John 8:57 (WEB)
The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”
Fathers and councils · 16
Irenaeus of Lyons
“Then, at last, He came on to death itself, that He might be “the first-born from the dead, that in all things He might have the pre-eminence,” the Prince of life, existing before all, and going before all.” — editor's note: [That our Lord was prematurely old may be inferred from the text which Irenæus regards as proof that he literally lived to be old. St. John viii. 56, 57; comp.…
Read the whole comment
Eusebius of Caesarea
“For he remained among them until the time of Trajan.”” — editor's note: It is in this immediate connection that Irenæus makes the extraordinary assertion, founding it upon the testimony of those who were with John in Asia, that…
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment
Clement of Alexandria
“And that the Lord Himself was uncomely in aspect, the Spirit testifies by Esaias: “And we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness but His form was mean, inferior to men.”” — editor's note: Isa. liii. 2, 3. [But see also Ps. xlv. 2, which was often cited by the ancients to prove the reverse. Both may be reconciled; he was a fair and comely child…
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on John
- Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
The carnal minds of the Jews are intent on the flesh only; they think only of His age in the flesh: Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? that is to say, Many ages…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Christ was then thirty-three years old. Why then do they not say, Thou art not yet forty years old, instead of fifty? A needless question this: they simply spoke as chance led them at the time. Some however say that…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Our Saviour mildly draws them away from their carnal view, to the contemplation of His Divinity; Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Before is a particle of past time, am,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Abraham being a creature, He did not say before Abraham was, but, before Abraham was made. Nor does He say, I am made; because that, in the beginning WAS. the Word.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Their unbelieving minds, however, were unable to support these indications of eternity; and not understanding Him, sought to destroy Him: Then they took up stones to cast at Him.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Such hardness of heart, whither was it to run, but to its truest likeness, even the stones? But now that He had done all that He could do as a teacher, and they in return wished to stone Him, since they could not…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Who, had He chosen to exert the power of His Divinity, could, without a word, by His mere nod, have seized them, with the very stones in their hands, and delivered them to immediate death. But He who came to suffer,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
For His part was more to exhibit patience than exercise power.
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
He fled, because His hour was not yet come; and because He had not chosen this kind of death.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
So then, as a man, He flies from the stones; but woe to them, from whose stony hearts God flies.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
Mystically, a man throws a stone at Jesus, as often as he harbours an evil thought; and if he follows it up, so far as lies in him, he kills Jesus.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
What does our Lord mean by hiding Himself, but that the truth is hidden to them, who despise His words. The truth flies the company of an unhumbled soul. His example shews us, that we should in all humility rather…
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 9
Cited together in The Instructor III.1.
Cited together in Church History III.23.
Cited together in The Instructor III.1.
Cited together in Church History III.23.
Cited together in Gregory the Great on John 8:57–59 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Instructor III.1.
Cited together in The Instructor III.1.
Cited together in The Instructor III.1.
Cited together in The Instructor III.1.
