ACC ~ John 16 v2

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.