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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
For since He had spoken of the resurrection of the dead, and of the judgment, and that he that believeth on Him is not judged, but cometh unto life, and that He shall sit to require account of all men, and that He hath the same Authority and Power with the Father; and since He was about again otherwise to prove these things, He necessarily put their objection first. …
Cyril of Alexandria
The most wise Solomon, gathering together the things in which a man may very reasonably glory, and show his manner of life to be enviable, and placing them before those who are apt to learn, says, The righteous man is his own accuser in the opening of the trial, and again, Let thy neighbour praise thee and not thine own mouth, a stranger and not thine own lips. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Here the Lord apparently contradicts Himself. For He repeatedly bore witness about Himself, for example, He said to the Samaritan woman "I am the Christ" (John 4:25–26), to the blind man (John 9:35–37), and at other times on several occasions. If this is false, then how can we hope for salvation? But the contradiction is not limited to this alone; there is yet another, no less significant. After this (John 8:14) He says: "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true." How then can this apparent contradiction be reconciled? …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
He knew Himself that His witness of Himself was true, but in compassion to the weak and unbelieving, the Sun sought for candles, that their weak sight might not be dazzled by His full blaze. And therefore John was brought forward to give his testimony to the truth. Not that there is such testimony really, for whatever witnesses bear witness to Him, it is really He who bears witness to Himself; as it is His dwelling in the witnesses, which moves them so to give their witness to the truth.
Hilary of Poitiers
The Son speaks thus:—"For the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works which I do, bear witness of Me that the Father hath sent Me; and the Father Himself which hath sent Me hath borne witness of Me." God the Only-begotten proves His Sonship by an appeal not only to the name, but to the power; the works which He does are evidence that He has been sent by the Father. What, I ask, is the fact which these works prove? That He was sent. …
Thomas Aquinas
Having given us the teaching on the life-giving power of the Son, he now confirms it. First, he confirms, with several testimonies, what he had said about the excellence of his power. In the second place, he reproves them because of their slowness to believe (v 41). He does two things about the first. First, he states why there was a need to resort to such testimonies. Secondly, he invokes the testimonies (v 32). …
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