ACC ~ John 8 v52

HIS OPPOSITION WOULD RATHER CLING TO DEATH

GREGORY THE GREAT: Just as it is inevitable that the good become better as a result of offenses, so the condemned always become worse after receiving a kindness. After they had received his preaching, they repeated, “Now we know that you have a demon.” They had clung to eternal death without realizing that this was the death to which they were clinging. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 16. [1]

[1] CS 123:116.

CONTRARY TO REASON

ORIGEN: The majority, even of the wise, think that every kind of sin, of which one form is also the sin against reason, has no other source than mistaken judgments. But those who have believed in the holy Scriptures as divine think that the things people do contrary to right reason are not accomplished apart from demons or some such hostile powers. The Jews, too, therefore, assumed that it was the result of the activity of a demon that Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone shall keep my word, he will not see death forever.” And they had this impression because they had neither kept the word nor perceived the meaning of what was said. For here he was speaking of the death of those who are at enmity with the Word [or reason] who die forever because they do not keep his word. But they think he is talking about that death which is common to all, and so when he says that everyone who has kept his word will not die forever, [they think that he] has lost his wits, since Abraham and the prophets died. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 20.378-80. [1]

[1] FC 89:283; SC 290:340.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TASTING AND SEEING DEATH

ORIGEN: There is a difference between tasting death and seeing death. The Jews, as unintelligent hearers, confused the saying of the Lord and instead of “he will not see death” said “He will not taste death.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 20.413. [1]

[1] FC 89:289*, SC 290:354. Previous to this, Origen has an extended discussion on the difference between what he calls the lower, bodily sense of”tasting” and the higher, spiritual sense of”seeing.” Even as he highly spiritualizes the text in that discussion, he is also quite accurate in his observation here that the Jews misquote Jesus.