Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

John 14:22

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Or thus: Judas thought that he should see Him, as we see the dead in sleep: How is it, that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world? meaning, Alas, as Thou art to die, Thou wilt appear to us but as one dead.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

It is out of love that the disciple proceeds to make this inquiry, but he clearly does not quite understand our Saviour's language. For our Lord Jesus Christ promised to His Saints a kind of special knowledge and not like that vouchsafed to others. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 10 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The Judas mentioned now thought that just as we see the dead in dreams, so too would He appear to them; therefore he also says: "Lord, what is it that You intend to manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" He says this out of intense amazement and horror. He speaks as if to say: "Alas for us! You are dying and intend to appear to us in a dream, just as the dead appear." For "what is it" are the words of one frightened and alarmed. What then does the Lord answer to this? By what does He overthrow his opinion as false?

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

While the disciples thus question, and Jesus their Master replies to them, we also, as it were, are learning along with them, when we either read or listen to the holy Gospel. Accordingly, because the Lord had said, "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye shall see me," Judas—not indeed His betrayer, who was surnamed Iscariot, but he whose epistle is read among the canonical Scriptures—asked Him of this very matter: "Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" Let us, too, be …

Tractates on John 76 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

Rightly therefore in the creation of the world the heaven is both first and last, wherein is that which is beyond heaven, even the God of heaven. And of man is rather to be understood the text, Heaven is my throne, for God does not sit above the element, but in the heart of man. Wherefore the Lord also says, We will come unto Him, and make our abode with Him. Heaven therefore is the first work in the creation of the world, and man the last.

Letter 49 (To Horontianus), Section 8 ↗

Hilary of Poitiers

But you, heretic, as you wildly rave and are driven about by the Spirit of your deadly doctrine the Apostle seizes and constrains, establishing Christ for us as the foundation of our faith, being well aware also of that saying of our Lord, If a man love Me, he will also keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. …

On The Trinity 8.27 ↗