John 18:37 (WEB)
Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Catechism · 4
I Believe
“His kingdom... grows by the love with which Christ, lifted up on the cross, draws men to himself."” — Catechism footnote: DH 11; cf. Jn 18:37; 12:32.
I Believe in God
“When he sends his Son into the world it will be "to bear witness to the truth":” — Catechism footnote: Jn 18:37.
The Eighth Commandment
“Before Pilate, Christ proclaims that he "has come into the world, to bear witness to the truth."” — Catechism footnote: Jn 18:37.
The Mysteries of Christ's Life
“Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 18:37.
Fathers and councils · 28
Athanasius of Alexandria
“And again he says; ‘To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.’” — editor's note: Ib. xviii. 37.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
“(John 18:37.)” — the author cites it
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Augustine of Hippo
“Behold, here is the point at which he comes to that which the other evangelists have reported.” — editor's note: John xviii. 35–37.
Read the whole comment“…that His kingdom is not of this world, and that He was born a King, and that He came into the world for this purpose, that He might bear witness to the truth. [It is in this Gospel also that] He withdraws Himself from Mary with some deep mystical intention after His resurrection, and says to her, “Touch me not; for I…” — editor's note: John xviii. 36, 37.
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John Chrysostom
“For He was not first created and afterwards God chose Him, nor does He hold a kingdom which could be thrown aside, but one which belongs by nature to His Essence; since, when asked if He were a King, He answers, “To this end was I born.” ( c. xviii. 37.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“John xviii. 37” — the author cites it
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Hippolytus of Rome
“Christ is a lion, so Antichrist is also a lion; Christ is a king, so Antichrist is also a king.” — editor's note: John xviii. 37.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Pilate, wishing to rescue Him from the hatred of the Jews, protracted1 the trial a long time: Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall, and called Jesus.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
i. e. Apart, because he had a strong suspicion that He was innocent, and thought he could examine Him more accurately, away from the crowd: and said unto Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews?
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
Wherein Pilate shews that the Jews had charged Him with calling Himself King of the Jews.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or Pilate had heard this by report; and as the Jews had no charge to bring forward, began to examine Him himself with respect to the things commonly reported of Him. Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
He intimates here that Pilate was judging blindly and indiscreetly: If thou sayest this thing of thyself, He says, bring forward proofs of My rebellion; if thou hast heard it from others, make regular enquiry into it.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Our Lord knew indeed both what He Himself asked, and what Pilate would answer; but He wished it to be written down for our sakes.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He asks not in ignorance, but in order to draw from Pilate himself an accusation against the Jews: Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
He rejects the imputation that He could have said it of Himself; Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me: adding, what hast Thou done? Whereby he shews that this charge had been brought…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He then tries to bring round the mind of Pilate, not a very bad man, by proving to him, that He is not a mere man, but God, and the Son of God; and overthrowing all suspicion of His having aimed at a tyranny, which…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
This is what the good Master wished to teach us. But first it was necessary to shew the falsity of the notions of both Jews and Gentiles as to His kingdom, which Pilate had heard of; as if it meant that He aimed at…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or He means that He does not derive His kingdom from the same source that earthly kings do; but that He hath His sovereignty from above; inasmuch as He is not mere man, but far greater and more glorious than man: If…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
After shewing that His kingdom was not of this world, He adds, But now My kingdom is not from hence. He does not say, Not here, for His kingdom is here unto the end of the world, having within it the tares mixed with…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Or He says, from hence, not, here; because He reigns in the world, and carries on the government of it, and disposes all things according to His will; but His kingdom is not from below, but from above, and before all…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Heretics infer from these words that our Lord is a different person (ἀλλότριον) from the Creator of the world. But when He says, My kingdom is not from hence, He does not deprive the world of His government and…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
He did not fear to confess Himself a King, but so replied as neither to deny that He was, nor yet to confess Himself a King in such sense as that His kingdom should be supposed to be of this world. He says, Thou…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Or, to Pilate’s question whether He was a King, our Lord answers, To this end was I born, i. e. to be a King. That I am born from a King, proves that I am a King.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
If then He was a King by birth, He hath nothing which He hath not received from another. For this I came, that I should bear witness to the truth, i. e. that I should make all men believe it. We must observe how He…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But when Christ bears witness to the truth, He bears witness to Himself; as He said above, I am the truth. (c. 14:6) But inasmuch as all men have not faith, He adds, Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice:…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
These words have an effect upon Pilate, persuade him to become a hearer, and elicit from him the short enquiry, What is truth? Pilate said unto Him, What is truth?
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
For it had almost vanished from the world, and become unknown in consequence of the general unbelief.
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Cross-references · 15
Cited together with
Cited together in Catechism §2471.
Cited together in Catechism §2471.
Cited together in Catechism §217.
Cited together in Catechism §217.
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 8:4–15 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §160.
Cited together in Catechism §217.
Parallel passages
Luke 4:43 and John 18:37 share the same wording (11 words).
