ACC ~ John 14 v18

JESUS SPEAKS LIKE A FATHER TO ORPHANS

AUGUSTINE: After the promise of the Holy Spirit, in case anyone should think that the Lord was to give the Spirit, as it were, in place of himself (implying that he himself would not be with them in the same way), he added the words, “I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.” Orphani [Greek] are pupilli [orphans] in Latin. … Accordingly, although it was not the Son of God that adopted sons to his Father or willed that we should have by grace that same Father who is his Father by nature, yet in a sense it is paternal feelings toward us that [the Son] himself displays. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 75.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:335**; CCL 36:515.

THE SPIRIT’S PRESENCE UNTIL CHRIST COMES

CHRYSOSTOM: Earlier he had said, “Where I go you shall come” and “In my Father’s house there are many mansions.” [1] But since this was a long time off, he gives them the Spirit in the intervening time. They did not know what that [Spirit] was, however, and so they derived little comfort from what he said. … And so he promises them what they required most: his own presence. He says, “I will come to you.” But he intimates at the same time that they are not to look for the same kind of presence all over again. “Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more,” as if he said, I will come to you but not to live with you every day as I did before. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 75.2. [2]

[1]

[2] NPNF 1 14:274-75**.

FORTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: It is impossible for one’s soul to accomplish anything good, or to have power over its own passions or to escape the great subtlety of the devil’s snare if the soul is not fortified by the grace of the Holy Spirit and has Christ himself within it. … Christ promises nothing less than that he will be present and will help those who believe on him through the Spirit, even though he ascends into the heavens after his resurrection from the dead. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9.1. [1]

[1] LF 48:307**.