ACC ~ John 4 v42

DIRECT ACCESS TO THE WORD

ORIGEN: The Samaritans renounce their faith that was based on the speech of the woman when they discover that hearing the Savior himself is better than that faith, so that they, too, know “that this is truly the Savior of the world.” It is better indeed to become an eyewitness of the Word and to hear him [directly]…. And so, there is nothing astonishing in the fact that some are said to walk by faith and not by sight, while others are said to walk by sight, which is greater than walking by faith…. Heracleon says, “People believe in the Savior first by being led by people. But whenever they read his words, they no longer believe because of human testimony alone, but because of the truth itself.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.353, 362-63. [1]

[1] FC 89:144, 146; SC 222:228, 234.

THE PEOPLE DISMISS THEIR FIRST INSTRUCTOR FOR THE REAL THING

CHRYSOSTOM: “And they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we have heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.’” The pupils had gone beyond their first instructor… Notice how soon they arrived at the understanding that he had come for the deliverance of the whole world and could not therefore confine his purposes to the Jews but must sow the Word everywhere…. Their saying too, “The Savior of the world,” implies that they looked on this world as miserable and lost. They saw that whereas prophets and angels had come to save it, this was the only real Savior, the author not only of temporal but eternal salvation…. And notice how the woman had spoken doubtfully, “Is not this the Christ?” But they do not say, “We suspect” but “We know” that this is indeed the Savior of the world. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 35.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:122-23**.