John 7:38 (WEB)
He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
Catechism · 4
The Sacrament of Confirmation
“On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit,” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 12:12; Jn 3:5-8; 7:37-39; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8.
Grace and Justification
“It is in us the source of the work of sanctification:” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 4:14; 7:38-39.
Prayer in the Christian Life
“Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 7:37-39; 19:28; Isa 12:3; 51:1; Zech 12:10; 13:1.
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit"
“He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus, to the Samaritan woman, and to those who take part in the feast of Tabernacles.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 7:37-39.
Fathers and councils · 40
Cyril of Jerusalem
“Drink we of living water, springing up into everlasting life; but this spake the Saviour of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive.” — editor's note: Ib. vii. 38, 39.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“And that it might be more evident that the Lord is speaking there, not of the cup, but of baptism, the Scripture adds, saying, “But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive.”” — editor's note: John vii. 37–39.
Read the whole comment“He that believeth on me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”” — editor's note: John vii. 37, 38.
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Augustine of Hippo
“He that believeth on Me, out of his bosom shall flow rivers of living water.”” — editor's note: John vii. 37, 38.
Read the whole comment“Hear Him promising water: “If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink: he that believeth on Me, rivers of living water from his belly shall flow:” if rivers, one river also; for in respect of unity many are one.” — editor's note: John vii. 37, 38.
Read the whole comment“He that believeth on Me, out of his bosom shall flow rivers of living water.”” — editor's note: John vii. 37–39.
Read the whole comment“Whence is the Spirit Himself water? because “Jesus stood and cried, He that believeth on Me, out of his bosom shall flow rivers of living water.”” — editor's note: John vii. 37, 38.
Read the whole comment“He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”” — editor's note: John vii. 37–39.
Read the whole comment“And the evangelist has gone on further to add, “And this He spake of the Spirit, which they should receive who believe in Him.”” — editor's note: John vii. 37–39
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“For our Saviour, when He called all men to him, and said, ‘If any man thirst, let him [come] to Me and drink,’ immediately spoke of the faith without which a man cannot receive such food; ‘He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’” — editor's note: Ib. 38
Read the whole comment“For, ‘as cold waters are pleasant to those who are thirsty,’ according to the proverb, so to those who believe in the Lord, the coming of the Spirit is better than all refreshment and delight.” — editor's note: John vii. 38; Prov. xxv. 25.
Read the whole comment“Whosoever ‘believeth on Me, as saith the Scripture, rivers of living water shall flow out of his belly.’” — editor's note: John vii. 37, 38.
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John Chrysostom
“Now the one John declares, speaking thus, “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with Fire” ( Matt. iii. 11 ): the other, Christ, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” ( John vii. 38.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“John vii. 37, 38” — the author cites it
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Ambrose of Milan
“…Lord to pass over to the stream, for he who has drunk of the New Testament, not only is a river, but also “from his belly shall flow rivers of living water,” rivers of understanding, rivers of meditation, spiritual rivers, which, however, dried up in the times of unbelief, lest the sacrilegious and unbelieving…” — editor's note: S. John vii. 38.
Read the whole comment“For He Himself said in His Gospel that He came to send fire on the earth and to supply a draught of living waters to those who thirst.” — editor's note: S. John vii. 37, 38.
Read the whole comment“But this He said of the Spirit, Whom they were beginning to receive, who were about to believe in Him.”” — editor's note: John vii. 38, 39.
Read the whole comment“But this spoke He of the Spirit.”” — editor's note: S. John vii. 37, 38.
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Tertullian
“…water the first rudimentary displays of His power, when invited to the nuptials; invites the thirsty, when He makes a discourse, to His own sempiternal water; approves, when teaching concerning love, among works of charity, the cup of water offered to a poor (child); recruits His strength at a well; walks over the…” — editor's note: John vii. 37, 38.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“But if we do not understand the mystery of His tears, hunger, and thirst, let us remember that He Who wept also raised the dead to life: that He did not weep for the death of Lazarus, but rejoiced; that He Who thirsted, gave from Himself rivers of living water.” — editor's note: St. John vii. 38.
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Hippolytus of Rome
“But there is also that which is more honourable than all—the fact that Christ, the Maker of all, came down as the rain, and was known as a spring, and diffused Himself as a river, and was baptized in the Jordan.” — editor's note: John vii. 38.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The feast being over, and the people about to return home, our Lord gives them provisions for the way: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The feast was then going on, which is called scenopegia, i. e. building of tents.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Which lasted seven days. The first and last days were the most important; In the last day, that great day of the feast, says the Evangelist. Those between were given chiefly to amusements. He did not then make the…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
To make Himself audible, inspire confidence in others, and shew an absence of all fear in Himself.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
If any thirsteth: as if to say, I use no compulsion or violence: but if any have the desire strong enough, let him come.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
For there is an inner thirst, because there is an inner man: and the inner man of a certainty loves more than the outer. So then if we thirst, let us go not on our feet, but on our affections, not by change of place,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He is speaking of spiritual drink, as His next words shew: He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But where does the Scripture say this? No where.…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on John
Or this testimony is taken from the Proverbs, where it is said, Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. (Prov. 5:16)
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The belly of the inner man, is the heart’s conscience. Let him drink from that water, and his conscience is quickened and purified; he drinks in the whole fountain, nay, becomes the very fountain itself. But what is…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
When sacred preaching floweth from the soul of the faithful, rivers of living water, as it were, run down from the bellies of believers. For what are the entrails of the belly but the inner part of the mind; i. e. a…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He says, rivers, not river, to shew the copious and overflowing power of grace: and living water, i. e. always moving; for when the grace of the Spirit has entered into and settled in the mind, it flows freer than…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
What kind of drink it was, to which our Lord invited them, the Evangelist next explains; But this He spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive. Whom does the Spirit mean, but the Holy Spirit?…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
He promised the Holy Spirit to the Apostles before the Ascension; He gave it to them in fiery tongues, after the Ascension. The Evangelist’s words, Which they that believe on Him should receive, refer to this.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The Spirit of God was, i. e. was with God, before now; but was not yet given to those who believed on Jesus; for our Lord had determined not to give them the Spirit, till He was risen again: The Holy Ghost was not…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The Apostles indeed cast out devils by the Spirit before, but only by the power which they had from Christ. For when He sent them, it is not said, He gave them the Holy Spirit, but, He gave unto them power. With…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Yet we read of John the Baptist, He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:15) And Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied. Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost, and…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
If the Holy Spirit then is received now, why is there no one who speaks the tongues of all nations? Because now the Church herself speaks the tongues of all nations. Whoso is not in her, neither doth he now receive…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
If this then is the cause why the Holy Spirit was not yet given; viz. because Jesus was not yet glorified; doubtless, the glorification of Jesus when it took place, was the cause immediately of its being given. The…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or thus; By the glory of Christ, He means the cross. For, whereas we were enemies, and gifts are not made to enemies, but to friends, it was necessary that the victim should be first offered up, and the enmity of the…
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Cross-references · 28
Cited together in Catechism §2561.
Cited together in Catechism §1999.
Cited together in Catechism §1999.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.20.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.20.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.20.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.20.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.20.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Catechism §2561.
Cited together in Catechism §2561.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.
Cited together in Catechism §2561.
Cited together in Catechism §2561.
Cited together in Catechism §2561.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.20.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.20.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 7:37–39 (6) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §2561.
Cited together in Catechism §1999.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.23.