Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 14:5

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

If the Jews, who wished to be separated from Christ, asked whither He was going, much more would the disciples, who wished never to be separated from Him, be anxious to know it. So with much love, and, at the same time, fear, they proceed to ask: Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Therefore Thomas also says: "Lord! we do not know where You are going; and how can we know the way?" Thomas says this out of great fear, and not out of a desire to follow the Lord, as Peter did.

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

We have now the opportunity, dearly beloved, as far as we can, of understanding the earlier words of the Lord from the later, and His previous statements by those that follow, in what you have heard was His answer to the question of the Apostle Thomas. …

Tractates on John 69 ↗

Bede

How can our Lord say, If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also; when He has just said, Whither I go ye know, and the way ye know? We must suppose that some of them knew, and others not: among the latter, Thomas.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Next (v 5), our Lord explains what he has just said: first, we see the occasion for this explanation; secondly, the explanation itself (v 6). The occasion for this explanation was the hesitation expressed in the question of Thomas. Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? Here Thomas denies the two things that our Lord affirmed. For our Lord said that they knew both the way and its destination; but Thomas denied that he knew the way and its destination. …

Commentary on John ↗