Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 7:9

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

The things done by Christ after the manner of men, are not so done only to establish the Incarnation, but also to educate us for virtue. For had He done all as God, how could we have known, on falling in with such things as we wished not, what we must do? As, for instance, when He was in this very place, and the Jews would have killed Him, He came into the midst of them, and so appeased the tumult. …

Homily on the Gospel of John 49 ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

Christ dwells gladly in Galilee, and banished from the country of Judaea, takes up His Abode more peaceably and securely, that again the multitude of the Gentiles albeit exceedingly uninstructed, by reason of the error that yet holdeth them, might be shown to be nobler than those who seemed to be skilled in the law. By this He showed both His just love for thorn, and most reasonable hatred of them of Judaea. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 4 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Our Lord at first declares that He will not go up to the feast, (I go not up with you,) in order not to expose Himself to the rage of the Jews; and therefore we read, that, When He had said these words unto them, He abode still in Galilee. Afterwards, however, He goes up; But when His brethren were gone up, then went He also up unto the feast.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Western Saints

Bede

The mystical meaning is, that to all those carnal persons who seek human glory, the Lord remains in Galilee; the meaning of which name is, "passing over;" applying to those his members who pass from vice to virtue, and make progress in the latter. And our Lord Himself delayed to go up, signifying that Christ's members seek not temporal but eternal glory. And He went up secretly, because allb glory is from within: that is, (Ps. 45:14.) from a pure heart and good conscience, and faith unfeigned. (1 Tim. 1:5)

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

After the Evangelist mentioned how our Lord's relatives urged him to go to Judea, and what Christ replied to them, he then tells us of his journey. First, of his delay in going into Judea; secondly, of the order of the events; and thirdly, the way Christ went up. He mentions our Lord's delay in going when he says, When he had said this, in answer to his relatives, he remained in Galilee, and did not go to the feast with them. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

"When he had said these things," that is, had excused himself before his brethren, "he remained in Galilee," namely, until his brethren had gone up.

Commentary on John, Chapter 7 ↗