John 8:33 (WEB)
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Catechism · 1
“He went further by proclaiming before the Pharisees that, since sin is universal, those who pretend not to need salvation are blind to themselves.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 8:33-36; 9:40-41.
Fathers and councils · 27
Augustine of Hippo
“True it is, God said this, and thereupon the Jews prided themselves, and said, “We are Abraham’s children;” priding themselves in their father’s name, carrying his flesh, not holding his faith; by seed cleaving to Him, in manners degenerating.” — editor's note: John viii. 33.
Read the whole comment“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.”” — editor's note: John viii. 31–37.
Read the whole comment“And that ye may know that in no other sense can it be understood; when the Lord spake, the Jews answered, “We were never in bondage to any man; how sayest thou the Truth shall free you?”” — editor's note: John viii. 33.
Read the whole comment“As also when He said, “The truth shall make you free,” in explanation of His words, He added soon after, “If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed;” in order to show that what He had previously called the truth, He a minute afterwards denominates the Son.” — editor's note: Chap. viii. 32–36.
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“As in another place they said, “We were never servants to any man”; and, “We be not born of fornication” ( c. viii. 33, 41 ); so now they gape on material things alone, and are ashamed of this kind of blindness.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Because after this they are found to say, “We have Abraham to our father, and were never in bondage to any man.”” — editor's note: John viii. 33.
Read the whole comment““We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man;”and, “We be born of God.”” — editor's note: John viii. 33.
Read the whole comment
Clement of Alexandria
“But if the Son shall make you free, then shall ye be free, and the truth shall make you free.”” — editor's note: John viii. 32–36.
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Our Lord wished to try the faith of those who believed, that it might not be only a superficial belief: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed.…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
We have all one Master, and are fellow disciples under Him. Nor because we speak with authority, are we therefore masters; but He is the Master of all, Who dwells in the hearts of all. It is a small thing for the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
As if to say: Whereas ye have now belief, by continuing, ye shall have sight. (xl. 9.). For it was not their knowledge which made them believe, but rather their belief which gave them knowledge. Faith is to believe…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or, ye shall know the truth, i. e. Me: for I am the truth. The Jewish was a typical dispensation; the reality ye can only know from Me.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Some one might say perhaps, And what does it profit me to know the truth? So our Lord adds, And the truth shall free you; as if to say, If the truth doth not delight you, liberty will. To be freed is to be made free,…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
As He said to the unbelievers alone, Ye shall die in your sin, so now to them who continue in the faith He proclaims absolution.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
From what shall the truth free us, but from death, corruption, mutability, itself being immortal, uncorrupt, immutable? Absolute immutability is in itself eternity.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Men who really believed could have borne to be rebuked. But these men began immediately to shew anger. Indeed if they had been disturbed at His former saying, they had much more reason to be so now. For they might…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Or it was not those who believed, but the unbelieving multitude that made this answer. But how could they say with truth, taking only secular bondage into account, that we have never been in bondage to any man? Was…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Christ then, who speaks for their good, not to gratify their vainglory, explains His meaning to have been that they were the servants not of men, but of sin, the hardest kind of servitude, from which God only can…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
This asseveration is important: it is, if one may say so, His oath. Amen means true, but is not translated. Neither the Greek nor the Latin Translator have dared to translate it. It is a Hebrew word; and men have…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Because whoever yields to wrong desires, puts his hitherto free soul under the yoke of the evil one, and takes him for his master. But we oppose this master, when we straggle against the wickedness which has laid…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
And the more freely men follow their perverse desires, the more closely are they in bondage to them.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
O miserable bondage! The slave of a human master when wearied with the hardness of his tasks, sometimes takes refuge in flight. But whither does the slave of sin flee? He takes it along with him, wherever he goes;…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Not from the barbarians, but from the devil; not from the captivity of the body, but from the wickedness of the soul.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The first stage of freedom is, the abstaining from sin. But that is only incipient, it is not perfect freedom: for the flesh still lusteth against the spirit, so that ye do not do the things that ye would. Full and…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or thus: Having said that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin, He anticipates the answer that their sacrifices saved them, by saying, The servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Do not then abuse your freedom, for the purpose of sinning freely; but use it in order not to sin at all. Your will will be free, if it be merciful: you will be free, if you become the servant of righteousness.
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 16
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 84 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 84 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 108.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 84.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 84.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Catechism §588.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 84 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Catechism §588.