ACC ~ John 8 v26 - 27

A FUTURE JUDGMENT

AUGUSTINE: Remember when he said, “I judge no one”? [1] Now he says, “I have many things to say of you and to judge.” But “I do not judge,” is one thing, “I have to judge” is another. For he had come to save the world, not to judge the world. [2] When he says, “I have many things to say of you and to judge,” he refers to a future judgment when, after he ascended, he would come back to judge the living and the dead. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 39.6. [3]

[1] Jn 8:15.

[2] Jn 12:47.

[3] NPNF 1 7:224**.

TRUE JUDGMENT

AUGUSTINE: When he says, “He that sent me is true,” it is as if he said, Therefore I too shall be true in my judgment, because as the Son of the true One, I am the truth…. The Son is the Truth, the Father is true. I inquire which is the greater, but [when I inquire, I] find equality. For the true Father is true not because he contained a part of that truth but because he begat truth in its entirety. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 39.7. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:224**.

JUDGMENT GUARDS AGAINST CONTEMPT

CHRYSOSTOM: He says this so that they may not think that he allows them to talk against him with impunity, or from inability to punish them or that he is not aware of their secret thoughts and contempt. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 53.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:191**.

THE FATHER’S WORDS UTTERED IN THE SON

TERTULLIAN: By reason of the inseparability of the two it was impossible for one of them to be either acknowledged or unknown without the other. “He who sent me,” says Jesus, “is true; and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” And the Scripture narrative goes on to explain in a simple way that “they did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father,” although they certainly ought to have known that the Father’s words were uttered in the Son, because they read in Jeremiah, “And the Lord said to me, see, I have put my words in your mouth.” [1] AGAINST PRAXEAS 22. [2]

[1] Jer 1:9.

[2] ANF 3:617*.

Jn