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What the Fathers say

John 19:36

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

By his account of what took place, the wise Evangelist confirms his hearers in the belief that He was the Christ long ago foretold by Holy Writ; for the events of His life harmonised with what was written concerning Him. For not a bone of Him was broken, and He was pierced with the spear of the soldier, according to the Scripture. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 12 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And since they considered Moses more trustworthy than him, he brings him too as a witness. What Moses said about the lamb slain at Passover: "a bone shall not be broken" (Exod. 12:10, 46), according to the evangelist's explanation, was fulfilled in Christ. For that lamb was a type of Him, and there is much in common between it and the Truth. So, "a bone shall not be broken" in Jesus; and His side pours forth for us the fountains of being and life. …

Commentary on John ↗

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius

Therefore, because He had laid down His life while fastened to the cross, His executioners did not think it necessary to break His bones (as was their prevailing custom), but they only pierced His side. Thus His unbroken body was taken down from the cross, and carefully enclosed in a tomb. Now all these things were done lest His body, being injured and broken, should be rendered unsuitable for rising again. …

The Divine Institutes Book 4, Chapter XXVI ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"For these things were done," he adds, "that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him ye shall not break." He has furnished two testimonies from the Scriptures for each of the things which he has recorded as having been done. For to the words, "But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs," belongeth the testimony, "A bone of Him ye shall not break:" an injunction which was laid upon those who were commanded to celebrate the passover by the sacrifice of a sheep in the old law, which …

Tractates on John 120 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

2461 This truth is not just guaranteed by the testimony of the apostle; there is also a prophecy of scripture. Thus he says, these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled. Here again, as before, the phrase that the scripture might be fulfilled, indicates the sequence of events. The Evangelist cites two authorities from the Old Testament. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

These things were done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him, Exodus 12: and therefore they did not break his legs.

Commentary on John, Chapter 19 ↗