Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 10:29

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Then that thou mayest not suppose that the Father's power protects the sheep, while He is Himself too weak to do so, He adds, I and My Father are one.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

The faithful also have the succour of Christ, the devil not being able to snatch them; and they who have an endless enjoyment of good things, remain in it, no one henceforth snatching them away from the bliss that is given to them into punishment or torments. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 7 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Why will they not perish? Because no one can "snatch them out of My hand; for My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of His hand," and therefore not out of My hand either. But someone may ask: "How did the Lord say that no one shall snatch them out of My Father's hand, when we see that many perish?" To this one may answer that no one can snatch from the Father's hand, but many can deceive. …

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"That which my Father gave me is greater than all." Give still greater heed to this. What did the Father give to the Son that was greater than all? To be His own only-begotten Son. In what sense, then, did He say "gave"? Was He to whom He gave previously existent, or gave He in the act of begetting? For if He previously existed to whom He gave the gift of Sonship, there was a time when He was, and was not the Son. Far be it from us to suppose that the Lord Christ ever was, and yet was not the Son. …

Tractates on John 48 ↗

Hilary of Poitiers

This is the speech of conscious power. Yet to show, that though of the Divine nature He hath His nativity from God, He adds, My Father which gave Me them is greater than all. He does not conceal His birth from the Father, but proclaims it. For that which He received from the Father, He received in that He was born from Him. He received it in the birth itself, not after it; though He was born when He received it. (vii. de Trin. c. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He now proves what he had said above about the dignity of his sheep, namely, that no one can snatch them from his hand. His reason is this: No one can snatch what is in the hand of my Father; but the Father's hand and mine are the same; therefore, no one can snatch what is in my hand. Concerning this he does three things: first, he gives the minor premise by showing that the Father had communicated divinity to him, saying, what my Father has given to me, through an eternal generation, is greater than all. …

Commentary on John ↗