John 1:12 (WEB)
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:
As quoted in the map (KJV)
John 1:12–13 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Key words
- τέκνα θεοῦtekna theou · Greek
- 'the sons of God' — literally 'children of God.'
- οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτωνouk ex haimatōn · Greek
- 'not of blood' (v. 13) — divine sonship does not come by physical descent.
- ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησανek theou egennēthēsan · Greek
- 'born of God' — a spiritual birth.
Why it matters
Those who receive Christ become children of God, born not of blood but of God. Pitre uses this to show that our relationship to Mary is not a blood tie but a spiritual one: we become her children in the same way we become God's, through Jesus' passion. That is the sense in which she is Mother of the Church.
Catechism · 4
Life in Christ
“What faith confesses, the sacraments communicate: by the sacraments of rebirth, Christians have become "children of God,"” — Catechism footnote: Jn 1:12; 1 Jn 3:1[ETML:C/].
Grace and Justification
“Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 1:12-18; 17:3; Rom 8:14-17; 2 Pet 1:3-4.
The Mysteries of Christ's Life
“Even more: to become "children of God" we must be "born from above" or "born of God".” — Catechism footnote: Jn 3 7; 1:13; 1:12; cf. Mt 23:12.
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit"
“Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 18:1-15; Lk 1:26-38. 54-55; Jn 1:12-13; Rom 4:16-21.
Fathers and councils · 64
Gregory of Nyssa
“But as many as are born of the Spirit are called the children of God.” — editor's note: With this passage cf. S. John i. 12, iii. 6; Rom. viii. 14; 1 S. John iii. 3.
Read the whole comment““As many as received Him,” thus speaks the Gospel of those who have been born again, “to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: S. John i. 12
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Irenaeus of Lyons
““But to as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
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Jerome
“…of nature, but of grace, and the reason why we are beloved of the Father is that He has loved the Son; and the members are loved, those namely of the body.“For as many as received Christ, to them gave He power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born not of blood, nor of the…” — editor's note: S. John i. 12, 13.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“As also John says in the Gospel, ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become children of God;’ and in his Epistle he writes, ‘By this we know that He abideth in us by His Spirit which He hath given us.’” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“And this John seems to say, ‘He gave to them power to become children of God, even to them that believe on His Name; which were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’” — editor's note: John i. 12, 13.
Read the whole comment- Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians III.3Discourse III
“…as partaking of His Spirit (for ‘as many as received Him,’ he says, ‘to them gave He power to become children of God, even to them that believe on His Name’), and therefore also He is the Truth (saying, ‘I am the Truth,’ and in His address to His Father, He said, ‘Sanctify them through Thy Truth, Thy Word is…” — editor's note: John i. 12.
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John Damascene
“To the saints honour must be paid as friends of Christ, as sons and heirs of God: in the words of John the theologian and evangelist, As many as received Him, to them gave He power to became sons of God.” — editor's note: St. John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“For to as many of us as received Him, He gave power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on Him.” — editor's note: St. John i. 12.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
“But the Lord, who came to his own, and his own received him not, (John 1:12.) was received as a guest, for it follows, And a certain woman named Martha received him into her house, &c. as strangers are accustomed to be received.” — the author cites it
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“But the adoption is in our own power, as John saith, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the children of God, even to them that believe in His name.” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“…children of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” — editor's note: John i. 12, 13.
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Augustine of Hippo
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”” — editor's note: Ibid. i. 12.
Read the whole comment“Do not many men, out of a deeper hell of blindness than that of Victorinus, return unto Thee, and approach, and are enlightened, receiving that light, which they that receive, receive power from Thee to become Thy sons?” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“For “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not,” yet, in the midst of them, “as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”…” — editor's note: John i. 11, 12.
Read the whole comment““For He hath given them power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“He is beginning now to be among the sons of God, belonging to the New Testament.” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“For “He gave” unto you “the power to become the sons of God.”…” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“Because the power of God also is styled the hand of God…Whereof John saith, “He gave unto them power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“But when John said, “To them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name,” he proceeded at once to add these words, “which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12, 13.
Read the whole comment“It is well that He seeks your beauty within, where He hath given unto you power to become daughters of God: He seeks not of you a fair flesh, but fair conduct, whereby to bridle also the flesh.” — editor's note: John i. 12
Read the whole comment“So also He begins to be our Father, when we are regenerated through His grace, since He gave us power to become the sons of God.” — editor's note: John i. 12
Read the whole comment“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”” — editor's note: John i. 1–14
Read the whole comment“…which we all see and bear should despair of attaining so great excellence, it is added in the same place, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us;” that, on the contrary, men might be convinced of that which seemed incredible.” — editor's note: John i. 12–14
Read the whole comment“Then, as to the statement which follows, “that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven,” it is to be understood according to that rule in virtue of which John also says, “He gave them power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“…of a future Christian people, that they would have God as a Father, according to that gospel statement, “To them gave He power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“He found them all corrupt trees, but to those who “believed in His Name, He gave power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“But in order that he might deliver them from these iniquities, cure, heal, change, the sons of men; “he gave them power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“Thus then was the Lord received as a guest, “who came unto His own, and His own received Him not: but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God:” adopting servants, and making them brethren; redeeming captives, and making them co-heirs.” — editor's note: John i. 11, 12.
Read the whole comment““He gave them” then “power to become the sons of God, to them that believe in His Name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 11–14.
Read the whole comment““But as many as received Him.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“And because by believing they are born of God, and become children of God; “For,” saith he, “to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on Him.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“Let us listen also to the evangelist, when he says, “He hath given them power to become the sons of God;” that we may not imagine it as altogether beyond our own power that we believe: but in both let us acknowledge His beneficent acting.” — editor's note: Chap. i. 12.
Read the whole comment“…they believe about those who are called the sons of God by grace and not by nature, as the evangelist says, “He gave them power to become the sons of God,” and according to what the Lord Himself also mentioned, as declared in the law, “I said, Ye are gods; and all of you children of the Most High:” because He…” — editor's note: Chap. i. 12.
Read the whole comment“Since, therefore, He hath given us power to become the sons of God, let us not be servants, but sons: that, in some wonderful and indescribable but real way, we may as servants have the power not to be servants; servants,…” — editor's note: Chap. i. 12.
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Ambrose of Milan
“It is Truth, Righteousness, the Power of God: not dumb, for it is the Word; not insensible, for it is Wisdom; not vain and foolish, for it is Power; not soulless, for it is the Life; not dead, for it is the Resurrection.” — editor's note: Christ the Word: S. John i. 1–18. Wisdom: 1 Cor. i. 24, 30. Life and Resurrection: S. John xi. 25.
Read the whole comment““But as many as received Him,” as it is written, “to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: S. John i. 12.
Read the whole comment“So, then, the Father creates in good works, and the Son also, for it is written: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His Name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”” — editor's note: S. John i. 12, 13.
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John Chrysostom
““But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” ( Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“For “as many as received Him,” it is said “to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
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Tertullian
“…prophecy—so completely failed, after the transfer of the whole Spirit to the Lord, that he presently sent to inquire whether He whom he had himself preached, whom he had pointed out when coming to him, were “HE.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 11, 12; John i. 6–36.
Read the whole comment“…course of the end up to the beginning; so that every economy, ending in Him through whom it began,—through the Word of God, that is, who was made flesh,—may have an end correspondent to its beginning.” — editor's note: See John i. 1–14.
Read the whole comment“It is written, “To them who believed on Him He gave power to be called sons of God.”” — editor's note: John i. 12.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — editor's note: St. John i. 1–14.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“…for your ignorant arrogance, such as “My God and your God,” or greater, or created, or made, or sanctified; Add, if you like, Servant and Obedient and Gave and Learnt, and was commanded, was sent, can do nothing of Himself, either say, or judge, or give, or will.” — editor's note: John i. 12.
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Gregory the Great
“With respect also to this power, whereby we subdue vices, we are fortified by the voice of John, who says, As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God (John i. 12).” — the author cites it
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Clement of Alexandria
“…who are of noble birth, and honourable, having through righteousness attained to adoption, and therefore “have received power to become the sons of God,” and “to tread on serpents and scorpions,” and to rule over demons and “the host of the adversary.”” — editor's note: John. i. 12.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God who believe on His name.”” — editor's note: John i. 11, 12.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
When He said that the world knew Him not, he referred to the times of the old dispensation, but what follows has reference to the time of his preaching; He came unto his own.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Because all things were made by Him.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
By his own, understand either the world, or Judæa, which He had chosen for His inheritance.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He came then unto His own, not for His own good, but for the good of others. But whence did He Who fills all things, and is every where present, come? He came out of condescension to us, though in reality He had been…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But if none at all received, none will be saved. For no one will he saved, but he who received Christ at His coming; and therefore he adds, As many as received Him.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Whether they be bond or free, Greek or Barbarian, wise or unwise, women or men, the young or the aged, all are made meet for the honour, which the Evangelist now proceeds to mention. To them gave He power to become…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
O amazing goodness! He was born the Only Son, yet would not remain so; but grudged not to admit joint heirs to His inheritance. Nor was this narrowed by many partaking of it.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He saith not that He made them the sons of God, but gave them power to become the sons of God: shewing that there is need of much care, to preserve the image, which is formed by our adoption in Baptism, untarnished:…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Or the meaning is, that the most perfect sonship will only be attained at the resurrection, as saith the Apostle, Waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Rom. 8:23) He therefore gave us the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
And because in the matter of these ineffable benefits, the giving of grace belongs to God, but the extending of faith to man, He subjoins, even to those who believe on his name. Why then declarest thou not, John, the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
To be made then the sons of God, and brothers of Christ, they must of course be born; for if they are not born, how can they be sons? Now the sons of men are born of flesh and blood, and the will of man, and the…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
It should be understood that in holy Scripture, blood in the plural number, has the signification of sin: thus in the Psalms Deliver me from blood-guiltinessp. (Ps. 51:14).
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
In that which follows, Nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, the flesh is put for the female; because, when she was made out of the rib, Adam said, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
The carnal birth of men derives its origin from the embrace of wedlock, but the spiritual is dispensed by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The Evangelist makes this declaration, that being taught the vileness and inferiority of our former birth, which is through blood, and the will of the flesh, and understanding the loftiness and nobleness of the…
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Cross-references · 42
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 69.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1996 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1996 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 9.
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 22.
Cited together in Catechism §1692.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount I.23.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 9.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 9.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 69.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1692 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Catechism §1692.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount I.23.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 22.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule II.3.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule II.3.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule II.3.
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42 and 1 other place.
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42.
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.18.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.18.
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42.
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42.
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount I.23.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule II.3.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 10:38–42 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 2.
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 10:38–42 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 10:38–42 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 10:38–42 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Great Catechism Chapter 42.