John 12:24 (WEB)
Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Catechism · 1
“"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if dies, it bears much fruit."” — Catechism footnote: Jn 12:24.
Fathers and councils · 37
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VIII.43Book VIII
“For Jesus Himself taught us this when He said, “Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth by itself alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
“(John 12:24.)” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Melchisedech offered bread and wine, being in all things like the Son of God, to Whom it is said, “Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech;” [Ps 110:4] and of Whom it is here said, “Jesus took bread.” [John 12:24]” — the author cites it
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“He who raises the corn, which is sown for our sakes, as year by year it dies,—will He have difficulty in raising us up, for whose sakes that corn also has been raised?” — editor's note: XVIII. 6. John xii. 24; 1 Cor. xv. 36.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“For I have heard Him saying “The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified,” and “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit.”” — editor's note: John xii. 24
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Augustine of Hippo
““And fulfil all Thy counsel,” not only that whereby Thou didst lay down Thy life for Thy friends, that the corrupted grain might rise again to more abundance; but that also whereby “blindness in part hath happened unto Israel, that the fulness of the Gentiles might enter in, and so all Israel might be saved.”” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“He died, and His Name perished not, but His Name was sown as seed: He died, but He was a grain, which dying, the corn immediately sprang up.” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“Psalm XLVI.” — editor's note: Lat. XLV. [In his exordium the Saint recurs to his favourite idea as follows: “Korah is interpreted ‘Baldness,’ and that our Lord, since in the ‘place of the…
Read the whole comment“Because unless a grain were to fall into the earth, it would not be multiplied, alone it would remain.” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“And of the Same, “Who loved me,” saith the Apostle, “and delivered up Himself for me:” for except a grain shall have fallen into the land so that it die, fruit, He saith, it will not yield.” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“Thanks to the “Corn of wheat,” because He willed to die and to be multiplied: thanks to the only Son of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who disdained not to undergo our death, in order that He might make us worthy of His life.” — editor's note: Preface. John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“For not in vain came Christ, or in vain was Christ slain, or in vain did the corn fall into the ground; but it fell that it might rise manifold.” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“Observe Joseph; for although even the interpretation of his name doth aid us much, for it signifieth increase; and He came indeed in order that the grain given to death might arise manifold; that is, that the people of God might be increased.…“Thou that sittest upon the Cherubin.”” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment““Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.”…Therefore He was alone before He was put to death.…So far was any from dying for the Name, that is, for confessing the Name of Christ, before that Corn of…” — editor's note: John xii. 24, 32.
Read the whole comment“And finally he appends the statement, which appears also in Matthew and Mark, on the subject of the destined overthrow of the temple.” — editor's note: [Many harmonists insert at this point the events narrated in John xii. 20–50. Augustin does not express an opinion in regard to this passage.—R.]
Read the whole comment“There, too, he reports the remarkable words which were spoken again on the subject of the light which enlightens and makes men the children of light.” — editor's note: John xii. 20–50.
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John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Thus in John first, He saith, “Except the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit;”but here more abundantly working it out, not concerning Himself only doth He bring forward the statement that it is meet to die, but concerning them also.” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“Therefore also when speaking of His resurrection, He saith, “When the corn of wheat hath fallen into the earth, except it die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
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Jerome
“In the land of Judah grain was scarce for the corn of wheat had died there; but in the house of a heathen widow oil flowed in streams.” — editor's note: Joh. xii. 24.
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Ephrem the Syrian
“The Wheat that was sown, on the third day came up and filled the Garner of Life.” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
Read the whole comment“In the sixteenth year, let the wheat praise by its type that Husbandman, Who sowed His Body in the barren earth, since it covers all, spreads itself out and yields new Bread.” — editor's note: John xii. 24.
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Catena Aurea on John
- BedeCatena Aurea on John
The temple at Jerusalem was so famous, that on the feast days, not only the people near, but many Gentiles from distant countries came to worship in it; as that eunuch of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, mentioned…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The time being now near, when they would be made proselytes. They hear Christ talked of, and wish to see Him: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Lo! the Jews wish to kill Him, the Gentiles to see Him. But they also were of the Jews who cried, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. So behold them of the circumcision, and them of the uncircumcision,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
As being the elder disciple. He had heard our Saviour say, Go not into the way of the Gentiles; (Matt. 10:5) and therefore he communicates with his fellow-disciple, and they refer the matter to their Lord: And again…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Listen we to the voice of the corner stone: And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Did He think Himself glorified, because the Gentiles wished to see? No. But He…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
He Himself, of the seed of the Patriarchs, was sown in the field of this world, that by dying, He might rise again with increase. He died alone; He rose again with many.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He illustrates His discourse by an example from nature. A grain of corn produces fruit, after it has died. How much more then must the Son of God? The Gentiles were to be called after the Jews had finally offended;…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
This may be understood in two ways: 1. If thou lovest it, lose it: if thou wouldest preserve thy life in Christ, fear not death for Christ. 2. Do not love thy life here, lest thou lose it hereafter. The latter seems…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He loveth his life in this world, who indulges its inordinate desires; he hateth it, who resists them. It is not, who doth not yield to, but, who hateth. For as we cannot bear to hear the voice or see the face of…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
It were harsh to say that a man should hate his soul; so He adds, in this world: i. e. for a particular time, not for ever. And we shall gain in the end by so doing: shall keep it unto life eternal.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But think not for an instant, that by hating thy soul, is meant that thou mayest kill thyself. For wicked and perverse men have sometimes so mistaken it, and have burnt and strangled themselves, thrown themselves…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
This present life is sweet to them who are given up to it. But he who looks heavenwards, and sees what good things are there, soon despises this life. When the better life appears, the worse is despised. This is…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But what is it to serve Christ? The very words explain. They serve Christ who seek not their own things, but the things of Jesus Christ, i. e. who follow Him, walk in His, not their own, ways, do all good works for…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
So then death will be followed by resurrection. Where I am, He says; for Christ was in heaven before His resurrection. Thither let us ascend in heart and in mind. If any man serve Me, him will My Father honour. This…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He says, My Father will honour him, not, I will honour him; because they had not yet proper notions of His nature, and thought Him inferior to the Father.
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Cross-references · 9
Cited together in Against Celsus VIII.43.
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Matthew 26:26 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 12:20–26 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Matthew 26:26 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 3:15–17 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 3:15–17 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 3:15–17 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §2731.
Cited together in Catechism §2731.