Justin Martyr
2nd century · AD 165 · Early Fathers (before Nicaea) · 172 passages
A philosopher who became a Christian and defended the faith to emperors and Jewish teachers, reading the Old Testament as pointing to Christ.
In his own words on 2 Kings
- 2 Kings 6:4-7
Elisha, by casting a stick into the river Jordan, recovered the iron part of the axe with which the sons of the prophets had gone to cut down trees to build the house in which they wished to read and study the law and commandments of God; even as our Christ, by being crucified on the tree, and by purifying us with water, has redeemed us, though plunged in the direst offences which we have committed, and has made us a house of prayer and adoration.
Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter LXXXVI
Quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations of the fathers — Aquinas's Catena Aurea, the Ante-Nicene and Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers, and related editions. Each quotation links to its source.