John 6:63

“Jesus not only gives us the words of our filial prayer; at the same time he gives us the Spirit by whom these words become in us "spirit and life."” — Catechism footnote: Jn 6:63.

“Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food for the life of the world.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 6:27, 51, 62-63.

“For Paul declares that he who turns from the letter to the Spirit no longer apprehends the bondage that slays, but the Lord which is the life-giving Spirit; and the sublime Gospel says, “the words that I speak are spirit and are life,” as being divested of the bodily veil.” — editor's note: Cf. S. John vi. 63

“Study too the context and ‘turn to the Lord;’ now ‘the Lord is that Spirit;’and you will see that it is the Son who is signified.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iii. 16, 17. S. Athanasius observes, Serap. i. 4–7, that the Holy Ghost is never in Scripture called simply ‘Spirit’ without the addition ‘of God’ or…

“But I do not say this to take away the nature of the body, but I wish to make clear its life-giving and divine power.” — editor's note: St. John vi. 63.

“And of good doctrine the Lord Himself says, The words that I have spoken unto you, they are spirit, and they are life; instead of, “are spiritual.”” — editor's note: John vi. 63.

“Understand spiritually what I have said; ye are not to eat this body which ye see; nor to drink that blood which they who will crucify Me shall pour forth.” — editor's note: John vi. 63.

“John, on the other hand, has said nothing about the body and blood of the Lord in this context; but he plainly certifies that the Lord spake to that effect on another occasion, with much greater fulness than here.” — editor's note: John vi. 32–64.

“But there were also those who did cleave to Him; and these were they who were able to receive the meaning of this saying, “It is the spirit that quickeneth, but the flesh profiteth nothing.”” — editor's note: John vi. 63.

“For see how those took scandal as from the sun, those carnal ones to whom Christ preached of His flesh, saying, “He that eateth not the flesh of the Son of Man and drinketh His blood, shall have no life in him.”” — editor's note: John vi. 54–69.

“Such were they who said, “This is a hard saying, who can hear it?”” — editor's note: John vi. 63, 64.

“He answered to the rest who remained, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.”” — editor's note: John vi. 60–64.

“Ver.” — the author cites it

““But the manifestation of the Spirit,” it saith, “is given to every man to profit withal” ( 1 Cor. xii. 7; c. vi. 63 ); He then that giveth these things, much more remitteth sins.” — the author cites it

“The creature needs life; the Spirit is the Giver of life.” — editor's note: John vi. 63.

“And the Lord bears witness that “it is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.”” — editor's note: John vi. 63.

“And again He says: “If ye shall see the Son of man ascending where He was before.”” — editor's note: S. John vi. 63.

“And this: “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before,” where He gives the name of Him who was born of man, but affirms that He ever was up on high.” — editor's note: S. John vi. 63.

“He says, it is true, that “the flesh profiteth nothing;” but then, as in the former case, the meaning must be regulated by the subject which is spoken of.” — editor's note: John vi. 63.

“For it is “the Spirit that quickeneth” us for the kingdom of God; “the flesh profiteth nothing.”” — editor's note: John vi. 63.

“Now, that the very Lord Himself of all might, the Word and Spirit of the Father, was operating and preaching on earth, it was necessary that the portion of the Holy Spirit which, in the form of the prophetic gift, had been through John…” — editor's note: “It is most certain that the Son of God, the second Person of the Godhead, is in the writings of the fathers throughout called by the title of Spirit, Spirit…

Such is our Lord’s discourse. The people did not perceive that it had a deep meaning, or, that grace went along with it: but receiving the matter in their own way, and taking His words in a human sense, understood…

i. e. difficult to receive, too much for their weakness. They thought He spoke above Himself, and more loftily than He had a right to do; and so said they, Who can bear it? which was answering in fact for themselves,…

And if His disciples thought that saying hard, what would His enemies think? Yet it was necessary to declare a thing, which would be unintelligible to men. God’s mysteries should draw men’s attention, not enmity.

When you hear, however, of His disciples murmuring, understand not those really such, but rather some who, as far as their air and behaviour went, seemed to be receiving instruction from Him. For among His disciples…

They spoke, however, so as not to be heard by Him. But He, who knew what was in them, heard within Himself: When Jesus knew within Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you?

i. e. that I said, you should eat My flesh, and drink My blood.

The revelation however of these hidden things was a mark of His Divinity: hence the meaning of what follows; And if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before; supply, What will ye say? He said the…

Or, these words are an answer to their mistake. They supposed that He was going to distribute His body in bits: whereas He tells them now, that He should ascend to heaven whole and entire: What and if ye shall see…

Do not suppose from this that the body of Christ came down from heaven, as the heretics Marcion and Apollinarius say; but only that the Son of God and the Son of man are one and the same.

He tries to remove their difficulties in another way, as follows, It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: that is to say, You ought to understand My words in a spiritual sense: he who…

Or thus, the flesh profiteth nothing. They had understood by His flesh, as it were, of a carcase, that was to be cut up, and sold in the shambles, not of a body animated by the spirit. Join the spirit to the flesh,…

For the flesh does not cleanse of itself, but by the Word who assumed it: which Word, being the principle of life in all things, having taken up soul and body, cleanseth the souls and bodies of those that believe. It…

i. e. are spiritual, have nothing carnal in them, produce no effects of the natural sort; not being under the dominion of that law of necessity, and order of nature established on earth.

If then thou understandest them spiritually, they are life and spirit to thee: if carnally, even then they are life and spirit, but not to thee. Our Lord declares that in eating His body, and drinking His blood, we…

Having spoken of His words being taken carnally, He adds, But there are some of you that believe not. Some, He says, not including His disciples in the number. This insight shews His high nature.

He says not, There are some among you who understand not; but gives the reason why they do not understand. The Prophet said, Except ye believe, ye shall not understanda. (Is. 7:9) For how can he who opposes be…

To let you know that it was before these words, and not after, that the people murmured and were offended, the Evangelist adds, For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should…

The Evangelist wishes to shew us, that He knew all things before the foundation of the world: which was a proof of His divinity.

And after distinguishing those who believed from those who did not believe, our Lord gives the reason of the unbelief of the latter, And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it…

As if He said, Men’s unbelief does not disturb or astonish Me: I know to whom the Father hath given to come to Me. He mentions the Father, to shew first that He had no eye to His own glory; secondly, that God was His…

So then (our) faith is given to us: and no small gift it is. Wherefore rejoice if thou believest; but be not lifted up, for what hast thou which thou didst not receive? (1 Cor. 4:7.) And that this grace is given to…

He does not say, withdrewb, but went back, i. e. from being good hearers, from the belief which they once had.

Being cut off from the body, their life was gone. They were no longer in the body; they were created among the unbelieving. There went back not a few, but many alter Satan, not alter Christ; as the Apostle says of…

But it may be asked, what reason was there for speaking words to them which did not edify, but might rather have injured them? It was very useful and necessary; for this reason, they had been just now urgent in…

And perhaps this took place for our consolation; since it sometimes happens that a man says what is true, and what He says is not understood, and they which hear are offended and go. Then the man is sorry he spoke…

Our Lord knew well the intentions of the other disciples which stayed, as to staying or going; but yet He put the question to them, in order to prove their faith, and hold it up to imitation: Then said Jesus unto the…

This was the right way to retain them. Had He praised them, they would naturally, as men do, have thought that they were conferring a favour upon Christ, by not leaving Him: by shewing, as He did, that He did not…

As if he said, Thou castest us from Thee: give us another to whom we shall go, if we leave Thee.

A speech of the greatest love: proving that Christ was more precious to them than father or mother. And that it might not seem to be said, from thinking that there was no one whose guidance they could look to, he…

For we believed, in order to know. Had we wished first to know, and then to believe, we could never have been able to believe. This we believe, and know, that Thou art the Christ the Son of God; i. e. that Thou art…

Peter however having said, We believe, our Lord excepts Judas from the number of those who believed: Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? i. e. Do not suppose that, because…

Or we must say, that He elected the eleven for one purpose, the twelfth for another: the eleven to fill the place of Apostles, and persevere in it unto the end; the twelfth to the service of betraying Him, which was…

He was elected to be an involuntary and unconscious instrument of producing the greatest good. For as the wicked turn the good works of God to an evil use, so reversely God turns the evil works of man to good. What…

One of you is a devil: the bodyb is here named after its head.

Mark the wisdom of Christ: He neither, by exposing him, makes him shameless and contentious; nor again emboldens him, by allowing him to think himself concealed.

Cited together in The City of God X.23.

Cited together in Catechism §2766.

Cited together in On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius IV.6 and 1 other place.

Cited together in Catechism §2766.

Cited together in Letters Letter 159.

Cited together in Catechism §2766.

Cited together in Catechism §2766.

Cited together in Catechism §2766.

Cited together in Catechism §2766.

Cited together in Letters Letter 159.

Cited together in Catechism §2766.

Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 6:60–71 (12) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in The City of God X.23 and 1 other place.

Cited together in On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius IV.6 and 1 other place.

Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 37.

Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 37 and 1 other place.

John 6:63 takes up the words of Daniel 10:11 (7 words in common).