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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"And why, pray," saith one, "did not Christ lead on the woman by these means? why did He instance the serpent to Nicodemus, and mention prophecy to Nathanael, but to her say nothing of the kind? For what reason, and why?" Because they were men, and were versed in these things, she a poor ignorant woman unpracticed in the Scriptures. …
Cyril of Alexandria
Upon Christ teaching that the hour and season will come, rather is already present, wherein the true worshippers shall offer to God the Father the worship in spirit; forthwith the woman is winged to thoughts above her wont unto the hope spoken of by the Jews. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
From where did the woman know that the Messiah, called Christ, would come? From the writings of Moses. For we said above that the Samaritans accepted the Pentateuch of Moses. Since they accepted the books of Moses, from them they knew the prophecy about Christ and that He is the Son of God. Thus the words "let us make man" (Gen. 1:26) were obviously spoken by the Father to the Son. The One who conversed with Abraham in the tent was the Son (Gen. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
Unctus in Latin, Christ in Greek, in the Hebrew Messias. She knew then who could teach her, but did not know Who was teaching her. When He is come, He will tell us all things: as if she said, The Jews now contend for the temple, we for the mountain; but He, when He comes, will level the mountain, overthrow the temple, and teach us how to pray in spirit and in truth. (lib. lxxxiii. Quaest. qu. …
Thomas Aquinas
When he says, The woman said to him, he mentions the one who gives the gift; and this corresponds to what our Lord said before, If you knew the gift of God, and realized who it is who says to you, Give me a drink, you perhaps would have asked him. First, we have the woman's profession. Secondly, the teaching of Christ (v 26). As to the first, he does two things. First, the woman professes her faith in the Christ to come. Secondly, in the fulness of his teaching, he will tell us everything. …
Bonaventure
Here now for the third time, after she has manifested her doubt, he opens the sacrament of faith. For the woman, instructed by the Lord, raises the eye of consideration to Christ and the time of grace; on account of which he says: "The woman says to him: I know that the Messiah is coming, who is called Christ; when therefore he comes, he will announce all things to us." The woman knew this because the Samaritans accepted the Law and believed, especially because Christ was promised in the Law not only to the Jews but also to the …
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