ACC ~ John 6 v63

ONLY THE SPIRIT CAN GIVE LIFE

TERTULLIAN: If he says that “the flesh profits nothing,” then the meaning must take direction from the context of that remark. For seeing that they regarded his speech as hard and unbearable, as though he had really prescribed his flesh for them to eat, since his purpose was to assign the establishment of salvation to the Spirit, he first said, “It is the spirit that gives life,” and only then added, “the flesh profits nothing”—toward the giving of life, of course. He also proceeds to state how he wishes “the Spirit” to be understood. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”… And so, when establishing his teaching as the Life-giver (because the Word is spirit and life), he also said that it is his flesh, because the Word also was made flesh. [1] We ought therefore to desire him in order that we may have life. We ought to devour him with the ear, and to ruminate on him with the mind and to digest him by faith. ON THE RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH 37. [2]

[1] Jn 1:14.

[2] TTR 103*. See also On the Resurrection of the Flesh 50 and Basil Letter 159.2 (NPNF 2 8:212).

FLESH ENLIVENED BY THE SPIRIT HAS GREAT VALUE

AUGUSTINE: What, then, does it mean, “the flesh profits nothing”? It profits nothing, but [only] as they understood it. For, of course, they understood flesh as [something that] is torn to pieces in a carcass or sold in a meat market, not as [something that] is enlivened by a spirit. And so it was said, “The flesh profits nothing.”… But he is talking there about that flesh that is alone by itself. Let spirit be added to flesh… and it profits very much. For if flesh profited nothing, the Word would not have become flesh to dwell among us. [1] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 27.5.1. [2]

[1] See Jn 1:14.

[2] FC 79:280*.

WHERE LIFE IS, THE SPIRIT IS

AMBROSE: Learn now that as the Father is the Fount of life, so, too, many have stated that the Son is signified as the Fount of life. [1] This is why he says that with you, almighty God, your Son is the Fount of life. That is the Fount of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit is life, as the Lord says: “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life,” for where the Spirit is, there also is life. And where life is, there is also the Holy Spirit. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.15.172. [2]

[1] Ps 36:9 (35:10 LXX).

[2] NPNF 2 10:113*.

LIFE-GIVING WORDS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: [In this passage Christ is saying,] “It is not the nature of the flesh that renders the Spirit life-giving but the might of the Spirit that makes the body life-giving. The words then that I have spoken with you are spirit, that, is both spiritual and of the Spirit, and they are life.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 4.3. [1]

[1] LF 43:437**.

THE WORD SANCTIFIES THE FLESH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Even the body of Christ itself was sanctified by the power of the Word made one with it, and it is thus endowed with living force in the blessed Eucharist so that is it able to implant in us its sanctifying grace…. For here too he says that the flesh can profit nothing, that is, to sanctify and quicken those who receive it, insofar as it is mere human flesh. But when flesh is understood and believed to be the temple of the Word, then surely it will be a channel of sanctification and life, not altogether of itself but through God who has been made one with it, who is holy and life. [1] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.9. [2]

[1] See also Cyril’s excursus on Jn 17:13.

[2] LF 48:523-24*.