ACC ~ John 20 v2

WOMEN FAVORED IN MARY AS FIRST WITNESS

CHRYSOSTOM: Do you see how she did not yet know anything clearly concerning the resurrection? Instead, she thought the body had been removed, which is what she simply tells to the disciples. And the Evangelist has not deprived the woman of such praise, nor did he think it shameful that they should have learned these things first from her who had passed the night in watching. This shows how his love of the truth is on display everywhere. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 85.4. [1]

“THEY HAVE TAKEN MY LORD

” AUGUSTINE: Some of the Greek codices have, “They have taken my Lord,” which may likely enough have been said by someone with a stronger than ordinary affection of love than simply that of a relationship of a handmaid. However, we have not found it in the several codices to which we have had access. [2] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 120.6. [3]

[1] NPNF 1 14:320*.

[2] Modern sources would agree with Augustine, since it remains unclear which Greek codices may have had this variant, since no textual variant is listed in Nestle Aland. Swanson (“John,” 272) records the variant in MSS 037 in St. Gall, but this is a ninth-century manuscript. However, Tatian’s Diatessaron preserves the reading “my Lord” and could have been the source.

[3] NPNF 1 7:435**.

MARY’S ARDOR OF FAITH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: This excellent and pious woman would never have endured remaining at home and leaving the sepulcher [after the burial] if she had not had respect for sabbath law and the penalty that was incurred by those who transgressed it. This fear curbed her excessive zeal, allowing ancient custom to prevail, and to withdraw her thoughts from the object of her most earnest longings for awhile. But when the sabbath was already past and the dawn of the next day was appearing, she hurried back to the spot. And then, when she saw the stone rolled away from the mouth of the tomb, well-grounded suspicions seized her mind and, calling to mind the ceaseless hatred of the Jews, she thought that Jesus had been carried away. And so she accuses them of this crime in addition to their other misdeeds. While she was thus engaged and mulling over the possibilities in her mind, the woman returned to the men who loved the Lord, anxious to obtain the cooperation of the most intimate of his disciples in her quest. And so deep-rooted and impregnable was her faith that she thought no less of Christ because of his death on the cross but even when he was dead called him Lord, as she had always done, thereby showing a truly God-loving spirit. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12. [1]

[1] LF 48:650*.

MARY’S SECRET AND THE DISCIPLES’ EXAMINATION

EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: Question: How is it that in John the disciples hearing Mary, and then coming to the sepulcher, believed. But in Luke it is said that “their words appeared in their sight as an idle tale and they did not believe?

Answer: Mary, in John, told what she had seen to the chief apostles Peter and John alone, as declaring some secret. And they again, unknown to the other disciples, ran to the sepulcher, saw and believed. And there was nothing strange in the chief apostles having seen and believed while the rest to whom the women reported, not having received with their own eyes, did not believe them. Indeed, when the Savior appeared to the assembled disciples themselves, according to John, those who saw him rejoiced. But Thomas, since he was not with them and did not see, was not persuaded. But if he disbelieved the apostles, one would scarcely blame the rest because, not having as yet beheld him, they disbelieved the women. The Scripture shows much examination and carefulness on the part of the disciples, not readily assenting to their words but at first suspending judgment until they recognized the truth fully and clearly. TO MARINUS, SUPPLEMENT 3. [1]

[1] AEG 6:119-20**; PG 22:988.

DID THE DISCIPLES BELIEVE MARY?

EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: The passage may have another meaning. It may be said that the women reporting the Savior’s resurrection from the message of the two men who appeared to them, according to Luke, were not believed by the Eleven, among whom were even Peter and John, who themselves had not believed. But Mary saying, according to John, “They have taken my Lord away from the tomb,” was not believed by the two disciples on this very point, that is, that the Savior had been taken away, until they came to the place and found it actually so. TO MARINUS, SUPPLEMENT 3. [1]

[1] AEG 6:120**; PG 22:988-89.