Thomas Aquinas

1225-1274 · Medieval Catholic

Dominican friar and theologian, author of the Summa Theologiae.

At the request of Pope Urban IV he compiled the Catena Aurea, the "golden chain": the comments of the Greek and Latin Fathers on the four Gospels, gathered verse by verse.

This biography is a draft awaiting review.

Works in Logia

Catena Aurea: Commentary on the Four Gospels, Collected out of the Works of the Fathers. Vol. IV, Part 1: St. JohnOxford: John Henry Parker, 1841-45

What Thomas Aquinas says, verse by verse

John 1

John 1:1 · 3 passages
CHRYS. While all the other Evangelists begin with the Incarnation, John, passing over the Conception, Nativity, education, and growth, speaks immediately of the Eternal Generation, saying, In the beginning was the Word. AUG. The…
John 1:2
HILARY; Whereas he had said, the Word was God, the fearfulness, and strangeness of the speech disturbed me; the prophets having declared that God was One. But, to quiet my apprehensions, the fisherman reveals…
John 1:3 · 2 passages
ALCUIN; After speaking of the nature of the Son, he proceeds to His operations, saying, All things were made by him, i. e. every thing whether substance, or property. HILARY; Or thus: [It is…
John 1:4 · 2 passages
CHRYS. Or to give another explanation.... To the mention of creation, succeeds that of providence. In Him was life. As a fountain which produces vast depths of water, and yet is nothing diminished at…
John 1:5
AUG. Whereas that life is the light of men, but foolish hearts cannot receive that light, being so incumbered with sins that they cannot see it; for this cause lest any should think there…
John 1:6
THEOPHYL. Not an Angel, as many have held. The Evangelist here refutes such a notion. AUG. And how could he declare the truth concerning God, unless he were sent from God. CHRYS. After this…
John 1:7
CHRYS. Not because the light wanted the testimony, but for the reason which John himself gives, viz. that all might believe on Him. For as He put on flesh to save all men from…
John 1:8
CHRYS. Forasmuch however as with us, the one who witnesses, is commonly a more important, a more trustworthy person, than the one to whom he bears witness, to do away with any such notion…
John 1:9
AUG. Wherefore is there added, true? Because man enlightened is called light, but the true Light is that which lightens. For our eyes are called lights, and yet, without a lamp at night, or…
John 1:10
AUG. But what meaneth this, The world was made by Him? The earth, sky, and sea, and all that are therein, are called the world. But in another sense, the lovers of the world…
John 1:11
CHRYS. He came then unto His own, not for His own good, but for the good of others. But whence did He Who fills all things, and is every where present, come? He came…
John 1:12
CHRYS. And because in the matter of these ineffable benefits, the giving of grace belongs to God, but the extending of faith to man, He subjoins, even to those who believe on his name.…
John 1:13
BEDE; The carnal birth of men derives its origin from the embrace of wedlock, but the spiritual is dispensed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. CHRYS. The Evangelist makes this declaration, that being…
John 1:14 · 4 passages
CHRYS. Or thus, After saying that they were born of God, who received Him, he sets forth the cause of this honour, viz. the Word being made flesh, God's own Son was made the…
John 1:15
CHRYS. Or he introduces this, as if to say, Do not suppose that we bear witness to this out of gratitude, because we were with Him a long time, and partook of His table;…
John 1:16–17
AUG. But what have ye received? Grace for grace. So that we are to understand that we have received a certain something from His fulness, and over and above this, grace for grace; that…
John 1:17
CHRYS. Or we have received grace for grace; that is, the new in the place of the old.... Next, after he has said, Grace for grace, he adds something to shew the magnitude of…
John 1:18 · 2 passages
Chrys. In this complete sense only the Son and the Holy Ghost see the Father. For how can created nature see that which is uncreated? So then no man knoweth the Father as the…
John 1:19
ORIGEN; This is the second testimony of John the Baptist to Christ, the first began with, This is He of Whom I spake; and ended with, He hath declared Him. THEOPHYL. Or, after the…
John 1:20
ORIGEN; John, as it appears, saw from the question, that the Priests and Levites had doubts whether it might not be the Christ, who was baptizing; which doubts however they were afraid to profess…
John 1:21 · 2 passages
GREG. These words gave rise to a very different question. In another place, our Lord, when asked by His disciples concerning the coming of Elias, replied, If ye will receive it, this is Elias.…
John 1:22–23
CHRYS. You see them here pressing him still more strongly with their questions, while he on the other quietly puts down their suspicions, where they are untrue, and establishes the truth in their place:…
John 1:23
THEOPHYL. Or because he declared the truth plainly, while all who were under the law spoke obscurely. GREG. John crieth in the wilderness, because it is to forsaken and destitute Judaea that he bears…
John 1:24–25
ORIGEN; The questions of the priests and Levites being answered, another mission comes from the Pharisees: And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. So far as it is allowable to form a…
John 1:26
GREG. A saint, even when perversely questioned, is never diverted from the pursuit of goodness. Thus John to the words of envy opposes the words of life: John answered them, saying, I indeed baptize…
John 1:27 · 2 passages
CHRYS. As if he said, Do not think that every thing is contained in my baptism; for if my baptism were perfect, another would not come after me with another baptism. This baptism of…
John 1:28
CHRYS. He mentions this too for another reason, viz. that as He was relating events which had only recently happened, He might, by a reference to the place, appeal to the testimony of those…
John 1:29 · 2 passages
CHRYS. Or; Matthew relates directly Christ's coming to His baptism, John His coming a second time subsequent to His baptism, as appears from what follows: I saw the Spirit descending, &c. The Evangelists have…
John 1:30
THEOPHYL. John having said above to those who came from the Pharisees, that there stood one among them whom they knew not, he here points Him out to the persons thus ignorant: This is…
John 1:31 · 2 passages
CHRYS. That He might not seem however to give His testimony from any motive of friendship or kindred, in consequence of his being related to our Lord according to the flesh, he says, /…
John 1:32 · 3 passages
CHRYS. John having made a declaration, so astonishing to all his hearers, viz. that He, whom he pointed out, did of Himself take away the sins of the world, confirms it by a reference…
John 1:33 · 2 passages
CHRYS. Should any however think that Christ really wanted the Holy Spirit, in the way that we do, he corrects this notion also, by informing us that the descent of the Holy Ghost took…
John 1:34
CHRYS. The Father having sent forth a voice proclaiming the Son, the Holy Spirit came besides, bringing the voice upon the head of Christ, in order that no one present might think that what…
John 1:35–36
BEDE; John stood, because he had ascended that citadel of all excellences, from which no temptations could cast him down: his disciples stood with him, as stout-hearted followers of their master. CHRYS. But wherefore…
John 1:36
AUG. John was the friend of the Bridegroom; he sought not his own glory, but bare witness to the truth. And therefore he wished not his disciples to remain with him, to the hindrance…
John 1:37
ALCUIN. John having borne witness that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the disciples who had been hitherto with him, in obedience to his command, followed Jesus: And the two disciples heard him speak,…
John 1:38 · 2 passages
... Again; There were disciples of John who not only did not follow Christ, but were even enviously disposed toward Him; but the better part heard, and followed; not from contempt of their former…
John 1:39 · 2 passages
ORIGEN. Or perhaps come, is an invitation to action; see, to contemplation. CHRYS. Christ does not describe His house and situation, but brings them after Him, shewing that he had already accepted them as…
John 1:40
CHRYS. One of the two which heard John speak and followed Him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Why is the other name left out? Some say, because this Evangelist himself was that other. Others,…
John 1:41
CHRYS. Andrew kept not our Lord's words to himself; but ran in haste to his brother, to report the good tidings: He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have…
John 1:42
BEDE. He beheld him not with His natural eye only, but by the insight of His Godhead discerned from eternity the simplicity and greatness of his soul, for which he was to be elevated…
John 1:43–44
... He calls Philip, however, because he would be known to him, from living in Galilee. But what made Philip follow Christ? Andrew heard from John the Baptist, and Peter from Andrew; he had…
John 1:43
CHRYS. After gaining these disciples, Christ proceeded to convert others, viz. Philip and Nathanael: The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee. ALCUIN. Leaving, that is, Judaea, where John was baptizing, out of…
John 1:45
CHRYS. Philip is not persuaded himself, but begins preaching to others: Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him. We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets, did write, Jesus…
John 1:46 · 2 passages
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth. AUG. However you may understand these words, Philip's answer will suit. You may read it either as affirmatory, Something good…
John 1:47
CHRYS. Nathanael, in difficulty as to Christ coming out of Nazareth, shewed the care with which he had read the Scriptures: his not rejecting the tidings when brought him, shewed his strong desire for…
John 1:48 · 2 passages
THEOPHYL. Nathanael however, notwithstanding this praise, does not acquiesce immediately, but waits for further evidence, and asks, Whence knowest Thou me? CHRYS. He asks as man, Jesus answers as God: Jesus answered and said…
John 1:49
CHRYS. That our Lord then had this knowledge, had penetrated into his mind, had not blamed but praised his hesitation, proved to Nathanael that He was the true Christ: Nathanael answered and saith unto…
John 1:50–51
... whereas Nathanael, as if his confession were very deficient, is led up to higher things: Jesus answered and said unto him. Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree,…
John 1:51
AUG. Let us recollect the Old Testament account. Jacob saw in a dream a ladder reaching from earth to heaven; the Lord resting upon it, and the angels ascending and descending upon it. Lastly,…

John 2

John 2:1–2 · 2 passages
CHRYS. Our Lord being known in Galilee, they invite Him to a marriage: And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. ALCUIN. Galilee is a province; Cana a village in…
John 2:1
BEDE. Nor is it without some mysterious allusion, that the marriage is related as taking place on the third day. The first age of the world, before the giving of the Law, was enlightened…
John 2:3
... The wine was made to fail, to give our Lord the opportunity of making better; that so the glory of God in man might be brought out of its hiding place: And when…
John 2:4 · 4 passages
AUG. Some who derogate from the Gospel, and say that Jesus was not born of the Virgin Mary, try to draw an argument for their error from this place; for, how, say they, could…
John 2:5
CHRYS. Although He had said, Mine hour is not yet come, He afterwards did what His mother told Him, in order to shew plainly, that He was not under subjection to the hour, For…
John 2:6–10
AUG. But see the mysteries which lie hid in that miracle of our Lord. It was necessary that all things should be fulfilled in Christ which were written of Him: those Scriptures were the…
John 2:6
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Hydriae are vessels to hold water: hy dor being the…
John 2:7–8
CHRYS. But why did He not work the miracle before they had filled the waterpots, which would have been much more wonderful; inasmuch as it is one thing to change the quality of some…
John 2:9
CHRYS. Or thus; It might be said that the guests were drunken, and could not, in the confusion of their senses, tell whether it were water or wine. But this objection could not be…
John 2:10
CHRYS. Our Lord wished the power of His miracles to be seen gradually; and therefore He did not reveal what He had done Himself, nor did the ruler of the feast call upon the…
John 2:11 · 2 passages
... He adds, This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Can a of Galilee. It was very necessary to work miracles just then, when His devoted disciples were all collected, and present at the…
John 2:12–13
CHRYS. He did not perform any miracle at Capernaum, the inhabitants of which city were in a very corrupt state, and not well disposed to Him; He went there however, and stayed some time…
John 2:12 · 2 passages
CHRYS. Our Lord being about shortly to go up to Jerusalem, proceeded to Capernaum, that He might not take His mother and brethren every where about with Him: After this he went down to…
John 2:13
ALCUIN. And He went up to Jerusalem. The Gospels mention two journeys of our Lord to Jerusalem, one in the first year of His preaching, before John was sent to prison, which is the…
John 2:14–16
AUG. Or, those who sell in the Church, are those who seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. They who will not be bought, think they may sell earthly things. Thus Simon…
John 2:14
BEDE; Our Lord on coming to Jerusalem, immediately entered the temple to pray; giving us an example that, wheresoever we go, our first visit should be to the house of God to pray. And…
John 2:15 · 2 passages
AUG. He who was to be scourged by them, was first of all the scourger; And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple. THEOPHYL.…
John 2:16
BEDE; The Evangelist sets before us both natures of Christ: the human in that His mother accompanied Him to Capernaum; the divine, in that He said, Make not My Fathers house an house of…
John 2:17
CHRYS. But why did Christ use such violence? He was about to heal on the Sabbath day, and to do many things which appeared to them transgressions of the Law. That He might not…
John 2:18
THEOPHYL. The Jews seeing Jesus thus acting with power, and having heard Him say, Make not My Father's house an house of merchandize, ask of Him a sign; Then answered the Jews and said…
John 2:19 · 2 passages
BEDE; For inasmuch as they sought a sign from our Lord of His right to eject the customary merchandize from the temple, He replied, that that temple signified the temple of His Body, in…
John 2:20–21
AUG. Or thus, if you take the four Greek words, anatole, the east; dysis, the west; arctos, the north; and mesembria, the south; the first letters of these words make Adam. And our Lord…
John 2:20
THEOPHYL. The Jews, supposing that He spoke of the material temple, scoffed: Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Tliou rear it up in three days?…
John 2:21
THEOPHYL. From this Apollinarius draws an heretical inference: and attempts to shew that Christ's flesh was inanimate, because the temple was inanimate. In this way you will prove the flesh of Christ to be…
John 2:22
CHRYS. Two things there were in the mean time very far removed from the comprehension of the disciples: one, the resurrection of our Lord's Body: the other, and the greater mystery, that it was…
John 2:23
BEDE. The Evangelist has related above what our Lord did on his way to Jerusalem; now He relates how others were affected towards Him at Jerusalem; Now when He was in Jerusalem at the…
John 2:24–25
CHRYS. Or it means that He did not place confidence in them, as perfect disciples, and did not, as if they were brethren of confirmed faith, commit to them all His doctrines, for He…
John 2:24
AUG. What meaneth this, Many believed in His Name — but Jesus did not commit Himself unto them? Was it that they did not believe in Him, but only pretended that they did? In…

John 3

John 3:1–2
AUG. He had said above that, when He was at Jerusalem many believed in His Name, when they saw the miracles which He did. Of this number was Nicodemus, of whom we are told;…
John 3:2
HAYMO. Or, well may it be said that he came in the night, enveloped, as he was, in the darkness of ignorance, and not yet come to the light, i. e. the belief that…
John 3:3 · 2 passages
CHRYS. He did not however conceive any great idea of them from His miracles; and attributed to Him as yet only a human character, speaking of Him as a Prophet, sent to execute a…
John 3:4
CHRYS. Nicodemus coming to Jesus, as to a man, is startled on learning greater things than man could utter, things too lofty for him. His mind is darkened, and he does not stand firm,…
John 3:5 · 3 passages
CHRYS. While Nicodemus stumbles, dwelling upon our birth here, Christ reveals more clearly the manner of our spiritual birth; Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water…
John 3:6
HAYMO. But Nicodemus being unable to Haymo. take in so great and deep mysteries, our Lord helps him by the analogy of our carnal birth, saying, That which is born Pent. of the flesh…
John 3:7–8
... The wonder of Nicodemus being roused again by the words, He who is born of the Spirit is spirit, Christ meets him again with an instance from nature; Marvel not that I said…
John 3:8
AUG. But who of us does not see, for example, that the south wind blows from south to north, another wind from the east, another from the west? And how then do we not…
John 3:9–10
HAYMO. Nicodemus cannot take in the mysteries of the Divine Majesty, which our Lord reveals, and therefore asks how it is, not denying the fact, not meaning any censure, but wishing to be informed:…
John 3:10
CHRYS. Nevertheless He does not charge the man with wickedness, but only with want of wisdom, and enlightenment. But some one will say, What connexion hath this birth, of which Christ speaks, with Jewish…
John 3:11
... A second time however He condescends to his infirmity, and makes use of a common argument to render what He has said credible: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we…
John 3:12
THEOPHYL. This is not said of Nicodemus, but of the Jewish race, who to the very last persisted in unbelief. CHRYS. They are words of gentleness, not of anger; a lesson to us, when…
John 3:13 · 3 passages
AUG. After taking notice of this lack of knowledge in a person, who, on the strength of his magisterial station, set himself above others, and blaming the unbelief of such men, our Lord says,…
John 3:14
CHRYS. Having made mention of the gift of baptism, He proceeds to the source of it, i. e. the cross: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the…
John 3:15
CHRYS. Wherefore He does not say, ' The Son of man must he suspended, but lifted up a more honourable term, but coming near the figure. He uses the figure to shew that the…
John 3:16 · 2 passages
CHRYS. Having said, Even so must the Son of man be lifted up, alluding to His death; lest His hearer should be cast down by His words, forming some human notion of Him, and…
John 3:17
ALCUIN. Truly through the Son of God shall the world have life; for for no other cause came He into the world, except to save the world. God sent not His Son into the…
John 3:18 · 2 passages
ALCUIN. He who believes on Him, and cleaves to Him as a member to the head, will not be condemned. AUG. What didst thou expect Him to say of him who believed not, except…
John 3:19
ALCUIN. Here is the reason why men believed not, and why they are justly condemned; This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world. CHRYS. As if He said, So far from…
John 3:20 · 2 passages
ALCUIN. Every one that doeth evil, hateth the light; i. e. he who is resolved to sin, who delights in sin, hateth the light, which detects his sin. AUG. Because they dislike being deceived,…
John 3:21
CHRYS. He does not say this of those who are brought up under the Gospel, but of those who are converted to the true faith from Paganism or Judaism. He shews that no one…
John 3:22
CHRYS. Nothing is more open than truth, nothing bolder; it neither seeks concealment, or avoids danger, or fears a snare, or cares for popularity. It is subject to no human weakness. Our Lord went…
John 3:23
BEDE; John still continues baptizing, though Christ has begun; for the shadow remains still, nor must the forerunner cease, till the truth is manifested. And John also was baptizing in Ænon, near to Salim.…
John 3:24
CHRYS. Notwithstanding the disciples of Jesus baptized, John did not leave off till his imprisonment; as the Evangelist's language intimates, For John was not yet cast into prison. BEDE; He evidently here is relating…
John 3:25
CHRYS. But why did he go on baptizing now Because, had he left off, it might have been attributed envy or anger: whereas, continuing to baptize, he got no glory for himself, but sent…
John 3:26
... At last they come to John, to solve the question: And they came unto John., and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, behold, the Same baptizeth. CHRYS. Meaning,…
John 3:27
CHRIS. John, on this question being raised, does not rebuke his disciples, for fear they might separate, and turn to some other school, but replies gently, John answered and said, A man can receive…
John 3:28
CHRYS. And see; the very argument by which they thought to have overthrown Christ, To whom thou barest witness, he turns against them; Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not…
John 3:29 · 4 passages
BEDE; Who art thou then, since thou art not the Christ, and who is He to Whom thou bearest witness? John replies, He is the Bridegroom; I am the friend of the Bridegroom, sent…
John 3:30 · 2 passages
CHRYS. He next dismisses the motions of envy, not only as regards the present, but also the future, saying, He must increase, but I must decrease: as if he said, My office hath ceased,…
John 3:31–32
CHRYS. Having corrected the bad feeling of his disciples, he comes to discourse more deeply upon Christ. Before this it would have been useless to reveal the truths which could not yet gain a…
John 3:31 · 2 passages
CHRYS. As the worm gnaws wood, and rusts iron, so vainglory destroys the soul that cherishes it. But it is a most obstinate fault. John with all his arguments can hardly subdue it in…
John 3:32–33
CHRYS. Having said, And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth, to prevent any from supposing, that what he said was false, because only a few for the present believed, he adds,…
John 3:33–34
AUG. What is it, that God is true, except that God is true, and every man a liar? For no man can say what truth is, till he is enlightened by Him who cannot…
John 3:34
CHRYS. By Spirit here is meant the operation of the Holy Spirit. He wishes to shew that all of us have received the operation of the Spirit by measure, but that Christ contains within…
John 3:35
AUG. Having said of the Son, God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him; he adds, The Father loveth the Son, and farther adds, and hath given all things into His hand; in…
John 3:36
ALCUIN. And because all things are in His hand, the life everlasting is too: and therefore it follows, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. BEDE. We must understand here not a…

John 4

John 4:1
AUG. Truly had the Pharisees' knowledge that our Lord was making more disciples, and baptizing more than John, been such as to lead them heartily to follow Him, He would not have left Judaea,…
John 4:2 · 2 passages
AUG. It may perplex you, perhaps, to be told that Jesus baptized more than John, and then immediately after, Though Jesus Himself baptized not. What? Is there a mistake made, and then corrected? CHRYS.…
John 4:3–4
CHRYS. Christ on withdrawing from Judaea, joined those whom He was with before, as we read next, And departed again into Galilee. As the Apostles, when they were expelled by the Jews, went to…
John 4:4–5
BEDE. He must needs pass through Samaria; because that country lay between Judea and Galilee. Samaria was the principal city of a province of Palestine, and gave its name to the whole district connected…
John 4:6 · 3 passages
Now Jacob's well was there. AUG. It was a well. Every well is a spring, but every spring is not a well. Any water that rises from the ground, and can be drawn for…
John 4:7
CHRYS. That this conversation might not appear a violation of His own injunctions against talking to the Samaritans, the Evangelist explains how it arose; viz. for He did not come with the intention beforehand…
John 4:8
CHRYS. This shews us too not only our Lord's strength and endurance as a traveller, but also his carelessness about food; for His disciples did not carry about food with them, since it follows,…
John 4:9
... The woman on being told, Give Me to drink, very naturally asks, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria? She knew Him…
John 4:10 · 2 passages
AUG. He who asked to drink, however, out of the woman's vessel, thirsted for the woman's faith: Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, or Who it is…
John 4:11–12
CHRYS. These words raised the woman's notions of our Lord, and make her think Him no common person. She addresses Him reverentially by the title of Lord; The woman, saith unto Him, Lord, Thou…
John 4:13
CHRYS. To the woman's question, Art Thou greater than our father Jacob? He does not reply, I am greater, lest He should seem to boast; but His answer implies it; Jesus answered and said…
John 4:14
CHRYS. The excellence of this water, viz. that he that drinketh of it never thirsts, He explains in what follows, But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well…
John 4:15
CHRYS. See how the woman is led by degrees to the highest doctrine. First, she thought He was some lax Jew. Then hearing of the living water, she thought it meant material water. Afterwards…
John 4:16–18
AUG. Jesus seeing that the woman did not understand, and wishing to enlighten her, says, Call thy husband; i. apply thine understanding. For when the life is well ordered, the understanding governs the soul…
John 4:16
... At last our Lord was resolved that she should understand: Jesus saith unto her, Go call thy husband, and come hither. What meaneth this? Did He wish to give her the water through…
John 4:17–18
CHRYS. The woman then being urgent in Asking for the promised water, Jesus saith unto her, Go call thy husband; to shew that he too ought to have a share in these things. But…
John 4:18
AUG. The five husbands some interpret to be the five books which were given by Moses. And the words, He whom thou now hast is not thy husband, they understand as spoken by our…
John 4:19–20
CHRYS. The woman is not offended at Christ's rebuke. She does not leave Him, and go away. Far from it: her admiration for Him is raised: The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive…
John 4:21
CHRYS. Christ however does not solve this question immediately, but leads the woman to higher things, of which He had not spoken till she acknowledged Him to be a prophet, and therefore listened with…
John 4:22
CHRYS. There was no necessity for Christ to shew why the fathers worshipped in the mountain, and the Jews in Jerusalem. He therefore was silent on that question; but nevertheless asserted the religious superiority…
John 4:23–24
CHRYS. He speaks here of the Church; wherein there is true worship, and such as becometh God; and therefore adds, For the Father seeketh such to worship Him. For though formerly He willed that…
John 4:23 · 2 passages
CHRYS. The Jewish worship then was far higher than the Samaritan; but even it shall be abolished; The hour cometh, and now is, when, the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and…
John 4:24 · 2 passages
HILARY. Or, by saying that God being a Spirit ought to be worshipped in spirit, He indicates the freedom and knowledge of the worshippers, and the uncircumscribed nature of the worship: according to the…
John 4:25
CHRYS. The woman was struck with astonishment at the loftiness of His teaching, as her words shew: The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ. AUG. Unctus in…
John 4:26
CHRYS. Christ now reveals Himself to the woman: Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He. Had He told the woman this to begin with, it would have appeared vanity. Now,…
John 4:27
CHRYS. The disciples arrive opportunely, and when the teaching is finished: And upon this came His disciples, and marvelled that He talked with the woman. They marvelled at the exceeding kindness and humility of…
John 4:28 · 2 passages
ORIGEN. The woman is almost turned into an Apostle. So forcible are His words, that she leaves her waterpot to go the city, and tell her townsmen of them. The woman then left her…
John 4:29–30
CHRYS. She was not prevented by shamefacedness from spreading about what had been said to her. For the soul, when it is once kindled by the divine flame, regards neither glory, nor shame, nor…
John 4:31–32
AUG. His disciples had gone to buy food, and had returned. They offered Christ some: In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat. CHRYS. They all ask Him at once, Him…
John 4:33
... The disciples however were in perplexity: Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him ought to eat? AUG. What wonder that the woman did not understand about the water?…
John 4:34 · 2 passages
AUG. Our Lord heard His doubting disciples, and answered them as disciples, i. plainly and expressly, not circuitously, as He answered the women; Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will…
John 4:35–36
ORIGEN. How can we consistently give an allegorical meaning to the words, Lift up your eyes, &c. and only a literal one to the words, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?…
John 4:35
CHRYS. What is the will of the Father He now proceeds to explain: Say ye not. There are yet four months, then cometh harvest? THEOPHYL. Now ye are expecting a material harvest. But I…
John 4:36
AUG. He was intent now on beginning the work, and hastened to send labourers: And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that soweth and he that…
John 4:37–38
CHRYS. He confirms what He says by a proverb, And, herein is that saying true, one soweth and another reapeth, i. e. one party has the labour, and another reaps the fruit. The saying…
John 4:39–40
CHRYS. It is now, as it were, harvest time, when the corn is gathered, and a whole floor soon covered with sheaves; And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him, for…
John 4:40
ORIGEN. It is natural to ask, why our Saviour stays with the Samaritans, when He had given a command to His disciples not to enter into any city of the Samaritans. But we must…
John 4:41–42
CHRYS. The Jews disbelieved in spite of miracles, while these exhibited great faith, before even a miracle was wrought, and when they had only heard our Lord's words. And many more believed because of…
John 4:42
AUG. So then they knew Christ first by report of another, afterwards by His own presence; which is still the case of those that are without the fold, and not yet Christians. Christ is…
John 4:43–44
AUG. After staying two days in Samaria, He departed into Galilee, where He resided: Now after two days He departed thence, and went into Galilee, AUG. Why then does the Evangelist say immediately, For…
John 4:44
THEOPHYL. Or thus: Our Lord on leaving Samaria for Galilee, explains why He was not always in Galilee: viz. because of the little honour He received there. A prophet hath no honour in his…
John 4:45
... The Galileans however received our Lord: Then when He was come into Galilee, the Galileans received Him. Observe how those who are spoken ill of, are always the first to come to Christ.…
John 4:46
CHRYS. On a former occasion our Lord attended a marriage in Cana of Galilee, now He goes there to convert the people, and confirm by His presence the faith which His miracle had produced.…
John 4:47
CHRYS. Some think that he is the same centurion, who is mentioned in Matthew. But that he is a different person is clear from this; that the latter, when Christ wished to come to…
John 4:48
AUG. Did not he who made this request believe? Mark what our Lord says; Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. This is to charge the…
John 4:49
GREG. Remember what He asked for, and you will plainly see that he doubted. He asked Him to come down and see his son: The nobleman saith unto him. Sir, come down, ere my…
John 4:50
GREG. Our Lord in His answer implies that He is in a certain sense where He is invited present even when He is absent from a place. He saves by His command simply, even…
John 4:51–53
ORIGEN. His rank appears in the fact of his servants meeting him: And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. CHRYS. They met him,…
John 4:54
AUG. The Samaritans believed on the strength of His words only: that whole house believed on the strength of the miracle which had been brought in it. The Evangelist adds, This is again the…