ACC ~ John 7 v42 - 44

A CAREFUL, BUT NOT COMPLETE, INQUIRY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The Jews are not haphazard in the inquiries about Christ. They can be found going through each and every idea in order to arrive at a perception of the truth. For having first marveled at his words, they next turn to the divine Scripture thinking to find there a most unerring conception of him, for such is its nature. They believe that he shall be of the seed of the thrice-blessed David and shall be revealed in Bethlehem of Judea, persuaded by the prophecies concerning this. [1] … But the unassisted mind of the Jews was led astray and failed to find Christ merely on account of Nazareth, which was situated in Galilee. It was common knowledge that our Lord was brought up here. [2] … But they did not know that he had been born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Holy Virgin, who was of the seed of David (for she was of the tribe of Judah by descent). Merely knowing that our Lord was brought up at Nazareth, they fall away from the truth and lack sound reasoning. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.2. [3]

[1] Mic 5:2.

[2] See Lk 4:16.

[3] LF 43:553-54**.