he even did evil before the Lord and died. How then does he remain a priest forever? Zacchaeus said: To Christ, then, he said, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. Athanasius: David said, The Lord said—that is, God—to my Lord, to Christ: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. Zacchaeus said: And does Christ sit at the right hand of God? Athanasius: This is what the prophet says. Zacchaeus said: Therefore Christ is greater than the one who is blessed? Athanasius: By no means. Zacchaeus said: How then does he sit at his right hand? Athanasius: As the only-begotten Son of his own Father. Zacchaeus said: And how is he still a priest, if he sits at his right hand? Athanasius: Because he is not only a priest but also God.

For this reason, being God by nature, he took flesh from Mary, so that, having become man and having undertaken the sacrifice on our behalf, he might become a priest according to the order of Melchizedek; who was made a priest not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but having been anointed by the Holy Spirit, he is a priest forever. Zacchaeus said: And how can the one who died under Pontius Pilate be a priest forever? Athanasius: The dead in their mindset look upon his death, but the living see his resurrection. Zacchaeus said: And who can persuade me that he has risen? Athanasius: The prophet David, saying in the psalm: You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will you give your Holy One to see corruption. Zacchaeus said: Was he not, then, a man of soul and body? Athanasius: He was man according to the flesh, but God according to the spirit. Indeed, hear what God says through the prophet Isaiah: Egypt has labored, and the trade of the Ethiopians and the tall men of Seboeim shall pass over to you... and all who oppose him shall be put to shame, and they shall go in disgrace. Be renewed before me, you islands. Israel is saved with an everlasting salvation; they shall not be ashamed nor put to shame forever... Do not think that the prophet speaks falsely: Israel is saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation. If you wish to say that we were neither ashamed nor put to shame when we lost everything and became slaves of the Romans, dare to say that our fathers possessed false prophets. Zacchaeus said: Far be it that the prophets be false. Athanasius: Was Israel not, then, saved with an everlasting salvation?

And they shall not be put to shame, nor shall they be disgraced forever, the holy apostles, being Hebrews by nature, both in flesh and in spirit; for he is not a Jew who is circumcised outwardly, but he who has the circumcision of the heart inwardly. God therefore reproaches those who have the circumcision only outwardly and not in the heart, saying thus: All the nations are uncircumcised in flesh, but this my people is uncircumcised in heart. Zacchaeus said: Did God, having commanded Abraham, saying, Every male of yours shall be circumcised on the eighth day, turn away from circumcision? Athanasius: You shall be taught the account concerning circumcision; but for now tell me, have you understood to whom he spoke through the prophet: Egypt has labored and the trade of the Ethiopians; and the tall men of Seba shall pass over to you and shall be your servants and shall follow after you bound with handcuffs; and they shall worship you, and in you they shall pray, because God is in you and there is no God besides you; for you are God, and we did not know it, God of

Israel, salvation. Zacchaeus said: He was speaking to Jerusalem: Egypt labored, and the trade of the Ethiopians; and the tall men of the Sabeans shall pass over to you; and they shall be your servants; and they shall follow you bound with handcuffs. Athanasius: This Jerusalem, then, is also God, for he says that they shall worship you; and they shall pray in you; because God is in you, and there is no God besides you; for you are God and we did not know it, the God of Israel, the Savior. Zacchaeus said: To whom, then, does he say this? Athanasius: To no one else but Christ. Zacchaeus said: How? Athanasius: Egypt labored and the trade of the Ethiopians, when Christ was born and idolatry was dissolved and magic was brought to nothing. And the tall men of the Sabeans passed over to him; and they became his servants; and they shall follow after him, all the tall ones of the earth bound with handcuffs; and they shall pray in him; and they shall worship him; and they shall confess that God is in him, and there is no God besides him; for he is God and they did not know it, the God of Israel, the Savior. Zacchaeus said: How is God also in him, and there is no God besides him? Athanasius: Because of the immutability of the essence; because of the sameness of the glory; because of the immediacy of the power; for this is why the Lord God is one Lord; because there is one will, one authority, one dominion; for the Father does not will one thing and the Son another. But if you wish for more mysteries, read the seventy-first psalm of David with the fear of God and truth and a good conscience.

Perhaps in your synagogue, instead of songs that delight the ear, you read these things: Zacchaeus said: What then does the psalm say about your Christ? Athanasius: Read and you will find. Zacchaeus said: I have read and found that it speaks about Solomon. Athanasius: O God, give your judgment to the king—who says this? Zacchaeus said: David asks the Lord to grant right judgment to his son, that is, to Solomon. Athanasius: And your righteousness to the son of the king? Zacchaeus said: He says “to the son of the king,” to my son; for the kingdom was David’s when he prayed to God that God himself would give his righteousness to Solomon. Athanasius: Follow him with the fear of God. Let the mountains receive peace for the people, and the hills righteousness; he will judge the poor of the people. And he will save the sons of the needy, and will humble the slanderer. Zacchaeus says: All these things he says about Solomon. Athanasius: Let us then also see what follows. Zacchaeus said: Tell me. Athanasius: And he shall endure with the sun, and before the moon, for generations of generations. Does Solomon then endure with the sun, and before the moon, for generations of generations? Zacchaeus said: His name shall endure with the sun. Look, then: even you Christians in all the earth remember his name as that of a wise man; and his name’s glory endures with him for generations. Athanasius: And before the moon, for generations of generations, his name existed. Zacchaeus said: And God knew his name.

and before the moon: Athanasius: Hear then what follows: Zacchaeus said: Tell me: Athanasius: He shall come down like rain upon the fleece, and like drops that drip upon the earth; in his days righteousness shall spring up, and abundance of peace until the moon is removed. And he shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the inhabited world. Before him the Ethiopians shall fall down, and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and the islands shall bring gifts; the kings of the Arabs and Sheba shall offer gifts; and all the kings of the earth shall worship him, all the nations shall serve him; because he delivered the poor man from the mighty, and the needy man for whom there was no helper; he shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. From usury and from injustice he shall redeem their souls, and his name shall be honorable before him. And he shall live, and there shall be given to him from the gold of Arabia, and they shall pray concerning him continually; all the day they shall bless him. There shall be a support in the earth upon the tops of the mountains; their fruit shall be lifted up above Lebanon, and they shall blossom out of the city like the grass of the earth. His name shall be blessed forever; before the sun his name endures. And in him all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed. All the nations shall call him blessed. Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. And blessed is the holy name of his glory forever and unto the age of the age; and all the earth shall be filled with his glory; amen, amen.

Zacchaeus said: These things are admittedly spoken concerning the Christ; but he has not yet come so far. Athanasius: What of the things spoken has not been fulfilled? Zacchaeus said: All. Athanasius: Hear then the prophet saying: And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. Do you see that the traitor, having received the thirty pieces of silver from the chief priests, returned them; and the field was bought; and the prophecy was fulfilled; and how do you say that the Christ has not yet come? Zacchaeus said: I know that the prophet says these things, but not concerning the Christ. Athanasius: He has had dominion from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the inhabited world; before him shall the Ethiopians fall. And his enemies are you: you eat dust; and all the kings of the earth shall worship him; all the nations shall serve him; and in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed. Zacchaeus said: Shall those who crucified him worship him? Athanasius: His enemies were recorded, and the passion, and the death, and the honor, and the glory, and the resurrection; at any rate you hear David saying: Why did the nations rage and the peoples meditate vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. Zacchaeus said: How then against him and for him? Athanasius: Because God knew both the good things and the others as they are, he caused all things to be written; and this is what was spoken by God through the prophet.

Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in him shall not be put to shame. Zacchaeus said: And why did he lay him as a stone of stumbling, and not rather make him openly confessed? Athanasius: If he had not foretold "he shall not be put to shame," blame the one who laid it; but if it has been foretold to you, blame yourself for not believing. For he himself is the stone that was despised by us, the builders, concerning which David says: The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner. Zacchaeus said: Has the wisdom of God become a stone? Athanasius: The wisdom of God was called a stone according to the flesh; for since he took flesh from the virgin, so that he might appear to us as in flesh itself, for this reason he was called a stone; and this is the stone which Daniel interpreted, cut from the mountain without hands, and which made thin the image of idolatry. Zacchaeus said: And from what mountain was the stone cut? Athanasius: He calls the virgin Mary a mountain; for this reason also "without hands," because she gave birth to the stone, that is, the body, without the handiwork of a man. And the prophecy says: Nebuchadnezzar saw a dream; and the dream departed from him, that is, he forgot it; and having called the enchanters and the magi and the wise men of Babylon, he said to them: The dream has departed from me. Now declare it to me, and its interpretation, the interpretation of the dream.

And when the magi and the enchanters said that there is no man upon the earth who can declare the word of the king, but only gods, whose dwelling is not upon the earth. Nebuchadnezzar commanded all the enchanters, and the magi, and the wise men to be destroyed; and when Daniel learned of this matter of the king, he asked that a term of three days be given to him. And having received it from the king, he entered into his own house; he entreated the Lord, and the dream which the king saw was revealed to him, and its interpretation; and this was the dream. An image, whose appearance was surpassing; its vision was fearful; the head of pure gold, its hands and breast and arms of silver; the belly and the thighs of bronze; the legs of iron; the feet partly of iron and partly of clay; he watched until a stone was cut from a mountain without hands; and it struck the image on the feet, the iron and the clay; and it ground them to the end; then at once the clay, the iron, and the bronze, the silver and the gold were ground fine; and it became like dust from a summer threshing floor; and the multitude of the wind carried them away; and no place was found for them; and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled all the earth; this, then, is the dream of the king; and Daniel interprets the dream; and he was saying that the image of diverse parts signifies diverse kingdoms, and the stone a kingdom which shall not be corrupted for ever.

But this is the kingdom of Christ, likened to a stone, because your fathers stumbled upon it. Zacchaeus: Now I hear that your Christ is likened to a stone. Athanasius: Things invisible and unseen are always read through visible parables. Or have you not heard God speaking through the prophet: "And I will be as a panther to Ephraim, and as a leopard to the house of Judah"; and in another place: "And I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved." Is the divine nature then insulted by being compared to a bear and the other beasts? Zacchaeus said: Was God then truly a bear? He says this because of the terror. Athanasius: So too, because many stumble at Christ, he was called a stone by way of figure. But hear also another prophecy concerning Christ from the same prophet: "I was watching," he says, "and four great beasts came up from the sea, differing from one another. The first was like a lioness, having wings, and her wings were like an eagle's. I watched until her wings were plucked out, and she was lifted up from the earth, and stood upon human feet, and a human heart was given to her. And behold, a second beast like a bear, and it stood on one side; and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it: Arise and eat much flesh. After this I was watching, and behold, a beast like a leopard, and it had four wings of a bird above it, and the beast had four heads, and authority was given to it. After this I was watching, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and dreadful, and exceedingly strong; its teeth were of iron, devouring—

…making thin, and he was trampling the rest with his feet, and it was exceedingly strong beyond all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns; I was considering its horns, and behold, another small horn came up in the midst of them, and three of its horns before it were uprooted from before its face; and behold, eyes like the eye of a man in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things. I was watching until thrones were set, and the Ancient of Days sat; and his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool; his throne was a flame of fire; his wheels were burning fire; a river of fire was drawn forth before him; a thousand thousands were ministering to him, and ten thousand myriads stood before him; the court sat, and the books were opened. I was watching in the vision of the night, and behold, with the clouds of heaven one coming like a son of man; and he came even to the Ancient of Days and was presented to him; and to him was given the rule and the honor, and the kingdom; and all peoples, tribes, and tongues shall serve him; his authority is an everlasting authority, which shall not pass away; and his kingdom shall not be corrupted. My spirit shuddered,

I, Daniel, and the vision of my head troubled me; and I came near to one of those who stood by, and I sought to learn from him the exact truth concerning all these things; and he told me the exact truth, and made known to me the reasonable interpretation: these four beasts are four kingdoms that shall arise upon the earth, which shall be taken away, and holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and shall possess it for ever and ever. Zacchaeus said: And who are the four kingdoms, and who are the holy ones? Athanasius: Who is the Ancient of Days? If you know, tell me. Zacchaeus said: I say it is God; for to whom else do a thousand thousands minister, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him, if not to God? Athanasius: You have spoken well; and he who came with the clouds of heaven, having the likeness of a son of man, who was he? Zacchaeus said: The Christ. Athanasius: And the holy ones, clearly those who shall possess the kingdom, are his princes; and the four kings are the kings of the four parts of the world, and they pray to be servants even of the holy ones themselves. Zacchaeus said: But I did not mean the Christ whom you speak of, but the one whom we expect. Athanasius: And again, then, I say: if the one whom you expect comes, he will find everything already anticipated by the true one; for he has also overtaken the years of the times; and we have been taught by the prophet himself; and the nations have been saved, idolatry having been dissolved; and all things that were prophesied he has anticipated. Zacchaeus said: Where is the time written? Athanasius: Daniel himself again says:

And while I was still speaking and praying and confessing the sins of my people Israel, and casting my mercy before God concerning the mountain of the Lord God, the holy one—and while I was still speaking in prayer, behold, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the first vision, flying, touched me about the hour of the evening sacrifice, and set me up; and he spoke with me and said: Daniel, now I have come out to make you understand insight. At the beginning of your supplication the word went forth, and I have come to announce it to you, because you are a man of desires. And consider the matter, and understand in the vision: seventy weeks have been cut short for your people and for the holy city—to finish sin, and to seal sins, and to blot out iniquities, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint a holy of holies. And you shall know and understand from the going forth of the word to answer and to build Jerusalem: until Christ the leader, seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; and it shall return and be built, broad place and wall; and the times shall be renewed. And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointing shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in him; and he shall destroy the city and the holy place. You have heard plainly that until Christ the leader there are seven weeks of years, and sixty-two weeks—that is, sixty-nine weeks, which is the years 483.

For in the first year of Darius the prophet says he saw the revelation; and that when the wonderful one has come, anointing and judgment shall be destroyed—that is, king and judge; for no longer among you is there either king or judge, but both the city and the holy place have been corrupted. Zacchaeus said: You promised me to tell the reason why you do not accept the circumcision from the fathers. Athanasius: Because God, having ordained circumcision for the fathers, himself said: Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, and I will make with the house of Judah a new covenant; not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, giving my laws upon their hearts; for no longer is the law in the foreskin, so that their glory should not be in their shame but in the heart. Zacchaeus said: And does God, who commanded our fathers, saying that every male who is not circumcised on the eighth day shall be destroyed from the people—does he no longer will circumcision? Athanasius: He knows what is expedient; and then indeed he required the shadow, but now the truth; for this was not what he primarily required—that is, to be circumcised—but the truth. Indeed he accuses them, saying: All the nations are uncircumcised in the flesh, but this people is uncircumcised in the heart. And that circumcision justifies no one is clear from this, that Abraham, being uncircumcised, pleased God; for he first appeared to him, and then he gives him the commandment of circumcision.

And those born in the wilderness during the forty years were uncircumcised. Zacchaeus said: You cannot show it. Athanasius: I know that when he was about to enter the land of promise, then by the command of God, Joshua the son of Nun took stones of rock, and with those very stones he circumcises the people. Zacchaeus: If then you know that God cares for the sake of circumcision, how do you say that circumcision is nothing? Because the command of God is manifest, and therefore it was ordained; for since he wished to be glorified among the Egyptians and among the sons of Israel themselves, before they went out into Egypt, he gave them circumcision, so that their race might be manifest to all men; and when they were again in the wilderness, he did not require circumcision of them, for they were alone and there was no one mingling with them; but when they were about to mingle with other nations, he again wills that they be circumcised, so that their nation might be manifest to their own people. And then he says to Joshua to take knives of rock and circumcise them; this not idly, but symbolically; for the rock is Christ, in whom we are circumcised, not in the flesh of the foreskin. But if these things were not done symbolically, why were they circumcised not with iron, but with stones? Zacchaeus said: So that the great works of God might be shown, that they were able even with stones to be circumcised. Athanasius: It would have been shown still more if they had been circumcised by a bare word without any material; but so that you may know that circumcision does not justify—

Noah was a righteous man and God-fearing without circumcision, and Enoch was translated, as it is written, being uncircumcised. Zacchaeus said: From where then can you show me that they were uncircumcised? Athanasius: Because circumcision began with Abraham; for God commanded him first, and his seed, to be circumcised. Zacchaeus said: Convince me why you decline to offer sacrifices, when the first of the saints sacrificed to God; or can you also say that this took its beginning from Abraham? Since the Scripture says that from Adam they sacrificed, and their sacrifices, being from living creatures, were accepted. Athanasius: We too know that all the saints before the coming of Christ sacrificed; but after Christ the sacrifice through irrational animals has ceased, and the sacrifice through the Spirit has increased, God crying out plainly: I will not eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats; offer to God a sacrifice of praise.