ACC ~ John 4 v13
THE WATER THAT SATISFIES
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: There is a great difference, he says, between that water [in the well] and the water I promise to give. That [water], after they have drunk it, extinguishes their thirst for a short time. But then, when it has been consumed according to its nature, it leaves the one who shortly before had drunk it thirsty again. The water that I give is such in its nature that not only is it not consumed and does not leave the one who drinks it oppressed by thirst, but on the contrary, it becomes in him like a spring gushing up forever. The water from a spring does not run out, nor does it need to be brought from another place or to be introduced, but it constantly offers perpetual nourishment to those who want it. In a similar way also the virtue of this water provides the one who receives it with perpetual help and will always preserve him and not allow him to perish. Therefore the one who receives this grace will never reach death. He said what he did for good reason, because this is what the virtue of the Spirit is. And so we also receive from him the firstfruits of the Spirit with the hope of the future resurrection. Since now this operation is performed symbolically, we hope then to receive the perfect grace when, through his participation, we will remain imperishable. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 2.4.13-14. [1]
[1] HE WORD IN THE BEGINNING | JOHN 1:1
IDEAS THAT DO NOT SATISFY AND ONES THAT GIVE ETERNAL LIFE
ORIGEN: One must investigate what is meant by âwill thirstâ in the statement âEveryone who drinks of this water will thirst again.â⌠What is meant in the first place would be something like this: he who partakes of supposedly profound thoughts, even if he is satisfied for a little while and accepts the ideas that are drawn out and that he thinks he has discovered to be most profound, will, however, when he has reconsidered them, raise new questionsâŚ. But [the Word] says, I have the teaching that becomes a fountain of living water in the one who has received what I have declared. And he who has received of my water will receive so great a benefit that a fountain capable of discovering everything that is investigated will gush forth within him. The waters will leap upward. His understanding also will spring up and fly as swiftly as possible in accordance with this briskly flowing water, the springing and leaping itself carrying him to that higher life that is eternal. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.13, 15-16. [1]
[1] FC 89:71-72**; SC 222:40-44.
PLEASURES OF THE WORLD NEVER SATISFY OUR THIRST
AUGUSTINE: Let us not overlook the fact that it is something spiritual that the Lord was promising. What does he mean when he says, âWhoever shall drink of this water shall thirst againâ? It is true both for this water and what the water signified. Since the water in the well is the pleasure of the world in its dark depth: from this people draw it with the vessel of lusts. Stooping forward, they let down the lust to reach the pleasure fetched from the depth of the well, and they enjoy the pleasure and the preceding lust that they let down to fetch it. For he who has not dispatched his lust in advance cannot get to the pleasure. Consider lust, then, as the vessel and pleasure as the water from the depth of the well. When one has gotten into the pleasure of this world, whether it be food or drink, a bath, a show, an affair, is there any way he or she will not thirst again? Therefore, âwhoever shall drink of this water,â he said âwill thirst again.â But if he receives water from me, âhe shall never thirst.â âWe shall be satisfied,â it says, âwith the good things of your house.â [1] Of what water, then, is [Jesus] to give except of which it is said, âWith you is the fountain of lifeâ? [2] For how shall they thirst who âshall be drunk with the fatness of your houseâ? [3] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 15.16. [4]
[1] See Ps 65:4 (64:5 LXX, Vg).
[2] See Ps 36:9 (35:10 LXX, Vg).
[3] See Ps 36:8 (35:9 LXX, Vg).
[4] NPNF 1 7:102-3*. See also Sermon 53.4 (WSA 3 3:67).
Jn