Did Justin Martyr Really Say Yashar'al's Scriptures Were "Not Yours, but Ours"?
Person: Justin Martyr · Work: Dialogue with Trypho, Ch. 29 · mid-2nd century CE
What the ancient record says
Arguing with Trypho about writings belonging to Yashar'al, Justin points to writings attributed to Dawid, Yashaʿyahu, Zakaryahu, and Mashah, tells Trypho they are in "your writings," then corrects himself. Surviving Greek: ἐν ταῖς ὑμετέραις γραφαῖς, μᾶλλον δὲ οὐχ ὑμετέραις, ἀλλ' ἡμετέραις, "in your writings, or rather not yours, but ours." The possessive contrast is in Justin's own Greek: ὑμετέραις (your) vs ἡμετέραις (our).
His argument: the writings may historically be in Trypho's people's possession, but Justin's group properly possesses them because his group accepts what he believes they teach; Trypho's people read them without understanding. The dispute moved from "what does this mean?" to "whose writings are these really?" He is claiming interpretive possession of writings inherited from Yashar'al (naming Dawid, Yashaʿyahu, Zakaryahu, Mashah), not a new collection his group wrote.
Does not prove physical theft of scrolls, documented event is rhetorical/interpretive appropriation.
Read it for yourself. Dialogue with Trypho 29 (compare ὑμετέραις with ἡμετέραις).
Evidence strength: Directly proven from surviving Greek. Proven: "your" vs "our" contrast; association with Dawid/Yashaʿyahu/Zakaryahu/Mashah. Strong interpretation: asserting interpretive ownership. Not proven: physical theft. Motive beyond his stated argument: unknown.