John 3:30 (WEB)
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Catechism · 1
“By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease."” — Catechism footnote: Jn 3:30.
Fathers and councils · 27
Catena Aurea on Luke
- BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
“It follows: And she hid herself. (see John 3:30.)” — the author cites it
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Augustine of Hippo
“Here John himself confessing, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”” — editor's note: John iii. 30.
Read the whole comment“…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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John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Didst thou not say even to thy disciples, “He must increase, I must decrease?”” — editor's note: John iii. 30.
Read the whole comment“By all the prophets; by John again; for unto Christ he would pass all on, saying, “He must increase, I must decrease;”by the Son Himself again, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you;”and again, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”” — editor's note: John iii. 30.
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Tertullian
“…things are not his, but Christ’s, by saying, “He who is from the earth speaketh concerning the earth; He who comes from the realms above is above all;” and again, by saying that he “baptized in repentance only, but that One would shortly come who would baptize in the Spirit and fire;”—of course because true…” — editor's note: John iii. 30, 31, briefly quoted.
Read the whole comment“…for Christ, until, when “He had increased”—just as the same John used to fore-announce “that it was needful” that “He should increase and himself decrease”—the whole work of the forerunner passed over, together with his spirit itself, unto the Lord.” — editor's note: John iii. 30.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Otherwise; The beheading of John marks the increase of that fame which Christ has among the people, as the exaltation of the Lord upon the cross marks the progress of the faith; whence John had said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” [John 3:30]” — the author cites it
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Jerome
“Thus, although John himself said,“He must increase, but I must decrease,” in your perverse scrupulosity you give more than is due to the baptism of the servant, and destroy that of the master to which you leave no more than to the other.” — editor's note: John iii. 30.
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Clement of Alexandria
““I must decrease,” said the prophet John, and the Word of the Lord alone, in which the law terminates, “increase.”” — editor's note: John iii. 30.
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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 · 22
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 Catechism §524.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.
Cited together in Bede on Luke 1:23–25 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 1:23–25 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 1.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 28.