Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 8:16

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

"Doth then," will haply one say of those who think contrary to the doctrines of the Church, "the Son know how to judge aright, only for this reason, that the Father is with Him when He does so? This being so (and that in truth) what yet hinders from saying that the Son is in a way directed unto uprightness through the Will of the Father, not possessing this in perfectness, nor able of Himself to act irreproachably?" What then shall WE too respond to their words? …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 5 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Then, as if someone were to say: "If we Jews judge unjustly, then why do You not punish, why do You not condemn?" He says: "I did not come for the purpose of judging. I now judge no one; and if I do judge, My judgment is true, and if I wished to judge, you would be condemned. …

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"I judge not any man." Does not the Lord Jesus Christ, then, judge any man? Is He not the same of whom we confess that He rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven, there sits at the right hand of the Father, and thence shall come to judge the quick and the dead? Is not this our faith of which the apostle says, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation?" When, therefore, we confess these things, do we contradict the Lord? …

Tractates on John 36 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Yet, I will judge at some time, because "The Father has given all judgment to the Son" (5:22). And then, my judgment is true, that is, just: "He will judge the people with justice" (Ps 95:10); "We know that the judgment of God is according to the truth" (Rom 2:2). This shows that his judgment is true. He gives the reason for its truth when he says, because I am not alone. What Christ said before, "The Father himself judges no one" (5:22), should be understood to refer to the Father in isolation from the Son. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

"And if I judge, my judgment is true," not carnal, not uncertain, nor according to appearance; Isaiah eleven: "He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears"; and therefore I cannot err in judgment: "Because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me." Whence, because in judging I do not depart from him, therefore I do not err: above, chapter five: "I can do nothing of myself, but as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just." Not only is my testimony certain, but also …

Commentary on John, Chapter 8 ↗