ACC ~ John 18 v1

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS: And when he had delivered to us the representative mysteries of his precious body and blood, Judas not being present with us, he went out to the Mount of Olives, near the brook Kidron, where there was a garden. CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 5.3.14. [1]

[1] ANF 7:444**.

JESUS WILLINGLY ENTERS THE GARDEN THAT HOLDS HIS DEATH

CHRYSOSTOM: An awful thing is death, and very full of terror, but not to those who have learned the true wisdom that is above … who consider death as only a departure to another … far better and brighter place that has no end. This is what Christ teaches us when he goes to his passion, not out of constraint or necessity but willingly. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:306**.

THE GARDEN OF PARADISE, THE GARDEN OF SUFFERING

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The place was a garden, typifying the paradise of old. For in this place, as it were, all places were recapitulated and our return to humanity’s ancient condition was consummated. For the troubles of humanity began in paradise, while Christ’s suffering, which brought us deliverance from all the evil that happened to us in times past, began in [this] garden. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.12. [1]

[1] LF 48:566**.

THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

AUGUSTINE: Matthew proceeds with his narrative … as follows: “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane.” [1] This is mentioned also by Mark. [2] Luke, too, refers to it, although he does not mention the piece of ground by name. … There, we understand, was also the garden that John brings into notice when he gives his narrative. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 3.4.10. [3]

[1] Mt 26:36-46.

[2] Mk 14:32-42.

[3] NPNF 1 6:182**; CSEL 43:281.

JOHN’S OMISSIONS AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE CANONICAL GOSPELS

AUGUSTINE: What John here relates of the Lord entering the garden with his disciples did not take place immediately after Jesus had brought the prayer to a close, of which he says, “When Jesus had spoken these words.” Rather, certain other incidents were interposed that are passed over by the present Evangelist and found in the others, just as in this one are found many things on which the others are similarly silent in their own narratives. But anyone who desires to know how they all agree together—and the truth that is advanced by one is never contradicted by another—may seek for what he wants, not in these present discourses but in other more elaborate treatises. [1] But he will master the subject not by standing and listening but rather by sitting down and reading or by giving his closest attention and thought to one who does so. Yet let him believe (before he knows whether he is able also to come to such a knowledge in this life or finds it impossible because of some existing entanglements) that there is nothing written by any one Evangelist, as far as regards those who have been received by the church into canonical authority, that can be contrary to his own or another’s equally veracious narrative. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 112.1. [2]

[1] Augustine is referring to his own Harmony of the Gospels, loc. cit.

[2] NPNF 1 7:416**; CCL 36:633.