John 3:17 (WEB)
For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
Catechism · 1
“Yet the Son did not come to judge, but to save and to give the life he has in himself.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 3:17; 5:26.
Fathers and councils · 30
Tertullian
“He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.”” — editor's note: John iii. 17, 18.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“…but in the Spirit,’ and, ‘For the Son of God came into the world, not to judge the world, but to redeem all men, and that the world might be saved through Him.’” — editor's note: John iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“And John says, ‘For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’” — editor's note: John iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“For He who here says, ‘I came not to judge the world but to save,’ is shewn to be no other than the Only-begotten Son of God, by the same John’s saying before, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — editor's note: Ib. iii. 16–19.
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Ambrose of Milan
“I said above that he that believeth on Me is not judged, and I keep to this: “For I am not come to judge the world, but that the world may be saved through Me.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“Not without the Father does He work; not without His Father’s Will did He offer Himself for that most holy Passion, the Victim slain for the salvation of the whole world; not without His Father’s Will concurring did He raise the dead to life.” — editor's note: Heb. x. 10–12; S. John iii. 16, 17; i. 29.
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John Chrysostom
“John iii. 17” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“For I am come not to judge the world, but to save the world, since God sent not His Son to judge the world, He saith, but to save the world. ( c. iii. 17.)” — the author cites it
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Augustine of Hippo
“…the Father, and wert Thyself the Son, Thy Word Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit your gift, we should not read in the book of truth, “God sent His Son;” nor wouldest Thou, O Only-begotten, say of the Holy Spirit, “Whom the Father will send in my name;” and, “Whom I will send to you from the Father.”” — editor's note: Gal. iv. 5 and John iii. 17
Read the whole comment“For He says, “The Son of Man came not to judge the world, but that the world through Him may be saved.”” — editor's note: John iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“This is said because He does not now come to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” — editor's note: John iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“For in respect to this He had said, “I judge no man;” seeing that He came the first time, “not to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”” — editor's note: Chap. iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“And this also: “The Son of man came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”” — editor's note: John iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“…the world, chose out of the world; and of whom He saith Himself, “The Son of man came not to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”” — editor's note: Chap. iii. 17.
Read the whole comment“And there is a world whereof it is written, “For the Son of man came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved;” and hence the apostle also says, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.”” — editor's note: Chap. iii. 17.
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John Cassian
“If you would know how admirably the Apostle preached this, hear how this utterance was put into his mouth; as if from the mouth of God Himself, as the Lord says: “For God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 17.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“Nor, when He calls Himself the Son, as in, For God sent not His Son into this world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved, and in, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? can we accuse Him of what would be an equal presumption with that of calling God His Father.” — editor's note: Ib. iii. 17.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Having said, Even so must the Son of man be lifted up, alluding to His death; lest His hearer should be cast down by His words, forming some human notion of Him, and thinking of His death as an evil1, He corrects…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on John
If it were only a creature given up for the sake of a creature, such a poor and insignificant loss were no great evidence of love. They must be precious things which prove our love, great things must evidence its…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
As He said above, that the Son of man came down from heaven, not meaning that His flesh did come down from heaven, on account of the unity of person in Christ, attributing to man what belonged to God: so now…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
1; Note here, that the same which he before said of the Son of man, lifted up on the cross, he repeats of the only begotten Son of God: viz. That whosoever believeth in Him, &c. For the same our Maker and Redeemer,…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
Truly through the Son of God shall the world have life; for for no other cause came He into the world, except to save the world. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
For why is He called the Saviour of the world, but because Ho saves the world? The physician, so far as his will is concerned, heals the sick. If the sick despises or will not observe the directions of the physician,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Because however He says this, slothful men in the multitude of their sins, and excess of carelessness, abuse God’s mercy, and say, There is no hell, no punishment; God remits us all our sins. But let us remember,…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
He who believes on Him, and cleaves to Him as a member to the head, will not be condemned.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
What didst thou expect Him to say of him who believed not, except that he is condemned. Yet mark His words: He that believeth not is condemned already. The Judgment hath not appeared, bat it is already given. For the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or the meaning is, that disbelief itself is the punishment of the impenitent: inasmuch as that is to be without light, and to be without light is of itself the greatest punishment. Or He is announcing what is to be.…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Or thus: In the last judgment some perish without being judged, of whom it is here said, He that believeth not is condemned already. For the day of judgment does not try those who for unbelief are already banished…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
He then gives the reason why he who believeth not is condemned, viz. because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. For in this name alone is there salvation. God hath not many sons who can…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Where then do we place baptized children? Amongst those who believe? This is acquired for them by the virtue of the Sacrament, and the pledges of the sponsors. And by this same rule we reckon those who are not…
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Cross-references · 22
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.12.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 87.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.12.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 87.
Cited together in On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius IV.4.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.12.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in On the Holy Trinity XV.28.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.12.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.12.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.12.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.12.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith IV.6.