Does Justin Argue with Jews? Reconsidering the Relevance of Philo

Abstract Several recent studies on Justin’s Dialogue with Trypho the Jew have argued that should not be read as a witness to state of theological debate between Jews and Christ-followers in second century. Such arguments conclude Justin does engage actual Jewish perspectives, but rather reconstructs hypothetical Judaism from second-hand, polemical sources, or merely uses Trypho’s “Judaism” stand-in for what are actually (in view) heterodox Christian interpretations. This article challenges this claim by returning an older scholarship: question his relationship Philo Alexandria. By attending particularly role Logos each author’s exegesis Pentateuchal theophanic texts, argues interpretations carefully avoid kind theology is well represented writings Philo. rhetorical distancing supports conclusion that, , fact responding exegetical traditions which he knows Hellenized Judaism.