ACC ~ John 16 v25

ALL REVEALED IN DUE TIME

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What the time would be, Jesus did not tell them very clearly. We must surmise that he either meant that time when we are enriched with the knowledge that comes to us through the Spirit, whom Christ himself brought down to us after his resurrection from the dead. Or it may be the time to come after the end of the world, in which we shall clearly behold the glory of God, that God will impart to us directly. … In the darkness of the night the bright beauty of the stars shines forth, each casting abroad its own ray of light, but when the sun rises with its own radiant beams … the luster of the stars waxes feeble and ineffective. In a similar manner I think also that the knowledge we now have will cease, and that which is partial will vanish away at the moment when the perfect light has come on us and sheds forth its radiance, filling us with perfect knowledge of God. Then, when we are enabled to approach God in confidence, Christ will tell us the things that concern his Father. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:467*.

HE WILL MANIFEST HIS EQUALITY WITH THE FATHER

GREGORY THE GREAT: When he declares that he will show them plainly of the Father, he alludes to the manifestation about to take place of his own majesty that would show his own equality with the Father and the procession of the co-eternal Spirit from both. For we shall then openly see how what has its existence from something else is not subsequent to him from whom it springs and how he who is produced by procession is not preceded by those from whom he proceeded. We shall then see openly how both the One is divisibly Three and the Three indivisibly One. MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 30.4.17. [1]

[1] LF 31:375**.

BLESSEDNESS IN SEEING GOD FACE TO FACE

AUGUSTINE: Ask in my name so that your joy may be full and you shall receive. For his saints who persevere in asking for such a good thing as this will never be defrauded by the mercy of God. Then he continues, “These things have I spoken to you in proverbs. But the hour is coming when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of my Father.” The hour of which he speaks may be understood of that future period of life when we shall see him openly, as the apostle said, “face to face.” Thus, when Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you in proverbs” agrees with what the apostle said, “Now we see as in a glass darkly.” [1] But “I will show you” that the Father shall be seen through the instrumentality of the Son, which is akin to what Jesus says elsewhere, “For no one knows the Father except the Son and the one to whom the Son shall reveal him.” [2] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 102.2-3. [3]

[1] 1 Cor 13:12.

[2] Mt 11:27.

[3] NPNF 1 7:390**.