Trypho

Trypho is the name of a Jewish interlocutor in Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho, an early Christian apologetic likely composed in the 2nd century CE. The work presents a formal conversation in which a Christian philosopher named Justin argues with Trypho about the claims of Jesus as the Messiah, the interpretation of Hebrew Scriptures, and the relationship between the Mosaic Law and Christian faith. In the dialogue, Trypho is portrayed as a learned Jew who challenges Christian claims and tests Justin’s exegesis of prophecy and gospel.

The dialogue covers topics such as the interpretation of prophecies in the Hebrew Bible, the status of circumcision and the Mosaic Law, the nature of the Messiah, and the good news proclaimed to both Jews and Gentiles. Justin defends the Christian reading of Scripture, presenting Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as fulfillment of messianic expectations and arguing for the spiritualization of the law in light of the gospel. The conversation also touches on the identity of God, the concept of the Logos, and the authority of Christian revelation.

Historically, Trypho's existence as a historical figure is uncertain; he may be a fictional or composite character used to represent Jewish opposition. The Dialogue with Trypho is valued as a key early witness to Christian apologetics and to how early Christians interpreted Jewish Scripture, framed within debates over law, messiahship, and the inclusion of Gentiles. It remains a primary source for studying early Christian–Jewish relations and exegetical methods.