Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 8:32

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

Obscure as yet and not wholly clear is the word, none the less it is replete with force akin to those before it, and though after other fashion wrought will go through the same reflections. For it too persuades those who have once believed gladly to depart and remove from the worship according to the law, instructing that the shadow is our guide to the knowledge of Him, and that leaving the types and figures, we should go resolutely forward to the Truth Itself, i. e., Christ the Giver of true freedom and the Redeemer. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 5 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And since some of His former supposed disciples had departed, He therefore says to those who have now believed: "Although those have departed, yet if you abide in My word and faith, you 'will know the truth,' that is, Me, for 'I am the Truth' (John 14:6). But now you do not know the truth, because the law, whose guardians you consider yourselves, is not the truth, but a figure and a shadow. …

Commentary on John ↗

Clement of Alexandria

And in Alcibiades he calls vice a servile thing, and virtue the attribute of freemen. "Take away from you the heavy yoke, and take up the easy one," says the Scripture; as also the poets call [vice] a slavish yoke. And the expression, "Ye have sold yourselves to your sins," agrees with what is said above: "Every one, then, who committeth sin is a slave; and the slave abideth not in the house for ever. But if the Son shall make you free, then shall ye be free, and the truth shall make you free."

The Stromata Book 2 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

And ye shall know the truth. (Tr. xli. 1) As if to say: Whereas ye have now belief, by continuing, ye shall have sight. (xl. 9.). For it was not their knowledge which made them believe, but rather their belief which gave them knowledge. Faith is to believe that which you see not: truth to see that which you believe? By continuing then to believe a thing, you come at last to see the thing; i. e. to the contemplation of the very truth as it is; not conveyed in words, but revealed by light. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

But it is a greater thing to know the truth, since this is the end of a disciple. And our Lord also gives this to those who believe; thus he says, you will know the truth, the truth, that is of the doctrine that I am teaching: "I was born for this, and I came for this, to give testimony to the truth" (18:37); and they will know the truth of the grace that I produce: "Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (1:17) - in contrast to the figures of the Old Law - and they will know the truth of the eternity in which I remain: "O Lord, …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." He states three things that make a person upright. The first is rectitude of affection, and this is indicated in the discipleship of Christ: the second, rectitude of intellect, and this in the knowledge of truth: the third, rectitude of effect, through liberation from guilt, and this is indicated in the liberation by truth. …

Commentary on John, Chapter 8 ↗