ACC ~ John 16 v1 - 4

OVERVIEW:

Jesus prepares his disciples for tribulation through prophesying about what would happen (THEODORE). They are to endure the hatred they receive, understanding that it is misplaced zeal (BEDE). Christ’s warning foretells the disciples’ ultimate success (AUGUSTINE). Those who thought they were offering service to God in killing Jesus went up to Jerusalem to “purify themselves” for this supposed service (ORIGEN). Jesus as well as the disciples would be cast out of the synagogue by them, but if the Jews had instead acknowledged and received Christ, the churches of Christ would have been no different from the synagogue (AUGUSTINE). Those who partake in Christ’s suffering should realize these persecutions are to test us (CYPRIAN). But those who persecute the ones who are sent also persecute the sender (CYRIL). There is an ultimate reward for their endurance (CHRYSOSTOM). In the same way, we too should remember Jesus’ words when tested (CHRYSOSTOM). He gives these words of comfort to his disciples because he is about to leave them (AUGUSTINE). He had warned them earlier but now is more specific (CHRYSOSTOM).

16:1 | To Keep You from Falling Away

TRAINING THROUGH DIFFICULTIES

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: I predicted these things to you, he says, so that when sudden unexpected tribulations would occur, your resolve might not turn and fail but instead, through constant meditation, you might be trained through these difficulties. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 6.16.1. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:289.

MISDIRECTED ZEAL

BEDE: The Savior warned his disciples ahead of time that they would not only be driven away from fellowship with their fellow citizens but also that they would suffer death at their hands. The Jews thought that they were doing a service to God in pursuing the ministers of the new covenant with hatred and death. The apostle says, “For I bear witness to them that they have zeal for God, but not according to full knowledge.” [1] Here, it is as if he were saying, “You are going to suffer battles and tribulations from your fellow citizens, but accept them the more steadfastly in the realization that you are afflicted with them not so much out of hatred toward yourselves as out of zeal for the divine law.” Mindful of this advice, the blessed martyr Stephen prayed for his slayers. Those zealous for the Law thought that they were doing a service to God when they were murdering the heralds of grace. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.16. [2]

[1] Rom 10:2.

[2] CS 111:152**.

16:2 | Persecution and Misdirected Service to God

CHRIST’S WARNING FORETELLS THE DISCIPLES’ SUCCESS

AUGUSTINE: On the whole, I do not think Jesus wanted to convey any further meaning than that they might understand and rejoice that they themselves would gain so many to Christ. When they were being driven out of the Jewish congregations, ultimately it would be found insufficient to expel them, and the Jews would not allow them to live, fearing that everyone would be converted by their preaching to the name of Christ and turned away from the observance of Judaism, as if what they were preaching were the very truth of God. This is how we should understand his reference to the Jews, when he said of them, “They will put you out of the synagogues.” For the witnesses, in other words, the martyrs of Christ, were similarly slain by the Gentiles. The Gentiles, however, did not think that it was to the true God but to their own false deities that they were doing service when they acted. But every Jew who killed the preachers of Christ considered that he was serving God, believing as he did that all who were converted to Christ were deserting the God of Israel. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 93.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:365-66**; CCL 36:560.

PRIOR TO “SERVICE,” JEWS PURIFIED THEMSELVES

ORIGEN: What the Savior said in prophesying to the disciples … was originally fulfilled in his own case. For those who required that he should die thought they were offering a service to God and had gone up to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 28.235-36. [1]

[1] FC 89:339-40*; SC 385:172.

CHURCHES MIGHT HAVE BEEN SYNAGOGUES

AUGUSTINE: But what harm was it for the apostles to be expelled from the Jewish synagogues, as if they were not going to separate themselves from it soon enough, although no one expelled them? No doubt he meant to announce that the Jews would refuse to receive Christ while the disciples … were not going to desert him. And so, the disciples, who could not exist without him, would also be thrown out along with him by those who would not have him as their dwelling place. For certainly there were no other people of God than the seed of Abraham. And if they would only acknowledge and receive Christ, they would have remained as the natural branches in the olive tree. [1] The churches of Christ also would have been no different from the synagogues of the Jews. They would have been one and the same if they had also desired to remain in him. But since they refused, continuing to keep Christ outside, there was nothing left to do but put out of the synagogues those who would not abandon Christ. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 93.2. [2]

[1] Rom 11:17.

[2] NPNF 1 7:364-65**; CCL 36:558-59.

PURPOSE IN PARTAKING IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING

CYPRIAN: No one should wonder that we are harassed with constant persecutions and continually tried with increasing afflictions when the Lord before predicted that these things would happen in the last times. He has instructed us for the warfare through his teaching and exhortation. Peter also, his apostle, has taught that persecutions occur to test us. We are to look to the example of the righteous who have gone before us and are to be joined to the love of God by death and sufferings. For he wrote in his epistle, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that comes on you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” [1] The name of Christ is indeed blasphemed by them but is glorified by us. LETTER 55.2. [2]

[1] 1 Pet 4:12-14.

[2] ANF 5:347-48; Letter 58.2 in CCL 3C:321-22.

16:3 | Persecuting the Son and the Father

THOSE WHO PERSECUTE THE SENT PERSECUTE THE SENDER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: In these words the Lord Jesus Christ defends himself and also accuses the audacity of the Jews … censuring those who dishonor him by their cruelty toward the holy apostles. For the charge of transgression will not merely have reference to their treatment of the saints but also will bear on the one who laid on them the service of apostleship. Just as God said to the holy Samuel concerning the children of Israel, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me.” [1] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [2]

[1] 1 Sam 8:7.

[2] LF 48:437*.

ENDURANCE AND REWARD

CHRYSOSTOM: He says to them, in effect: It is sufficient comfort that you endure these things for my sake and the Father’s. Here he reminds them of the blessedness of which he spoke at the beginning, “Blessed are you when people shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad. For great is your reward in heaven.” [1] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 77.3. [2]

[1] Mt 5:11-12.

[2] NPNF 1 14:284**.

16:4a | Remember What I Told You

REMEMBER JESUS’ WORDS WHEN TESTED

CHRYSOSTOM: Let us also consider these things in our temptations when we suffer anything from wicked people, “looking to the Beginner and Finisher of our faith.” [1] Let us consider that it is by wicked people and for virtue’s sake and for his sake [that we suffer]. For if we reflect on these things, everything will be easier and more tolerable. Since one is even proud when suffering for those he loves, what kind of feeling will such a person have who suffers for the sake of God? For if Jesus, for our sake, calls that shameful thing, the cross, “glory,” [2] how much more should we think that way! And if we can so despise sufferings, much more shall we be able to despise riches and covetousness. We ought then, when about to endure anything unpleasant, to think not of the toils but of the crowns. For as merchants take into account not the seas only but also the profits, so should we count on heaven and confidence in God. If acquiring things seems pleasant, simply remember that this is not what Christ called us to, and it will immediately appear displeasing. And if it is hard for you to give to the poor, do not keep adding things up in your mind, but rather immediately transport your thoughts to the harvest that results from the sowing. And when it is hard to despise the love of a strange woman, think of the crown that comes after the struggle, and you shall easily bear the struggle. For if fear diverts a person from unseemly things, much more should the love of Christ. Virtue is difficult. But let us cast around its form the greatness of the promise of things to come. Indeed, those who are virtuous, even apart from these promises, see [virtue] beautiful in itself. This is why they go after it and work for it, because it seems good to God and not because it is a job they have to do. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 77.4. [3]

[1] Heb 12:2.

[2] Jn 13:31.

[3] NPNF 1 14:284-85**.

16:4b | I Did Not Say These Things at the Beginning

PROPER THINGS AT THE PROPER TIME

AUGUSTINE: In the other three Evangelists, these predictions occur before the supper. [1] John implies the supper was over. … Still, if the other Evangelists relate them as given very near his passion, what John records here is strictly true as well when it says, “And I said these things to you at the beginning.” Matthew, however, relates these prophecies as given by the Lord not only on the evening of the Passover, when he sat with his disciples, but also at the beginning, when the twelve apostles are named and sent on their work from God. [2] How do we reconcile this with our Lord’s words here? … We apply these words to the promise of the Holy Spirit and the testimony he would give amid their suffering. Jesus had not spoken of [the Comforter] at the beginning because he himself was with them. … And his presence was a sufficient consolation. But on the eve of his own departure, it was proper that he should tell them of the Spirit’s coming by whom the love of God would be shed abroad in their hearts to preach the word of God with all boldness. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 94.1-2. [3]

[1] Mt 24:9; Mk 8:9-13; Lk 21:12-17.

[2] Mt 10:1-15.

[3] NPNF 1 7:366-67**; CCL 36:562.

REASONS FOR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION

CHRYSOSTOM: “And these things,” says he, “I did not tell you at the beginning.” Why didn’t he tell them at the beginning? He did not tell them so that no one might say that he was guessing based on the ordinary course of events. And why did he enter into a matter of such unpleasantness? I knew these things, he says, from the beginning and did not speak of them—not because I did not know them but “because I was with you.” And this again was spoken after a human manner, as though he had said, I didn’t tell you because you were in safety, and it was in your power to question me when you wanted to, and all the storms blew on me [not you], and so it was superfluous to tell you these things at the beginning. But did he not tell them this? Did he not call the Twelve and say to them, “You shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake,” and, “they shall scourge you in the synagogues”? [1] How then can he say, “I did not tell you these things at the beginning”? He can say this because he had foretold their scourging and their being brought before princes, but not that their death should appear so desirable that the action should even be deemed a service to God. For this more than anything was enough to terrify them—that they were to be judged as impious and corrupters. We might also add that in that earlier place he spoke of what they should suffer from the Gentiles, but here he has added in a stronger way the acts of the Jews also, and told them that it was almost at their doors. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 78.1. [2]

[1] Mt 10:17.

[2] NPNF 1 14:286**.