Notes on the Exegesis of Leontius of Neapolis in his Apology to the Jews

Abstract

The fragment of the Apology against the Jews by Leontius of Neapolis deals with "the signs of the advent of hrist", arguing from three OT passages, namely Miq 4,3; Jr 38,34 (LXX; 31,34 TM) and Is 11,6-8. The fundamental issue in debate is the fulfillment (or not) of such prophecies, as proof that Jesus Christ is the promised and already risen Messiah.
This seems to have been -as it is expressly pointed out- "the very famous question of the Jews". which was also presented by Justin († ca. 165) in his Dialogue with Trypho, also referring to Miq 4,1-7. In fact, the apologist, after quoting the biblical text, points out that the "teachers" of the Jews "recognize that all these sayings in this passage refer to the Messiah," but he notes that they believe, or "that he has not yet come," or that, if he has, he has not yet made himself manifestly present: "Then will the things said" in Scripture come to pass, but until that time there is "no fruit of the sayings of the prophecy.