ACC ~ John 8 v37

ATTAINING DIVINE KINSHIP

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Having clearly shown and demonstrated that their boast of being descendants of Abraham is utterly empty and devoid of any good, Jesus says this so that they might seek the nobility that is true and dear to God…. But how is it that we who are made of earth and “formed from a piece of clay” [1] can be called relatives of the Lord of all, as Paul says,… “God’s offspring”? [2] Admittedly, we have been made God’s offspring because of the flesh that pertains to the mystery of Christ. But it is possible to understand this reality. By thinking his thoughts and earnestly resolving to live godly lives, we are called children of God who is over all. And when we conform our mind to his will, so far as we are able, we are truly like God and indeed truly God’s offspring. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.5. [3]

[1] Job 33:6.

[2] Acts 17:29.

[3] LF 43:632-33**.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BODILY SEED AND A CHILD

ORIGEN: It is also possible for one who happens to be the [biological] seed of Abraham by diligence to become his [spiritual] child. And it is possible, by neglect and poor stewardship, for one to cease to be his seed. There was still hope for them, however, to whom the saying was addressed. Jesus knew that they were the seed of Abraham and saw that they had not yet lost the ability to become children of Abraham. Since it was possible for them to become children of Abraham in addition to being his seed, he said, “If you are the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham.” But just as some are seed of Abraham, so others are really “seed of Canaan, not of Judah,” as Daniel [1] says….

But if, in addition to being seed of Abraham, they had cultivated the seed of Abraham and given it over to greatness and growth, the word of Jesus would have produced great growth in the seed of Abraham…. But those who wished to kill the Word and to crush him did not contain his greatness…. If any one of us is seed of Abraham and the Word of God does not continue in him still, let him not seek to kill the Word. Let him change from merely being seed of Abraham to becoming a child of Abraham, and he will be able to take in the Word of God, whom he did not have till then. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 20.32-33, 41, 43, 45. [2]

[1] Sus 56. In the Septuagint, this was part of the book of Daniel.

[2] FC 89:212-15**; SC 290:172, 176-78.

A REMINDER OF THEIR PRESENT SIN

CHRYSOSTOM: He removes them by degrees from their relationship to Abraham, teaching them not to pride themselves so much on that relationship. For just as bondage and freedom depend on one’s actions, so also does one’s relationship to another. Still, he does not directly say, “You are not the seed of Abraham [because] you are murderers of the righteous.” Instead he goes along with them for awhile, affirming that they are Abraham’s seed…. But then, after the witness of his works shuts their mouths, he speaks more boldly: “You seek to kill me.” And if anyone says, “What of it? They were only trying to act justly”— this is not the case either. And so he adds the reason they acted the way they did: “Because my word has no place in you.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 54.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:194-95**.

LIKE A HOOK TO A FISH

AUGUSTINE: If my word were taken, it would take hold; if you were taken, you would be enclosed like fishes within the nets of faith. What then does it mean that it “takes no hold in you”? It means that it does not take hold of your heart because it is not received by your heart. For this is how the Word of God is and how it ought to be for believers—as a hook to the fish: it takes when it is taken. And it does no injury to those who are caught by it. They are caught for their salvation, not for their destruction. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 42.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:235*.