ACC ~ John 18 v37a

THE TITLE OF KING IS ONE OF JESUS’ MANY NAMES

GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: Who is the person who has never, by experience and contemplation, traversed the entire series of titles and powers of Christ, both those more lofty ones that originally were his and those more lowly ones that he later assumed for our sake: God, the Son, the Image, the Word, the Wisdom, the Truth, the Light, the Life, the Power … , the Maker, the King. … Who is the person who hears but pays no attention to these names so pregnant with reality and has never yet held communion with or been made partaker of the Word in any of the real relations signified by each of these names Christ bears? IN DEFENSE OF HIS FLIGHT TO PONTUS, ORATION 2.98. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 7:224.

JESUS NEITHER CONFESSES NOR DENIES KINGSHIP

AUGUSTINE: It was not that Jesus was afraid to confess himself a king, but the phrase “you say” is nuanced enough that he neither denies himself to be a king (for he is a king whose kingdom is not of this world), nor does he confess that he is such a king as to warrant the supposition that his kingdom is of this world. For, since this was the very idea in Pilate’s mind when he said, ’“Are you a king then?” the answer Pilate received was, “You say that I am a king.” For it was said, “You say,” as if it had been said, since you are worldly, you say it in a worldly way. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 115.3. [1]

[1] CCL 36:645; NPNF 1 7:424**.

JESUS’ RULE NOT LIMITED

EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: His kingdom and throne were not human. They were not of this world. Therefore he said before Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” And when he was asked by him if he were a king, Jesus answered, “For this also I have been born.” So if he has been born for this, he will remain for this … for the kingdom of this world is not able to endure forever, nor is it endless as if extended indefinitely. COMMENTARY ON PSALM 88 [89]. 39-46. [1]

[1] PG 23:1112.

JESUS’ KINGDOM CONTINUES

EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: The throne of the kingdom conferred on Jesus is nothing mortal or temporal. Rather, it truly extended throughout the whole world like light shining as the moon established forever, enlightening understanding souls through his divine and heavenly teaching. TO STEPHANUS 15.4. [1]

[1] PG 22:932.