ACC ~ John 2 v13

PASSOVER “OF THE JEWS”

ORIGEN: In examining the precision of the most wise John, I asked myself what the addition “of the Jews” means for him. For what other nation has a feast of the Pasch? For this reason it would have been sufficient if he had said, “And the Pasch was near.” But perhaps, since there is a human Pasch for those who do not celebrate it according to the intention of the Scripture, and a divine one, which is the true one that is executed in spirit and truth by those who worship God in spirit and truth, [1] he has contrasted the one said to be “of the Jews” with the divine one. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.67-68. [2]

[1] See Jn 4:24.

[2] FC 80:270; SC 157:426.

TWO CLEANSINGS OF THE TEMPLE

AUGUSTINE: This account of the multitude of sellers who were cast out of the temple is given by all the Evangelists, but John introduces it in a remarkably different order. After recording the testimony borne by John the Baptist to Jesus and mentioning that he went into Galilee at the time when he turned the water into wine, and after he has also noticed the sojourn of a few days in Capernaum, John proceeds to tell us that he went up to Jerusalem at the season of the Jews’ Passover, and when he had made a scourge of small cords, drove out of the temple those who were selling in it. This makes it evident that this act was performed by the Lord not on a single occasion but twice over; but that only the first instance is put on record by John, and the last by the other three. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 2.67.129. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 6:160. See also Chrysostom Homilies on the Gospel of John 23.2 who speaks of two accounts: one at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and one at the beginning of his passion. See also Origen Commentary on the Gospel of John 10.129.

Jn