ACC ~ John 3 v11

TEACH ONLY WHAT YOUR HEARER CAN HANDLE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He advises Nicodemus to accept in simple faith what he cannot understand. Jesus testifies that he himself knows clearly what he says because of who he is, and to doubt what he says is a very dangerous thing. For it was not likely that Nicodemus would forget that he had earlier affirmed that our Savior Christ was a “teacher who had come from God.” But to resist one who is both from God, and God, is terribly fraught with peril since one is clearly fighting with God. That is why we, who have the authority to teach, should rather provide simple arguments for those who have just come to faith, rather than the more elaborate explanations… not applying doctrine indiscriminately but appropriately adapted to what each can handle. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.1. [1]

[1] LF 43:171**.

THE TRINITARIAN WITNESS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Since he has the Father and the Spirit naturally, the Savior set forth the person of the witnesses in the plural number so that, as in the law of Moses, [1] by the mouth of two or three witness what is said may be established. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.1. [2]

[1] Deut 19:15.

[2] LF 43:171**.

Jn