John 3:27 (WEB)
John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
Fathers and councils · 22
John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XIII.10Conference XIII
“The Apostle indicates our free will by saying: “So run that ye may obtain:” but to its weakness John Baptist bears witness where he says: “No man can receive anything of himself, except it be given him from above.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 27.
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John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“For instance, when commencing he spake thus: “A man cannot receive anything of himself” ( c. iii. 27 ): then after adding a high expression, and saying, “He that cometh from heaven is above all,” he again brings down his discourse to what is lowly,…” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“…gavest them Me” ( c. xvii. 6 ); and again, “No man can come unto Me except the Father draw him” ( c. vi. 44 ); and, “Except it be given him from heaven.” ( c. iii. 27 .)” — the author cites it
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Cyprian of Carthage
“In the Gospel according to John: “No one can receive anything, except it were given him from heaven.”” — editor's note: John iii. 27.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…Bridegroom, who both recognized Him in the Holy Spirit, and preached Him in His absence, and pointed Him out when He was present to the recognition of others;—I say nothing of these, as it might be replied that He ought not to have prayed for such when dead, who had gone hence with their great merits, and having met…” — editor's note: Chap. i. 19–36, and iii. 26–36.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
John, on this question being raised, does not rebuke his disciples, for fear they might separate, and turn to some other school, but replies gently, John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Or perhaps John is speaking here of himself: I am a mere man, and have received all from heaven, and therefore think not that, because it has been given me to be somewhat, I am so foolish as to speak against the truth.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
And see; the very argument by which they thought to have overthrown Christ, To whom, thou barest witness, he turns against them; Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ; as if he said, If ye…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
Who art thou then, since thou art not the Christ, and who is He to Whom thou bearest witness? John replies, He is the Bridegroom; I am the friend of the Bridegroom, sent to prepare the Bride for His approach: He that…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Christ is the spouse of every soul; the wedlock, wherein they are joined, is baptism; the place of that wedlock is the Church; the pledge of it, remission of sins, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost; the…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
His Bride therefore our Lord committed to His friend, i. e. the order of preachers, who should be jealous of her, not for themselves, but for Christ; The friend of the Bridegroom which standeth and heareth Him,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
As if He said, She is not My spouse. But dost thou therefore not rejoice in the marriage? Yea, I rejoice, he saith, because I am the friend of the Bridegroom.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
But how doth he who said above, Whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose, call himself a friend? As an expression not of equality, but of excess of joy: (for the friend of the Bridegroom is always more…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But wherefore doth he stand? Because he falleth not, by reason of his humility. A sure ground this to stand upon, Whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. Again; He standeth, and heareth Him. So then if he…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or thus; The expression, which standeth, is not without meaning, but indicates that his part is now over, and that for the future he must stand and listen. This is a transition from the parable to the real subject.…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
For which cause I rejoice now, that all men follow Him. For had the bride, i. e. the people, not come forth to meet the Bridegroom, then I, as the friend of the Bridegroom, should have grieved,
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Or thus; This my Joy is fulfilled, i. e. my joy at hearing the Bridegroom’s voice. I have my gift; I claim no more, lest I lose that which I have received. He who would rejoice in himself, hath sorrow; but he who…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
He rejoiceth at hearing the Bridegroom’s voice, who knows that he should not rejoice in his own wisdom, but in the wisdom which God giveth him. Whoever in his good works seeketh not his own glory, or praise, or…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He next dismisses the motions of envy, not only as regards the present, but also the future, saying, He must increase, but I must decrease: as if he said, My office hath ceased, and is ended; but His advanceth.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
What meaneth this, He must increase? God neither increases, nor decreases. And John and Jesus, according to the flesh, were of the same age: for the six months’ difference between them is of no consequence. This is a…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Or thus; As, on the sun rising, the light of the other heavenly bodies seems to be extinguished, though in reality it is only obscured by the greater light: thus the forerunner is said to decrease; as if he were a…
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Cross-references · 12
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 3:27–30 (4) (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.5.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.5.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.5.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.5.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.5.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.5.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.