ACC ~ John 7 v28

THEY KNEW JESUS AS MAN, BUT NOT AS GOD

AUGUSTINE: Our Lord replies that they both knew him and knew him not, as if to say, you both know where I come from and do not know where I am from. You know where I am from, that I am Jesus of Nazareth, whose parents you know. The birth from the Virgin was the only part of the matter unknown to them:… with this exception, they knew all that pertained to Jesus as man…. So he says rightly, “You both know me and know where I am from,” that is, according to the flesh and the likeness of man. But in respect of his divinity, he says, “I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true.” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 31.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:189-90**.

CHRIST ALONE KNOWS GOD BECAUSE HE ALONE IS FROM GOD

HILARY OF POITIERS: No one knows the Father; the Son often assures us of this. The reason why he says that no one knows him but himself is because he is from the Father. Is it, I ask, as the result of an act of creation or of a genuine birth that he is from him? If it is an act of creation, then all created things are from God. How then is it that none of them know the Father, when the Son says that the reason why he has this knowledge is that he is from him? If he is created, not born, we shall observe in him a resemblance to other beings who are from God. Since all, on this supposition, are from God, why is he not as ignorant of the Father as the others are? But if this knowledge of the Father is peculiar to him who is from the Father, must not this circumstance also be peculiar to him, that is, that he is from the Father? That is, must he not be the true Son born from the nature of God? For the reason why he alone knows God is because he alone is from God. You observe, then, a knowledge that is peculiar to himself, resulting from a birth that also is peculiar to himself. You recognize that it is not by an act of creative power but through a true birth that he is from the Father. And you realize that this is why he alone knows the Father who is unknown to all other beings that are from him. ON THE TRINITY 6.28. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 9:108*.

THOSE IN THE FAMILY KNOW EACH OTHER BEST

APOLLINARIS OF LAODICEA: The Lord introduces two opinions about himself: (1) that they know where he comes from, since his mother is Mary; and (2) that he has something they do not know, since he is and has come from God. Therefore, he would not be a presumptuous person or a self-appointed teacher but had rather arrived at his teaching because God the Father sent him. Moreover, God who had sent him was not known to them because they kept themselves as far apart as possible from the God of true knowledge inasmuch as they revolted from his purpose and deeds. It is quite reasonable that he would know the Father, since he himself was with him. One knows one’s relatives and household best. FRAGMENTS ON JOHN 36. [1]

[1] JKGK 16.