ACC ~ John 16 v13c

THE SPIRIT HEARS AND KNOWS FROM THE FATHER

AUGUSTINE: When it says that the Holy Spirit “shall not speak of himself; but whatever he hears, that shall he speak,” we should understand this as saying that he is not of himself. It is the Father only who is not of another. For the Son is born of the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. But the Father is neither born of, nor proceeds from, another. And yet this should not occasion in human thought any idea of disparity in the supreme Trinity. For the Son is equal to him of whom he is born just as the Holy Spirit is equal to him from whom he proceeds. But what difference there is in such a case between proceeding and being born would be too lengthy to make the subject of inquiry and dissertation. It would also make our definition liable to the charge of rashness, even after we had discussed it. For such a thing is of the utmost difficulty, both for the mind to comprehend in any adequate way—even if it had reached the level of such comprehension—and for the tongue to explain no matter how capable the one that presides as a teacher or he that is present as a hearer are. … Because, then, [the Spirit] is not of himself, but of him from whom he proceeds and of whom he has essence, it is of him [i.e. the Father] that he has knowledge. From the Father, therefore, the Spirit has hearing, which is nothing else than knowledge. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 99.4. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:382-83.

THE WORDS ARE THE SAME

CHRYSOSTOM: Here most of all Christ shows his dignity, for to foretell things to come is especially the property of God. Now if he also learned this from others, he will have nothing more than the prophets. But here Christ declares a knowledge brought into exact agreement with God so that it is impossible that he should speak anything else. But “shall receive of mine” means “shall receive, either of the grace that came into my flesh or of the knowledge that I also have, not as needing it or as learning it from another, but because it is one and the same.” And why did he speak this way and not otherwise? Because they do not yet understand the word concerning the Spirit, which is why he provides for one thing only, that the Spirit should be believed and received by them and that they should not be offended. For since he had said, “One is your Teacher, even Christ” [1] —so that they might not think that they disobeyed him in obeying the Spirit—he says, “his teaching and mine are one. Whatever I would have taught is what he also will speak. Do not suppose his words are other than mine, for those words are mine and confirm my opinion. For the will of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one.” He also wants this for us, which is why he says, “that they may be one, as you and I are one.” [2] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 78.3. [3]

[1] Mt 23:10.

[2] See Jn 17:11.

[3] NPNF 1 14:289*.