ACC ~ John 8 v51

KEEPING HIS WORD

GREGORY THE GREAT: But when the perversity of the wicked increases, not only should we not cease to preach but we should even intensify our efforts. The Lord counsels us to do this by his example. After he was said to have a demon, he extended the benefits of his preaching when he said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will not see death forever.” FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 16. [1]

[1] CS 123:116.

DEATH, THE LAST ENEMY

ORIGEN: For what is that death that has come into the world through sin if it is not the last enemy of Christ that will be destroyed? And what is that death that passed to all people because all have sinned if it is not this very death that also reigned from Adam to Moses? Now Moses, that is, the law, continued until the sojourn of our Lord Jesus and ruled by one man’s transgression through that one man, until those who have received the abundance of grace and righteousness should reign in life through the one Christ Jesus. [1] Whoever, then, has kept the word of the Only Begotten and Firstborn of creation [2] will never see this death, since it is the nature of the Word to prevent death from being seen. And this is how we must understand the words “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” It is as if he who speaks these words had given those who hear them light as a gift and said, If anyone keeps this light of mine, he will never see darkness. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 20.365-68. [3]

[1] Rom 5:17.

[2] Col 1:15.

[3] FC 89:281; SC 290:334-36. See also Novatian On the Trinity 15 (ANF 5:624).

FREED FROM ETERNAL DEATH

AUGUSTINE: “See” and “taste” here are used in the sense of what is really the case, that is, what someone will know by experience. And since Jesus was about to die himself, this is how he spoke with those about to die. [1] … But what does this mean, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death”? It means nothing less than he saw another death from which he came to free us—the second death, eternal death, the death of hell, the death of the damned, which is shared with the devil and his angels! This is real death; the other kind of death is only a passage. [2] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 43.10-11. [3]

[1] Augustine cites Ps 68:20 (67:21 LXX, Vg) as proof that the Lord would taste death but also escape it.

[2] Or”removal.”

[3] NPNF 1 7:242**.

THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO CHRIST

CHRYSOSTOM: Here he speaks not only of faith but also of a pure life. Above he said “shall have everlasting life,” but here he says “shall not see death.” [1] At the same time he intimates that they could do nothing against him, for if the one who keeps his word does not die, much less is it possible that he himself should die. At least this is how they understood what he said. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 55.1. [2]

[1] See Jn 6:40.

[2] NPNF 1 14:197**.