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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
But they do not follow the opinion of the rulers, but put forth another most perverse and absurd one; Howbeit we know this Man, whence He is; but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is.
Cyril of Alexandria
Not from external considerations only, nor because their rulers had made the pain of their reproof a thing to be borne, does the mind of them of Jerusalem admit the faith; but it after having with great profit produced arguments from what was likely and being brought to true conceptions of Christ through the God-befitting Authority that is in Him, led at length not unskilfully to the apprehension of piety, falls again without knowing it into the unlearning which was foster-brother to the Jews. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
And they do not stop at this thought, but draw the following conclusion: Where the Christ will come from, no one knows. But where this man is from — we know. Therefore, this is not the Christ. But see how malice contradicts itself. Their chief priests, when Herod asked them, say that Christ is born in Bethlehem of Judea (Matt. 2:4–5); yet these people say that no one knows where Christ comes from. Do you see the contradiction? …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
This notion did not arise without foundation. We find indeed that the Scriptures said of Christ, He shall be called a Nazarene, (Matt. 2:23) and thus predicted whence He would come. And the Jews again told Herod, when he enquired, that Christ would be born in Bethlehem of Judah, and adduced the testimony of the Prophet. How then did this notion of the Jews arise, that, when Christ came, no one would know whence He was? From this reason, viz. that the Scriptures asserted both. …
Thomas Aquinas
Their objection to this conjecture is then added: We know where this man comes from. As if to argue: The Christ should have a hidden origin; but the origin of this man is known; therefore, he is not the Christ. This shows their folly, for granted that some of their leaders believed Christ, they did not follow their opinion, but offered another, which was false. "This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations" (Ez 5:5). …
Bonaventure
"But we know where this man is from," that is, from Nazareth; above, in chapter one: "We have found Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth." "But when the Christ comes, no one knows where he is from;" and so they disparaged his origin. They said this on account of what is written in Isaiah 53: "Who shall declare his generation?" as if the generation of Christ were unspeakable and thus inscrutable; or because he came in secret; Wisdom 18: "While all things were in the midst of silence," etc. …
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