ACC ~ John 7 v12

CHRIST’S TREATMENT IS CONSOLATION FOR CHRISTIANS

AUGUSTINE: Whoever had any spark of grace said, “He is a good man.”… The rest say, “No, he seduces the people.” That something like this was said of him who was God is a consolation to any Christian of whom the same may be said. If to seduce is to deceive, Christ was not a seducer, nor can any Christian be. But if by seducing you mean bringing a person by persuasion out of one way of thinking into another, then we must inquire what the way of thinking is that you are calling them from and to. If from good to evil, the seducer is an evil person; if from evil to good, he is a good one. If only we were all called, and really were, that sort of seducers! TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 28.11. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:182**.

LEADERS VERSUS THE COMMON PEOPLE

CHRYSOSTOM: The former, I think, was the opinion of the multitude, the one, that is, who pronounced him a good man. The latter is the opinion of the priests and rulers, as is shown by their saying, “He deceives the people” not “He deceives us.”… Observe that the corruption is in the rulers. The common people are sound in their judgment but do not have freedom of speech, as is generally the case. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:176**. On the goodness of Christ in comparison, see Ambrose On the Christian Faith 2.2.29.

Jn