ACC ~ John 13 v25

A PLACE OF HONOR FOR THOSE WHO SEE GOD

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The Evangelist tells us that he was himself the object of special honor and love on the part of Christ our Savior. He reclines next to Jesus, actually in the very bosom of the Lord, considering this a token of Christ’s surpassing affection toward him. Those who are pure in heart are most especially near to God and in the highest place of honor. For the Savior himself assigns them this conspicuous honor when he says that the pure in heart shall be blessed for they shall see God. [1] … To those who keep their mind unstained by the world and from an empty preoccupation with the things of this life, it does seem that Christ reveals his own peculiar glory by a subtle and perhaps incomprehensible process, thereby showing also the glory of the Father, which must be what Jesus meant when he said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” [2] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9. [3]

[1] Mt 5:8.

[2] Jn 14:9.

[3] LF 48:197-98**.

RECLINING IN THE BOSOM OF THE WORD

ORIGEN: John, by reclining on the Word and resting on more mystical things, was reclining in the bosom of the Word, analogous also to the Word being in the bosom of the Father, according to the statement, “The only-begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.” [1] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.264. [2]

[1] Origen, again paying careful attention to the text, goes on to make much of the distinction between the different Greek words for “bosom” in verse 23 and “breast” in verse 25 (a distinction ignored in the RSV), asserting that John had moved to a higher level of revelation by moving from Christ’s bosom to his breast. See Commentary on John 32.276-79.

[2] FC 89:391; SC 385:298-300.