Against Christian Reverence for Synagogues

But since there are some who consider the synagogue to be a holy place, we must say a few things to them as well. Why do you reverence this place when you should disdain it, despise it and avoid it? “The Law and the books of the prophets can be found there,” you say. What of it? You say, “Is it not the case that the books make the place holy?” Certainly not! This is the reason I especially hate the synagogue and avoid it, that they have the prophets but do not believe in them, that they read these books but do not accept their testimonies. This makes their effrontery all the worse. [ . . . ] They brought the prophets and Moses with them into the synagogue, not in order to honor them but to insult and dishonor them. When they say that the prophets and Moses did not know about Christ, nor did they say anything about his coming, what greater insult can there be against these holy men? When they accuse them of not knowing their Lord, they make them accomplices in their impiety.