ACC ~ John 10 v3

MOSES THE GATEKEEPER

CHRYSOSTOM: The gatekeeper perhaps is Moses, for to him the oracles of God were committed. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 59.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:214*.

CHRIST OR THE HOLY SPIRIT THE GATEKEEPER

AUGUSTINE: Whoever you understand here, be careful that you do not think that the porter is greater than the door; for in our houses the doorman usually ranks above the door, not the door above the doorman…. The doorman is our Lord himself. There is much less difference between a door and a doorman than between a door and a shepherd. And he has called himself both the door and the shepherd. Why then not the door and the doorman?… For what is the door? The way of entrance. Who is the doorkeeper? He who opens it. Who, then, is he that opens himself, but he who reveals himself to sight?… If you seek another person for doorman, take the Holy Spirit… of whom our Lord below said, “He will guide you into all truth.” [1] What is the door? Christ. What is Christ? The truth. Who opens the door but the one who will guide you into all truth? TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 46.2-4. [2]

[1] Jn 16:13.

[2] NPNF 1 7:256-57**.

THE GATEKEEPER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The gatekeeper is either the angel who is appointed to preside over the churches [1] and to assist those whose lot is to minister in holy things for the good of the people, or else [the gatekeeper is] the Savior himself, who is at the same time both the Door and the Lord of the door. Commentary on the Gospel of John 6.1. [2]

[1] See Rev. 2.

[2] HE WORD IN THE BEGINNING | JOHN 1:1

THE DOOR OF SCRIPTURE OPENED WITH STUDY AND PRAYER

ORIGEN: My child, diligently apply yourself to the reading of the sacred Scriptures. Apply yourself, I say. For we who read the things of God need to do so often, otherwise we might say or think something too rashly about them. And applying yourself in this way to the study of the things of God, with faithful preconceptions that are well pleasing to God, knock at its locked door, and it will be opened to you by the gatekeeper, of whom Jesus says, “To him the gatekeeper opens.” And applying yourself in this way to the divine study, seek the meaning of the holy Scriptures that so many have missed, but do so in the right way and with unwavering trust in God. Do not be satisfied with knocking and seeking; for prayer is, of all things, indispensable to the knowledge of the things of God. This is what the Savior encourages us to do, saying not only, “Knock, and it shall be opened to you; and seek, and you shall find,” [1] but also, “Ask, and it shall be given to you.” [2] LETTER TO GREGORY 4. [3]

[1] Mt 7:7.

[2] Lk 11:9.

[3] ANF 4:394*; GTDO 43. ANF has this quote incorrectly under subsection 3.

DO NOT LISTEN TO STRANGERS

GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: These I call by name… and they follow me, for I herd them up beside the waters of rest. They follow every shepherd whose voice they love to hear…. But they will not follow a stranger. Instead, they will flee from him because they have a habit of distinguishing the voice of their own from that of strangers. AGAINST THE ARIANS AND ON HIMSELF, ORATION 33.16. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 7:333.

HE LEADS THEM OUT AMID THE WOLVES

CHRYSOSTOM: When he sent out the sheep, he sent them not out of the reach of, but into the midst of, the wolves. [1] For far more wonderful is this way of keeping sheep than what we do. There also seems to be a secret allusion to the blind man. He called him out of the midst of the Jews, and he heard his voice. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 59.3. [2]

[1] Mt 10:16.

[2] NPNF 1 14:214**.

CHRIST LEADS SHEEP TO FREEDOM

AUGUSTINE: And who else leads them out but the same one who loosens the chain of their sins so that, unfettered, they may follow him? TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 45.14. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:255**.