ACC ~ John 16 v4b

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**.