An early and one of the most forceful expressions of supersessionism is found in a sermon by Melito, bishop of Sardis in Asia Minor. Sardis evidently had a large Jewish population. Archeologists have uncovered a large synagogue in the center of town rather than finding it located on the perimeter where synagogues were usually placed.


Bema of Synagogue in Sardis where the Law would have been read during services. This 3rd century synagogue is in center of the city just south of the gymnasium.
Image © Bibleplaces.com

Melito, who died in approximately in 190 CE preached a sermon "Peri Pascha," or "On the Passover," which was delivered on the festival that celebrated Jesus' death and resurrection. In this sermon we find a number of ideas and themes which reappear in Christian anti-Judaism through the centuries:

One scholar, Robert Wilken, characterizes a significant portion of the sermon as "commentary on Matthew 27:22" when the Jews say to Pilate, "Let him be crucified." Melito's method of interpretation is typological when he reads the Old Testament as he draws sharp contrasts between Jesus and events in Israel's history. Although the term "Jews" or "Judaism" is not used in the homily, Israel is always the negative type. Read the excerpt below to get a sense of the emotional language that Melito employs to show how Israel is replaced. Pick out words and passages that are powerful in conveying the sense that Israel has no continuing value now that Christ has come.

On the Passover

36 For this reason a preliminary sketch is made of the future thing
out of wax or of clay or of wood,
in order that what will soon arise
taller in height, 230
and stronger in power,
and beautiful in form,
and rich in its construction,
may be seen through a small and perishable sketch.

37 But when that of which it is the model arises, 235
that which once bore the image of the future thing
is itself destroyed as growing useless
having yielded to what is truly real the image of it;
and what once was precious becomes worthless
when what is truly precious has been revealed. 240

38 For to each belongs a proper season:
a proper time for the model,
a proper time for the material,
a proper time for the reality.
You make the model; 245
you want that
because you see in it the image of the future thing.
You produce the material before the model;
you want that
because of what is going to arise in it. 250
You complete the work;
you want that alone,
you love that alone,
because in it alone you see the pattern and the material and the reality 255

40 The people then was a model by way of preliminary sketch,
and the law was the writing of a parable;
the gospel is the recounting and fulfillment of the law,
and the church is the repository of the reality. 265

41 The model then was precious before the reality,
and the parable was marvelous before the interpretation;
that is, the people was precious before the church arose,
and the law was marvelous before the gospel was elucidated.

42 But when the church arose 270
and the gospel took precedence,
the model was made void, conceding its power to the reality,
and the law was fulfilled, conceding its power to the gospel.

43 In the same way as the model is made void, conceding the image
to the truly real,
and the parable is fulfilled, being elucidated by the interpretation,
just so also the law was fulfilled when the gospel was elucidated, 275
and the people was made void when the church arose;
and the model was abolished when the Lord was revealed,
and today, things once precious have become worthless,
since the really precious things have been revealed.

44 Once, the slaying of the sheep was precious, 280
but it is worthless now became of the life of the Lord;
the death of the sheep was precious,
but it is worthless now because of the salvation of the Lord;
the blood of the sheep was precious,
but it is worthless now because of the Spirit of the Lord; 285
a speechless lamb was precious,
but it is worthless now became of the spotless Son;
the temple below was precious,
but it is worthless now because of the Christ above.

45 The Jerusalem below was precious, 290
but it is worthless now became of the Jerusalem above;
the narrow inheritance was precious,
but it is worthless now became of the widespread bounty.
For it is not in one place nor in a little plot
that the glory of God is established, 295
but on all the ends of the inhabited earth
his bounty overflows,
and there the almighty God has made his dwelling
through Christ Jesus;
to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 300

Edited and translated by Stewart George Hall

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