ACC ~ John 17 v14

CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE CAN ELICIT HATE

ORIGEN: “And the world hated them, because they are not of the world,” for it hated us from the time when we no longer looked “at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen,” [1] because of the teaching of Jesus. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 13.20. [2]

[1] 2 Cor 4:18.

[2] ANF 9:487*.

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND

JOHN THE ELDER: He said that his friends were not of the world and that the world has hated them. The fulfillment of his commandments [1] is the cross, that is to say, the forgetting and obliteration of all desire for the world and a yearning desire to depart from it in the flame of love, as was the case with Paul. In openness of speech toward my God and in confidence I truly say that the moment the mind strips off the world, it puts on Christ. The moment it departs from thinking about the affairs of the world, it encounters God. The moment the soul cuts off from itself associating with the world, the Spirit starts singing within it of its ineffable mysteries. It is a “mystery for me” [2] here, and a cause for fear. But to the true, truth is revealed. LETTER 5.2. [3]

[1] Jn 14:15, 23.

[2] Is 24:16 (Syriac).

[3] CS 101:331.

OTHERWORLDLY GENERATION

AUGUSTINE: And then, adding the reason for their being hated by the world, he says, “Because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” This was conferred on them by regeneration. For by generation they were of the world, as he had already said to them, “I have chosen you out of the world.” [1] It was therefore a gracious privilege bestowed on them, that they, like himself, should not be of the world, through the deliverance that he was giving them from the world. He, however, was never of the world. For even in respect of his servant form he was born of that Holy Spirit of whom they were born again. For if they were no more of the world, because they were born again of the Holy Spirit, he too was never of the world because he was born of the Holy Spirit. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 108.1. [2]

[1] Jn 15:19.

[2] NPNF 1 7:404*; CCL 36:616.

WHY THE WORLD HATES CHRIST

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The world indeed hates Christ because it is in conflict with his words and does not accept his teaching. People’s minds entirely yield to base desires. And even as the world hates our Savior Christ, it has also hated the disciples who carry through him his message. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.9. [1]

[1] LF 48:526*.

IMITATE CHRIST’S DETACHMENT

APHRAHAT: Let us hate ourselves and love Christ as he loved us and gave himself up for our sakes. [1] Let us honor the spirit of Christ that we may receive grace from him. Let us be strangers to the world, even as Christ was not of it. Let us be humble and mild that we may inherit the land of life. Let us be unflagging in his service that he may cause us to serve in the abode of the saints. Let us pray his prayer in purity that it may have access to the Lord of majesty. Let us be partakers in his suffering so that we may also rise up in his resurrection. [2] Let us bear his sign on our bodies that we may be delivered from the wrath to come. DEMONSTRATION 6. [3]

[1] Jn 12:25; Eph 5:2.

[2] See 2 Tim 2:11-12.

[3] NPNF 2 13:362-63**.