Socinian can explain. It is a clear assertion of the " pre-exist- ence " of Christ.
Some think, as Oishausen and Tholuck, that our Lord only means generally, ''If you are offended and unbelieving, ever, now, while I am with you, how much more will ye be, when I go away." But this is a frigid and unsatisfactory interpretation.
It is fair to say that Stier thinks, with Chrysostom, Cyril, Theophylact, and others, that our Lord did not mean that His ascension would be a greater difficulty to His disciples, but that, on the contrary, it would remove their doubts and weaken the oflfence which they now felt. Hutcheson and Alford seem to agree with this. But I cannot see it. Stier thinks our Lord implied, " Then, after my ascension, it will be disclosed to you how, and in what way, my human corporeity, become heavenly and glorified, may be given to be eaten, and to be drunk." (Compare John viii. 28.)
63. — [It is the Spirit, &c.] This text is, perhaps, one of the most difficult in the Grospel of St. John. It is easy to slur it over, and be satisfied with a vague impression that it means " We are to put a spiritual sense on our Lord's words." That, no doubt, is a true idea. But when we come to a close examina- tion of the words which compose the verse, I think no one can be satisfied with such a loose interpretation of Scripture. That our Lord's words " are to be taken spiritually," may be very true. But to say so is not to explain the verse.
What is meant by the expression, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth " ?
(a.) Some think that " the Spirit " here means, " the divine nature of Christ " (as Rom. i. 4 ; 1 Pet. iii. 18), in contradis- tinction to His human nature, here called, His " flesh." (See 1 Cor. XV. 45.) They consider our Lord to mean, "It is my divine nature, as Grod, which is the means of communicating spiritual benefit to men. My human nature, as flesh, could of itself do no good to souls. It is not, therefore, any carnal eating of my flesh, that could be of use to you, and I did not mean any such eating."
This is the opinion of Cyril, Cartwright, Poole, Bishop Hall, Trapp, Toletus, Eollock, Hutcheson, Leigh, Burkitt, Qaesnel, Burgon, and Wordsworth.
(&.) Some think that " the Spirit " here means " the Holy Spirit," the Third Person of the Trinity. They consider our Lord to mean, "It is the Holy Spirit who alone can convey spiritual fife to the soul of man. The mere eating of flesh, whether my flesh, or any other flesh, cannot do good to the inner man. When, therefore, I spoke of ' eating my flesh,' I did