Bishop
Kaye, in his excellent work on Justin Martyr, which the reader
will do well to consult (p. 53), tells us he was sometimes
inclined to think that Justin referred to the host of good
angels who should surround the Son of God when he should come to
judge the world. The view adopted by myself here was recommended
by Grabe and by Langus, called The Interpreter of Justin; whilst
Petavius, a Jesuit, though he does not adopt it, yet
acknowledges that the Greek admits of our interpretation. Any
one who would pursue the subject further may with advantage
consult the preface to the Benedictine edition referred to in
this work. Lumper Hist. Part ii. p. 225. Augustae Vindelicorum,
1784. Petavius, Theologicorum Dogmatum tom. vi. p. 298. lib. xv.
c. v. s. 5. Antwerp, 1700.
The whole passage is thus rendered by Langus (as read in
Lumper), "Verum hunc ipsum, et qui ab eo venit, atque ista nos
et aliorum obsequentium exaequatorumque ad ejus voluntatem
bonorum Angelorum exercitura docuit, Filium, et Spiritum ejus
propheticum, colimus et adoramus."]
This interpretation is strongly confirmed by the professed sentiments
both of Justin and of his contemporaries, {112} with regard to the Son
of God and the holy angels.
It was a principle generally received among the early Christians, that
whatever the Almighty did, either by creation or by the communication of
his will, on earth or in heaven, was done by the Eternal Word.
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