ACC ~ John 8 v25

JESUS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT WHO HE IS

CHRYSOSTOM: They ask, “Who are you?” Such a lack of understanding! After such a long time with all of his signs and teaching they still ask, “Who are you?” What then does Christ say? “The same that I told you from the beginning.” [1] What he is saying is: You are not worthy to hear my words at all, much less to learn who I am. For everything you say is an attempt to tempt me. But you have not even listened to one of the things I have said. And all these things I am now able to prove against you. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 53.1. [2]

[1] Chrysostom, like other Greek commentators, understands tēn archēn adverbially, whereas Latin commentators treat it as a noun.

[2] NPNF 1 14:191**.

JESUS CALLS HIMSELF THE BEGINNING

AUGUSTINE: “Who are you,” that we may believe? He answered, “The beginning.” Here is the existence that [always] is. The beginning cannot be changed. The beginning is self-abiding and all-originating, that is, the beginning, to which it has been said, “But you yourself are the same and your years shall not fail.” [1] … Believe me to be the beginning so that you may not die in your sins. By saying, “Who are you?” they had said nothing else than this, “What shall we believe you to be?” He replied, “The beginning,” that is, Believe me to be “the beginning.” [2] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 38.11. [3]

[1] Ps 102:27 (101:28 LXX, Vg).

[2] Augustine then enters into a discussion of the Greek text to verify his interpretation.

[3] NPNF 1 7:221**.

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD

AUGUSTINE: “In the beginning was the Word.” [1] That through which he made things already was. That is how he made what as yet was not. We can understand it, and rightly understand it, in the sense that heaven and earth were made in the only begotten Word itself. They were, you see, made in that through which they were made. This can be, and be understood as, the beginning in which God made heaven and earth. This Word, after all, is also the wisdom of God, about which it is said, “You have made all things in wisdom.” [2] If God made all things in wisdom and his only begotten Son is without a shadow of doubt the wisdom of God, let us not doubt that whatever we have learned was made through the Son was also made in the Son. The Son himself, after all, is certainly the beginning. When the Jews were questioning him and saying, “Who are you? He answered,”The beginning.” And there [in Genesis] you have, “In the beginning God made heaven and earth.” [3] SERMON 223A.1. [4]

[1] Jn 1:1.

[2] Ps 104:24 (103:24 LXX, Vg).

[3] Gen 1:1.

[4] WSA 3 6:212-13*.