Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom223Ver. 33–36 . 1648 “For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thoubeing a man makest thyself God”; hear His answer; 1649 “If the Scripture called 1650 them gods untowhom the word of God came, 1651 how say ye that I blaspheme, because I said, I am the Son ofGod?”What He saith is of this kind: “If those who have received this honor by grace, are not foundfault with for calling themselves gods, how can He who hath this by nature deserve to be rebuked?”Yet He spake not so, but proved it at a later time, having first relaxed and yielded somewhat in Hisdiscourse, and said, “Whom the Father hath sanctified and sent.” And when He had softened theiranger, He bringeth forward the plain assertion. For a while, that His speech might be received, Hespoke in a humbler strain, but afterwards He raised it higher, saying,Ver. 37, 38 . “If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not; but if I do, though ye believenot Me, believe the works.”Seest thou how He proveth what I said, that He is in nothing inferior to the Father, but in everyway equal to Him? For since it was impossible to see His Essence, from the equality and samenessof the works He affordeth a proof of unvaryingness as to Power. And what, tell me, shall we believe?[3.] “That I am in the Father, and the Father in Me.” 1652“For I am nothing other than what the Father is, yet still Son; He nothing other than what I am,yet still Father. And if any man know Me, he knoweth the Father, and if he knoweth the Father, 1653he hath learnt also the Son.” Now were the power inferior, then also what relateth to the knowledgewould be false, for it is not possible to become acquainted with one substance or power by meansof another.Ver. 39–41 . “Therefore they sought again to take Him, but He escaped out of their hands, andwent away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized. 1654 And many resortedunto Him, and said, John did no miracle, but all things that John spake of this man were true.”When He hath uttered anything great and sublime, He quickly retireth, giving way to theiranger, so that the passion may abate and cease through His absence. And thus He acted at that time.But wherefore doth the Evangelist mention the place? That thou mayest learn that He went thereto remind them of the things there done and said by John, and of his testimony; at least when theycame there, they straightway remembered John. Wherefore also they said, “John indeed did nomiracle,” since how did it follow that they should add this, unless the place had brought the Baptistto their memory, and they had come to remember his testimony. And observe how they formincontrovertible syllogisms. “John indeed did no miracle,” “but this man doth,” saith some one;“hence therefore his superiority is shown. If therefore men 1655 believed him who did no miracles,much more must they believe this man.” Then, since it was John who bore the witness, lest his1648Ver. 31, 32 , omitted. “ Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, Many good workshave I showed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me? ”1649Ver. 34 , omitted. “ Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, I said, Ye are gods? ”1650“ It called. ”1651“ And the Scripture cannot be broken: say ye of Him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thoublasphemest, ” &c., N.T. The comment looks as if this had been read.1652“ that ye may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him, ” N.T.1653Ben. omits, “ if He knoweth the Father. ”1654“ and there He abode, ” N.T.1655al. “ we. ”337