ACC ~ John 20 v8 - 9

JOHN BELIEVED MARY’S REPORT

AUGUSTINE: Here some, by not giving due attention, suppose that John believed that Jesus had risen again. [1] But there is no indication of this from the words that follow. For what does he mean by immediately adding, “For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead”? He could not then have believed that Jesus had risen again when he did not know that he had to rise again. What then did he see? What was it that he believed? It was nothing else but this, that is, that he saw the sepulcher empty and believed what the woman had said, that is, that Jesus had been taken away from the tomb. “For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” In the same way also, when they heard of it from the Lord himself—although uttered in the plainest of terms—yet from their custom of hearing him speaking by parables they did not understand and believed that he meant something else. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 120.9. [2]

[1] See Cyril’s comments below where he says John believed in the resurrection. Chrysostom affirms this as well.

[2] NPNF 1 7:436**.

PETER AND JOHN TESTIFY TO THE RESURRECTION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: When these men (I mean Peter and John, the writer of this book, for he gives himself the name of the other disciple) heard this news from the woman’s mouth, they ran with all the speed they could and hurried to the sepulcher. They saw the marvel with their own eyes, being in themselves competent to testify to the event, for they were two in number as the Law enjoined. [1] As yet they did not meet Christ risen from the dead, but they infer his resurrection from the bundle of linen clothes, and from that time on they believed that he had burst the bonds of death, as holy Scripture had long ago proclaimed that he would do. When, therefore, they looked at the issues of events in the light of the prophecies that turned out true, their faith was from that time forward rooted on a firm foundation. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12. [2]

[1] See Deut 19:15.

[2] LF 48:650-51*.