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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Basil of Caesarea
For as in bodily diseases there are many of which the affected are not sensible, but they rather put faith in the opinion of their physicians, than trust their own insensibility; so also in the diseases of the soul, though a man is not conscious of sin in himself, yet ought he to trust to those who are able to have more knowledge of their own sins.
Theophylact of Ohrid
They are now troubled not only by the suspicion of betrayal among themselves, but from this confusion they pass to a dispute, arguing about which of them is the greatest. They arrived at this dispute in a natural progression. Probably one of them was saying to another: you intend to betray, and the other replied: no, you intend to betray. From this they moved on to saying: I am better, I am greater, and the like. What then does the Lord do?
Ancient Greek Expositor
Or the strife seems to have arisen from this, that when our Lord was departing from the world, it was thought that some one must become their head, as taking our Lord's place.
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
If the disciples did contend, it is not alleged as any excuse, but held out as a warning. Let us then beware lest any contentions among us for precedence be our ruin.
Bede
But a contention also arose among them, regarding who seemed to be the greatest among them. Just as it is customary for good morals in the Scriptures to always look to the examples of the preceding Fathers, by which they might progress to better things, and having recognized these, humble themselves about their own actions, so on the contrary, the reprobate, if by chance they find something reprehensible in the elect, as if they would cover their own wickedness by this or defend it as just, are most willing to gladly accept it. …
Bonaventure
There arose also a contention etc. After he described the machination of the betrayal and the institution of the Sacrament of the altar, here thirdly he describes the provident instruction of the disciples. And since a person is prepared for ruin in two ways: either through arrogance in prosperity or through inconstancy in adversity: therefore this part has two sections. …
Translation