ACC ~ John 10 v33

NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE INVISIBLE NATURE

THEODORET OF CYR: But since they did not know the divine nature, they crucified [what they saw as] the human nature. Or didn’t you hear them say, “We are not stoning you because of a good work but because of blasphemy, since you, who are a man, make yourself God.” Through these words they show that they recognized the nature that they saw but had absolutely no knowledge of the invisible nature. If they had known that nature, however, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” [1] DIALOGUE 3. [2]

[1] 1 Cor 2:8.

[2] FC 106:220.

JEWS AS HOSTILE WITNESSES TO SON’S EQUALITY WITH FATHER

AUGUSTINE: This is how the Jews reply to his words, “I and my Father are one.” See how the Jews understood what the Arians do not. The reason they are angry is that they could not conceive of Jesus’ words, “I and my Father are one,” in any other way but that he meant the equality of the Father and the Son. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 48.8. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:268**.

ARIANS AND JEWS AGREE

HILARY OF POITIERS: The Jew says, “You being a man”; you [Arians] say, “You being a creature.” You both join in the cry, “You make yourself God,” with the same insolence of blasphemy. You deny that he is God begotten of God; you deny that he is the Son by a true birth; you deny that his words “I and the Father are one” contain the assertion of one and the same nature in both. You foist upon us instead a modern, strange, alien god. You make him God of another kind from the Father, or else not God at all, as not subsisting by a birth from God…. You say, in effect, “You are not a Son by birth; you are not God in truth; you are a creature excelling all other creatures.” ON THE TRINITY 7.23-24. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 9:128**.

CHRIST DOES NOT CONTRADICT THE JEWS’ UNDERSTANDING

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: For indeed the Jews understood that in saying this, he said that he himself was God and equal to the Father. And Christ did not deny that he had said this as they understood it. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 7.1. [1]

[1] LF 48:102.