Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 17:17

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Sanctify them through Thy truth." "Make them holy by the gift of the Spirit, and of right doctrines." As when He saith, "Ye are clean through the word which I spake unto you," so now He saith the same thing, "Instruct them, teach them the truth." "And yet He saith that the Spirit doth this. How then doth He now ask it from the Father?" That thou mayest again learn their equality of Honor. For right doctrines asserted concerning God sanctify the soul. And if He saith that they are sanctified by the word, marvel not. …

Homily on the Gospel of John 82 ↗

Gregory of Nyssa

If, on the other hand, we understand that the operation of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is one, differing or varying in nothing, the oneness of their nature must needs be inferred from the identity of their operation. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit alike give sanctification, and life, and light, and comfort, and all similar graces. …

On The Holy Trinity ↗

Athanasius of Alexandria

We are made sons through Christ by adoption and grace, partaking of his Spirit. For "as many as received him," he says, "to them he gave power to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name." And therefore, he is also the Truth, saying, "I am the Truth," and in his address to his Father, he said, "Sanctify them through your Truth, your Word is Truth." We, by imitation [of this truth], become virtuous and sons. …

Discourses Against the Arians 3.25.19 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Sanctify them through Thy truth: for thus were they to be kept from the evil. But it may be asked, how it was that they were not of the world, when they were not yet sanctified in the truth? Because the sanctified have still to grow in sanctity, and this by the help of God's grace. The heirs of the New Testament are sanctified in that truth, the shadows of which were the sanctification of the Old Testament; they are sanctified in Christ, Who said above, I am the way, the truth, and the life. (c. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Above, our Lord prayed for the protection of his disciples; here he prays for their sanctification. First, he asks for their sanctification; secondly, he mentions why they need to be sanctified (v 18); thirdly, he says this sanctification has already begun (v 19). He says: I have prayed that my disciples be kept from evil; but this is not enough unless they are perfected by what is good: "Depart from evil, and do good" (Ps 37:27). Accordingly he prays, sanctify them, that is, perfect them and make them holy. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

Sanctify them in truth. Holy, that is, without earth; to sanctify, that is, to cleanse and purify; but this truth is in the word of God. Therefore he says: Your word is truth: and by this word of God the disciples are sanctified, that is, purged from error. …

Commentary on John, Chapter 17 ↗