John 3:12

“John iii. 12, 13” — the author cites it

“And therefore that is well said to you which was said to the Jews: “If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 12.

“For if I have spoken unto you of those things that are in the earth, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I shall speak unto you of those things which are in heaven?” — editor's note: John iii. 12.

Nicodemus cannot take in the mysteries of the Divine Majesty, which our Lord reveals, and therefore asks how it is, not denying the fact, not meaning any censure, but wishing to be informed: Nicodemus answered and…

Forasmuch then as he still remains a Jew, and, after such clear evidence, persists in a low and carnal system, Christ addresses him henceforth with greater severity: Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a…

What think we? that our Lord wished to insult this master in Israel? He wished him to be born of the Spirit: and no one is born of the Spirit except he is made humble; for this very humility it is, which makes us to…

Nevertheless He does not charge the man with wickedness, but only with want of wisdom, and enlightenment. But some one will say, What connexion hath this birth, of which Christ speaks, with Jewish doctrines? Thus…

Why, it is asked, does He speak in the plural number, We speak that we do know? Because the speaker being the Only-Begotten Son of God, He would shew that the Father was in the Son, and the Son in the Father, and the…

Or, the plural number may have this meaning; I, and they who are born again of the Spirit, alone understand what we speak; and having seen the Father in secret, this we testify openly to the world; and ye, who are…

This is not said of Nicodemus, but of the Jewish race, who to the very last persisted in unbelief.

They are words of gentleness, not of anger; a lesson to us, when we: argue and cannot converse, not by sore and angry words, but by the absence of anger and clamour, (for clamour is the material of anger,) to prove…

That is: If ye do not believe that I can raise up a temple, which you have thrown down, how can ye believe that men can be regenerated by the Holy Ghost?

Or thus: Be not surprised at His calling Baptism earthly. It is performed upon earth, and is compared with that stupendous birth, which is of the substance of the Father, an earthly birth being one of mere grace. And…

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 26.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 26.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 26.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 3:9–12 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.

If earthly things are hard to know, who can trace what is in heaven?