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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyril of Alexandria
Overshadowed in this too is the speech of the Jews and clearly big with some deep meaning: for what again do they here say, conceiving after the manner of men, yet bitter things according to their inward scope? for lo albeit (say they) they kept the Divine word, both Abraham and the Prophets have died, yet we heard Thee just now promise to some greater things. For whereby Thou sayest that they shall not die at all, they are full surely greater and in better case than those mentioned, in this very fact of not dying. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The foolish ones, not understanding what kind of death the Lord was speaking of — that it would not touch those who believe in Him — say something senseless and foolish to Him. See how they answer: "Are You greater than our father Abraham?" They should have said: "Are You greater than God? Those who heard the word of God died, yet those who hear Yours will not die?" But they do not say this. …
Western Saints
Gregory the Dialogist
For being given over to eternal death, which death they saw not, and thinking only, as they did, of the death of the body, their minds were darkened, even while the Truth Himself was speaking. They add: Whom makest Thou Thyself?
Thomas Aquinas
Then they ask their question, saying, Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? They are asking, first of all, about a comparison between him and their fathers of old. But as Chrysostom says, in their carnal understanding they could have asked something higher, that is, "Are you greater than God?" For Abraham and the prophets kept God's commands, yet they died in the bodily sense. Therefore, if any one who keeps your word will never die, it seems that you are greater than God. …
Bonaventure
"Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?" As if they were saying: you are not greater, and he himself is dead: Genesis 25: "Failing in age, he died old and full of days"; "and" also "the Prophets are dead": thus neither Abraham nor the Prophets were able to escape death: much less can you. "Whom do you make yourself?" As if they were saying: why do you praise and exalt yourself? …
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